Is this the black screen of death?

I was installing some updates for XP and I had to do it over three days because it took so long on dial-up but dsl has not reached my area yet. After it was downloaded/installed I was playing some music on the windows media player when all of a sudden the screen went black. I have played this same music for months so I don't think that it was the cause. I can try to boot-up, but all I hear is the fans going. The monitor show "no signal, going to sleep". I would like to know before I take it to the shop if this is that infamous black screen of death. Would it be worth it to get it repaired? Any info on the subject would be appreciated.

 

Was that an XP update blues?

 

No problem. Sometimes updates can create havoc. I'm running XP, and I "thought" I was up to date, but didn't have that one listed

 

I cannot try any of the suggestions because when I say say the screen is black, it's black. It will not power up, it's just a black screen. Apparently the monitor is not picking up on anything because the message reads no input...... I'm on a laptop at the moment.

 

If you turn off the PC and restart, do you hear any beeps?

 

It happened to me many times in the past. I fixed the problem by resetting the laptop by unplugging the power cord and taking out the battery.

 

If you don't feel comfortable opening it up and looking around inside, I would suggest taking it into a shop.

 

Taking the battery out is usually easy and it does not require opening the PC. Just turn over the laptop and look for a latch for the battery, which will release it.

 

Dan, I think she is typing from a laptop. The probelm computer is a PC.

 

At the moment I am on a laptop--the problem is with he desktop. I do not hear any beeps. IF I should open it up and look around, just what am I looking for?

 

Video card being loose, for one (if it's an add in card). Also, ram chip(s) being secure in their slots.

 

Thanks Candy and I agree with you that Laydy may be best off taking the PC into a shop.