I have never seen anything like this before so I have no idea what this could be. When I boot up my computer it gets to the Windows XP loading screen and then as soon as it finishes that my monitor turns off (says it isn't getting any signal). Despite all this I still hear my computer boot up normally. I hear the sounds from all my programs such as my firewall, noises that my computer usually makes when it reaches windows. I hooked up 2 other monitors and it did the same thing. I don't think this could be my harddrive because of the fact that the computer still sounds like it it going into windows normally. It isn't the monitor because I troubleshooted with other monitors that all work perfectly fine. I guess it could be my video card but that doesn't make any sense, why would it shut off right after the windows xp loading screen? Anyways I am trying to get this fixed today, as it has already been down for close to a week. I appreciate all of your help.

Welcome to the forum.

I think this could be related to your graphics adapter. The reason it bombs-out when it gets to Windows is because that's the point that the driver kicks in...so if the driver is corrupt /missing/wrong Windows will fail to show your display.

Try this first:
If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

When Windows has started in Safe mode, you will need to do the following;

- Click Start, click Run, and then type "devmgmt.msc" (without the quotation marks).
- find the "Display Adapter" setting (expand it)
- Find your installed graphics card then right-click and uninstall it
- re-boot into "normal" Windows

This method should force Windows to install the "best" driver for your graphics card. If things don't look great don't worry, at least you will now be able to go onto the 'net and grab the latest (correct) drivers for your graphics card.

Hello Kengh,

Welcome to PCHF.

The reason why your getting this problems, is because your monitor does not support whatever resolution and frequency your PC is set to.

You need to:
- Plug in a monitor that works.
- On your desktop, right click and go to Properties
- Click on the Settings tab, change lower your screen resolution to 800x600 or 1024x768.
- Click on Advanced and then click on the Monitor tab.
- Change your refresh rate to 70hz should be OK.

OK and apply everything, and then test.

> Hengis: Sorry didn't realise you were posting. This will work to!

Hengi when I get to that screen my keyboard is frozen so I can't select to start it in safe mode : (

Madmonkey- i tried the only 3 monitors I have in the house. and I didn't change the screen resolution and the computer worked fine for a year with the same setup.

Ken, this isn't due to a hardware failure, as you can see the post screen and windows logon screen. This means it is a software driver problem, or setting. Drivers and display settings don't tend to change themselves, so intentionally or accidentally, these have been changed.

How many ports do you have on your graphics card? And also, at what point when pressing [F8] does it freeze. Do you get the option for safe mode at all?

It has the ports for both kinds of monitor plugs ins. I use the standard old fashion kind. After I press F8 I get to the safe mode selection screen, but then my keyboard is frozen and won't allow me to select safe mode.

Hi Ken, normally graphics cards comes with VGA/DVI adaptors. If you or can find one of these to plug your monitor into, we should resolve your problem from there.

Also, at the selection screen, did you try using both the arrow keys and/or the numbers at the top of the keyboard to make a selection?