Black Screen before XP Starts

[ostrich2]

Hey guys,

I bought a new computer less than a year ago,
but now there's a 15 second black screen in between my HP start up screen and the XP loading screen:

The black screen at first seems like its going to type something, there's one of these "_" at the upper left corner, then it just goes into another black screen without the " _"

I've scanned for viruses, malware, and spyware, via microsoft security essentials, ad-aware, and spy-bot.

 

[hang-the-9]

Run a full hard drive check (use the BIOS utility if there is one for that), I have seen this happen a few times, but it's always been with a drive that was full-disk encrypted. If you find errors, replace the drive, don't mess with trying to find "fixes" for the issue in software.

To make things easy you can use a cloning software to backup the full system and dump the image on a new drive.

 

[ostrich2]

How do I go about running a full hard drive check ?

 

[hang-the-9]

How do I go about running a full hard drive check ?

Go into the BIOS options, check for a drive utility in there. If not, look on the vendor's support page, some make a downloadable test available.

 

[ostrich2]

Sorry dude, but how do i go about doing that ?
I tried googling it, but I think your online right now.

 

[ostrich2]

So to do it, you right click on the C drive, go to properties, go to tools, and click check now...

It asked me to restart the computer, it went through with the scanning, I left the room and half an hour later XP started up, but how do I find the results ?

 

[hang-the-9]

So to do it, you right click on the C drive, go to properties, go to tools, and click check now...

It asked me to restart the computer, it went through with the scanning, I left the room and half an hour later XP started up, but how do I find the results ?

That's only the file system check, you need to do an actual hard drive scan to find physical errors. When you start the computer you should see a message to hit a key to enter setup or BIOS. Hit that key and navigate through the menus there and see if there is a drive check utility. If not, look online at the vendor's site for a downloadable utility.

 

[aford10]

Tap the F10 key at the blue acer screen. Look for an option in there called "quick boot." If it's in there, enable it.

While in that same section, look for an option called "hard drive delay." If that's in there, reduce it to 0.

 

[ostrich2]

Are you guys talking about the Drive Protection System (DPS) test ?
Because that's all I could find that was relative to a hard drive test after pressing F10.

"When the test has been completed, one of three messages will be displayed for each of the drives tested:


*Test Succeeded. Completion Code 0.
*Test Aborted. Completion Code 1 or 2.
*Test Failed. Drive Replacement Recommended. Completion Code 3 through 14. "

I got completion code 0.

If this isn't it, could you guys help me find one ?
Oh yeah btw, after doing the Error Checking under tools in the C drive's properties,
the black screen went away,
i checked:
automatically fix file system errors
scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors

 

[hang-the-9]

That was the right test to run. EDIT: wrong info, misread the post info.

 

[aford10]

@ hang-the-9
I think he means those are they result descriptions for the drive check test. If he got a 0 code, then the test succeeded, and there are no errors.

@ ostrich2
What I was referring to, are the options in the BIOS. The 'setup' should have taken you into the BIOS. If it didn't bring up a blue-ish BIOS screen, then try tapping the delete key on startup.

 

[hang-the-9]

@ hang-the-9
I think he means those are they result descriptions for the drive check test. If he got a 0 code, then the test succeeded, and there are no errors.

What I was referring to, are the options in the BIOS. The 'setup' should have taken you into the BIOS. If it didn't bring up a blue-ish BIOS screen, then try tapping the delete key on startup.

You're right, I reread his post. ostrich2, looks like the drive is OK, if issue went away, you're set. I read the info first as the test was run, but the 3rd part Failed.

 

[ostrich2]

Thanks guys for your help,

This is what i have for options in the HP boot up screen.
F9 – boot menu
F10 – setup
F12 – network service

F10 gets me to a grayish blue page, with tabs up top.

the delete key just gives me a keyboard error

 

[accolite]

F10 is called setup but it will take you to the BIOS. Every BIOS is different depending on the manufacturer but they do share common features.

Does your system have a SCSI or SAS drive or controller?

Because if it does that will also have it's own bios and settings.

Can you give us the model number of your PC?

 

[ostrich2]

computer name: HP62912563930
system model: HP Compaq dc7100 SFF(PN924US)

 

[accolite]

Does not look like it does.

from the looks its a fairly old system.

Ok here is what I would do:
1.) check the cables (all of them)
2.) Try to get another utility to scan your drive for malfunctions.
3.) Back your data.
4.) wipe your drive clean and do a fresh install (in your case use the restore cd that should of come with your PC).

 

[ostrich2]

I bought it refurbished a couple months ago.

I thought everything was alright ?

i did a scan with "Seatools for Windows"
a utility to scan for errors and what not

the short scan result was: Pass
the long scan result was: Pass

Do I really have to wipe my drive clean ?

 

[aford10]

Have you tried simply resetting the BIOS defaults? To me, it looks like a BIOS issue.

After that 2nd screen listed above, does it boot, and run like normal?

 

[ostrich2]

Oh yeah btw, after doing the Error Checking under tools in the C drive's properties,
the black screen went away

What used to happen was the black screen was there, and it still booted.
Now, there's no more black screen, and it still boots, and everything seems to be in working order.

 

[hang-the-9]

I bought it refurbished a couple months ago.

I thought everything was alright ?

i did a scan with "Seatools for Windows"
a utility to scan for errors and what not

the short scan result was: Pass
the long scan result was: Pass

Do I really have to wipe my drive clean ?

You're done with the issue, the disk scan fixed the pause, drive checks came up OK, don't need to re-install anything.

 

[aford10]

Thanks for the update. Looks like all turned out well.

 

[ostrich2]

Alright thank you guys for all your help

 

[ostrich2]

the black screen's back guys

this time i did a CMOS reset and still nothing,
i did the error-checking tool in the C Drive's properties as well.

what should i do this time around ?

 

[accolite]

Go to your Device Manager and look through and see if there are any conflicts?

See if your system is up to date on updates?

I think this might be a windows issue it's probably having a conflict when it initiates loading windows.

If nothing works, reinstall windows.

 

[ostrich2]

How do i see if there any conflicts ?

and

do you mean windows update ?