Windows or laptop problem ?

[unclebulgaria67]

Can someone point to what the problem is please.

 

Windows 7 updated to current releases

Asus laptop about 4 years old, works really well apart from this problem below.

 

When the laptop needs to restart or be started, it will switch on ok, but there is a blank screen with no cursor. I can hear the hard drive working and the windows sound shows that it has started, but still a blank screen. I then allow all the start up programs to load up in the background (which I presume is happening as I cannot see it), before forcing the laptop to turn off, so I can try to restart again.

 

On switching back on pressing F8 for safe mode doe not work and I then have to keep trying to get the laptop to show graphics. Sometimes using cont/alt/del after switching on forces the laptop to come on properly.

 

Is this a graphics driver issue and it needs to be reinstalled ? To do this unfortunately requires the laptop to be switched off and to go into safe mode, which I might have a problem with.

 

When I have done checks available in Windows, it says that everything is working normally, with no errors.

 

Thanks for any suggestions you might have. I don't want to reinstall windows or anything major, just in case it does not work and I have to reinstall all the other programs etc.

[griffzilla]

Have you got an external monitor you could try connecting it to? Power it on, as it boots, shut the lid and wait to see if it tries to render onto the external display?

[Ford]

have you just done some windows updates? maybe one of those causing the black screen/prob. sometimes happens after one of their updates, then they later issue a fix/workaround. might have to reinstall graphics drivers.

[unclebulgaria67]

I have had this issue for ages. I manage to get it started eventually.

 

It is not to do with updates, because sometimes it restarts with no issues.

 

When I say blank screen, it lights up a bit, but there is nothing showing because presumably the graphics card is not being fired up. So it could just be a driver that is not being fired up on restart from some reason.

 

At some stage I have will have to reinstall the drivers in safe mode if I can get it to happen, but it is a bit of a pain. Is there any other way of doing it ?

[Ford]

maybe an old update still causing probs

or could also be hardware starting to fail

or poss a bug/virus

try griffs suggestion if poss, or then graphics driver reinstall

 

or could try this, at your own risk (

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Black-Screen-Fix.shtml

[renegadeimp]

Use msconfig, click boot, click safe boot, click minimal. Or press F8 When windows is loading to access regular safe mode. See if it works then. If it does, its a driver issue.

[unclebulgaria67]

Use msconfig, click boot, click safe boot, click minimal. Or press F8 When windows is loading to access regular safe mode. See if it works then. If it does, its a driver issue.

 

What does this do exactly ? It comes up saying restart or exit without restart. Which option do you use ?

[Ford]

try that fix #5

[unclebulgaria67]

try that fix #5

 

The black screen issue mentioned is not what I am experiencing. It could be a hardware problem, but when the laptop is working normally I don't have any problems with graphics. It is only at start up, that the screen does not display anything, even though I can hear window loading in the background. The windows start up noise sounds, but still a blank screen.

[Ford]

maybe then is just taking its time to load certain things up before showing windows. a screen could go 'blank' for a bit, depending how long it takes to initially load certain things. if there is alot to load, and is not the quickest.

 

ps cld try that fix anyway, never know. all it does apparently is reset the shell GUI environment?

[griffzilla]

Do you know what graphics card it is (And laptop model)? You may have a generic display adaptor installed, which is now too new for the hardware.

[unclebulgaria67]

Do you know what graphics card it is (And laptop model)? You may have a generic display adaptor installed, which is now too new for the hardware.

 

Yes it is an Asus nearly 4 years old. Intel core I.3 with intel integrated graphics. Driver up to date. Device shown as working, when you go through the troubleshooting check. I also used an application Seatools to run a check and it showed it all working properly.

 

It is just on restart that there is a problem. I did a shutdown earlier for a new windows update and it started back up without any problems. So instead of using restart, I will shut down and then start, if it the restart option within windows that is causing the problem.

[Ford]

seatools is re hard drive diagnostics, seagate.

no graphics card as is integrated on board.

seems is just taking its time to do its business. a restart may seem longer

[unclebulgaria67]

seatools is re hard drive diagnostics, seagate.

no graphics card as is integrated on board.

seems is just taking its time to do its business. a restart may seem longer

 

It is a guess. I have never had a problem, when I have used shutdown. I have only had the issues with the restart option or starting the laptop that has been in sleep mode, when the battery has run down.

 

I do have a habit of using the sleep function most of the time, so I can just open it up and start using. Perhaps I should use shutdown more often ?

[Ford]

mine (also oldish) takes a bit to show windows from start, and at first theres nowt on screen. it doesnt take too long though as theres not much to load. maybe its a per laptop/bios thing re what it shows. in my desktop, bios option allows for showing or not boot screen.

i also just use the sleep ie closing the lid. but things are in ram suspend then and kept for loading up straight away when opened. when shutdown/restart things are flushed and need to be reloaded again.

[SteveH2508]

Just a general piece of advice - do not install Windows updates straight away - refer to http://www.askwoody.com/ for advice as to what to install and when.

[griffzilla]

When you shutdown, your laptop will 'switch off' all the memory in each of the components of your laptop. When you then switch it on, it completes something called POST (Power On Self Test) - so effectively it is restarting your graphics adapters etc and testing that they are operational.

 

When you restart, it keeps memory state etc for the components, so they aren't rebooting - which is why you are noticing a difference in behaviour between shutdown and restart.

[renegadeimp]

What does this do exactly ? It comes up saying restart or exit without restart. Which option do you use ?

 

Exit with restart. It changes the boot parameters so you boot with minimal drivers. Then if it works, just changeit back to what it was before.

[unclebulgaria67]

Thank you all for the replies.

 

I think what I will do as restart in the problem, is to shutdown when I have to and avoid using restart.

 

I might try the limited reboot option at some point.

[Ford]

do try it, check the drivers. might be an issue there.

[tobyjugg2]

First thing to check is hit cntl+alt+del together once it seems to have finished loading. See if that brings up the task manger/log on screen.

If it does its almost certainly a software issue with starting windows explorer (not internet explorer)

 

If the screen comes up,

select start task manager

click on applications tab

at bottom new task button

type in explorer (just explorer)

[enter]

[unclebulgaria67]

First thing to check is hit cntl+alt+del together once it seems to have finished loading. See if that brings up the task manger/log on screen.

If it does its almost certainly a software issue with starting windows explorer (not internet explorer)

 

If the screen comes up,

select start task manager

click on applications tab

at bottom new task button

type in explorer (just explorer)

[enter]

 

Yes I do the ctr/alt/del when it is loading and it does the trick eventually.

 

I think it is a problem with the graphics driver being loaded on start up. It does not always load.

 

This is my conclusion, given that windows is being loaded, but there is no graphics displayed. Why ctl/alt/del would start the graphics driver, I have no idea. Or it could be an intermittent fault with the graphics card.

 

I have checked the graphics card and driver, both are apparently working and up to date.

[unclebulgaria67]

More problems yesterday. Would not show graphics on restart. Windows is starting as you get the Windows sound and you can hear it loading. After many attempts to restart the laptop, after intially getting a blank screen, the graphics started to show. First a cursor, then the blue Window backround, followed by the other graphics.

 

The graphics card is just the Intel onboard graphics with the motherboard, so I doubt it is a lose connection. It it were a dodgy connection on the board, I would have thought I would have problems when the laptop during normal usage. The laptop works well, once it is up and running.

 

I would go into safe mode on start up, remove the drivers and reinstall them, but safe mode is not being offered on start up when F8 is used.

[GrumpyToSayTheLeast]

You can't boot in safe mode anymore using F8 on a windows 8 machine.

You will need to male a boot disk/flash drive.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29352356-ASUS-laptop.-What-replaces-F8-to-bring-safe-mode-option-

[GrumpyToSayTheLeast]

Often, its F5 and not F8 on an Asus machine if running windows 7.