Resolved: Black Screen At Boot

WilliamO · 05-13-2008

This is an intermittent problem that is getting worst.

Hitting power on, the computer does not complete the boot sequence resulting with a Black Screen.

At times pressing reset can complete the sequence. At other times it has no effect on the sequence or the Black Screen. When reset does not complete the boot sequence it then is accompanied by an audio buzzing. At this point I power down the unit, unplug the AC cord from the back of the unit and wait a good while. Plug it back in and go through this whole process again until I can get it to boot.

There is never a sequence of "beeps", occasionally a single beeps prior to the boot sequence completing after hitting the reset button. This single beep is also present when and if it boots normally from the power on button. However, when the reset fails to boot it generates a "buzzing" noise which is more like a stuck beep that morphs into a buzzing sound.

It all start back in March. I install a new HDD partitioning the drive as C and D, keeping the C partition clean using is only for the OS. The D drive has my programs and files; the old drive was kept installed and re-labeled to E.

After the installation of the new HDD, I experienced the Black Screen at the initial boot after installing the OS (XP). I hit reset and the unit booted with no problems. From that point until recently, I've only had the Black Screen maybe six times in the past two months. However, it's come to the point where nothing works out of the sequence I listed above. When that happens I have to disconnect the new HDD and boot off the old HDD, switching back to the new HDD when I got time to work on the problem.

There's no LBA compliance issues, the new HDD is an 80G HD Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM.

After installing the new HDD I loaded the OS via the recovery disk.

I've ran the Western Digital utility verifying the new HDD is good, passed both the Smart and Extended tests.

I've reseated all the boards; I purchased and installed new round cables for the HDDs.

I can't help but wonder about the occasional "buzzing" noise, which makes me wonder about the stability of the PSU, I have a TURBOLINK - LC - A350ATX.

I also can't help to think that a file somewhere is corrupt, which makes me think I need to format the C partition and re-install the OS. If this is the problem, I don't know how to re-format the partition.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

Tks

W.O.

DIIRE · 05-13-2008

Hi WilliamO - Welcome to PCHF!

I've had system do this once before due to a keyboard problem. Have you tried swapping the keyboard for another one.

It could also be caused by a faulty power supply or motherboard. Can you please post back with the make and model of the motherboard and power suuply?

WilliamO · 05-13-2008

Originally Posted by DIIRE

Can you please post back with the make and model of the motherboard and power supply?

The PSU is; TURBOLINK - LC - A350ATX

The Mboard is; BIOSTAR M7NCD PRO NF2 ULTRA

I don't have keyboard to swap out so that'll have to wait.

Since my original post I changed my boot sequence in the bios, it was ;

Floppy
HDD
CD

My computer does not have a floppy drive. The sequence is now;

CD
HDD

Since I've made the change I powered down twice and restarted twice with no problem......but as I said, this has been an intermittent problem which picked up in frequency just recently.

I'll keep you posted, I won't leave the thread hangin' without a final word from me.

Thanks for the reply and the warm welcome.

/R

W.O.

WilliamO · 05-13-2008

Originally Posted by WilliamO

Since my original post I changed my boot sequence in the bios, it was ;

Floppy
HDD
CD

My computer does not have a floppy drive. The sequence is now;

CD
HDD

I thought I should add.....I took out the floppy when I installed the second HDD, I did this without changing the boot sequence.

Don't know if this is what causing the black screen or the hang-up on the beep, turning it into buzzing sound, but it's something to consider.

W.O.

Jelly Bean · 05-13-2008

Hello,a long beep could be motherbaord fault or power supply failure.

Are your fans spinning?

Check all connections,make sure CPU is seated correctly and fan is spinning.

WilliamO · 05-13-2008

Originally Posted by Davetherave78

Hi sorry to **** in and all, but I am having a problem when my PC boots up with the black screen that as just started happen last week which it had never happened before until now. Normally my PC starts up with the first black screen with the usual text on screen, and then a few seconds later goes straight to another black blank screen when you see the mouse arrow, and then Window XP with the blue flashing bar that you know it is loading up before you the blue welcome screen. But now just before the blank black screen you get with lots of white text just before the black blank screen. Now since this as started happening my PC as been acting very slow loading up and I am not sure if these two problem are connected, but it really only started about last thursday.

I would be grateful for any help you can give? If this should be posted elsewhere in the thread then please forgive me, I wasn't sure where to post this and when I saw black screen at boot it sounded it was more or less same problem. Anyway, I hope that you can help me out somehow. I like to thank you in advance just incase I should forget to.

Hello Dave,

Sorry to hear of you troubles, I wish you the best of luck with your difficulties.....however, would you please start you own thread.

Thank you sir.

W.O.

WilliamO · 05-13-2008

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean

Hello,a long beep could be motherbaord fault or power supply failure.

Are your fans spinning?

Check all connections,make sure CPU is seated correctly and fan is spinning.

Nothing has changed since my first post.....I still have the problem.

I powered down and when I powered up the boot sequence goes like this;

Lights come on on the tower.
Light on the CD-RW drive comes on and goes off
Black Screen on monitor

Boot sequence stops there.

Hit reset;

Light on CD-RW lights and beeps once and boot continues completing the sequence. (Occasionally the single beep will stretch out to a short buzz, barely noticeable, before completing the boot sequence.)
or
Light on CD-RW lights and beeps starts but turns into a long continuous buzzing sound. Cursors starts flashing on the upper left hand corner of the monitor but the screen is still black.

At that point I have to turn off the computer, unplug the AC cord from the back of the computer, wait a while and plug it back in. When the AC cord is unplugged I hit the power on switch a few time before plugging it back in.

Generally, after plugging the AC cord back in and the powering it on, the boot sequence stops at the black screen. A reset then will complete the sequence.

Yes, I've reseated all the boards a few days ago, when I changed cables on the HDD.....Yep, the fans are spinning too.

Thanks for your attention.

W.O.

05-13-2008	#1
WilliamO Bronze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: West Texas Posts: 16 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	Black Screen At Boot This is an intermittent problem that is getting worst. Hitting power on, the computer does not complete the boot sequence resulting with a Black Screen. At times pressing reset can complete the sequence. At other times it has no effect on the sequence or the Black Screen. When reset does not complete the boot sequence it then is accompanied by an audio buzzing. At this point I power down the unit, unplug the AC cord from the back of the unit and wait a good while. Plug it back in and go through this whole process again until I can get it to boot. There is never a sequence of "beeps", occasionally a single beeps prior to the boot sequence completing after hitting the reset button. This single beep is also present when and if it boots normally from the power on button. However, when the reset fails to boot it generates a "buzzing" noise which is more like a stuck beep that morphs into a buzzing sound. It all start back in March. I install a new HDD partitioning the drive as C and D, keeping the C partition clean using is only for the OS. The D drive has my programs and files; the old drive was kept installed and re-labeled to E. After the installation of the new HDD, I experienced the Black Screen at the initial boot after installing the OS (XP). I hit reset and the unit booted with no problems. From that point until recently, I've only had the Black Screen maybe six times in the past two months. However, it's come to the point where nothing works out of the sequence I listed above. When that happens I have to disconnect the new HDD and boot off the old HDD, switching back to the new HDD when I got time to work on the problem. There's no LBA compliance issues, the new HDD is an 80G HD Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM. After installing the new HDD I loaded the OS via the recovery disk. I've ran the Western Digital utility verifying the new HDD is good, passed both the Smart and Extended tests. I've reseated all the boards; I purchased and installed new round cables for the HDDs. I can't help but wonder about the occasional "buzzing" noise, which makes me wonder about the stability of the PSU, I have a TURBOLINK - LC - A350ATX. I also can't help to think that a file somewhere is corrupt, which makes me think I need to format the C partition and re-install the OS. If this is the problem, I don't know how to re-format the partition. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Tks W.O.

05-13-2008	#2
DIIRE Tech Support Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,242 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Black Screen At Boot Hi WilliamO - Welcome to PCHF! I've had system do this once before due to a keyboard problem. Have you tried swapping the keyboard for another one. It could also be caused by a faulty power supply or motherboard. Can you please post back with the make and model of the motherboard and power suuply?

05-13-2008	#3
WilliamO Bronze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: West Texas Posts: 16 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	Re: Black Screen At Boot Originally Posted by DIIRE Can you please post back with the make and model of the motherboard and power supply? The PSU is; TURBOLINK - LC - A350ATX The Mboard is; BIOSTAR M7NCD PRO NF2 ULTRA I don't have keyboard to swap out so that'll have to wait. Since my original post I changed my boot sequence in the bios, it was ; Floppy HDD CD My computer does not have a floppy drive. The sequence is now; CD HDD Since I've made the change I powered down twice and restarted twice with no problem......but as I said, this has been an intermittent problem which picked up in frequency just recently. I'll keep you posted, I won't leave the thread hangin' without a final word from me. Thanks for the reply and the warm welcome. /R W.O.

05-13-2008	#4
WilliamO Bronze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: West Texas Posts: 16 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	Re: Black Screen At Boot Originally Posted by WilliamO Since my original post I changed my boot sequence in the bios, it was ; Floppy HDD CD My computer does not have a floppy drive. The sequence is now; CD HDD I thought I should add.....I took out the floppy when I installed the second HDD, I did this without changing the boot sequence. Don't know if this is what causing the black screen or the hang-up on the beep, turning it into buzzing sound, but it's something to consider. W.O.

05-13-2008	#5
Jelly Bean Stoooooopid Girl. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Swansea Posts: 12,727 PC Experience: None.	Re: Black Screen At Boot Hello,a long beep could be motherbaord fault or power supply failure. Are your fans spinning? Check all connections,make sure CPU is seated correctly and fan is spinning. __________________ Rwy'n ceisio fy ngorau. Last edited by Jelly Bean; 05-13-2008 at 05:04 PM.

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