My computer will not go past a black screen when logging on. What can I do?

Question

I see a Windows Logo, and then the screen suddenly goes black instead of showing my desktop. It was working earlier this morning.

I have tried going into safe mode and doing a system restore, but it says I have no restore points, despite the fact that I did a system restore a few months ago.

What should I do?

Answer 1

Have you tried starting your PC in Safe Mode to see if you can get past the trouble point and then search for the problem area?

thehawk70

Answer 2

Sometimes Windows begins to load but then stops responding during the startup process. In most cases, the problem is a new piece of hardware, a new program, or a corrupted system file. Follow the instructions below to troubleshoot the problem. Try to start your computer after each step. Continue to the next step only if Windows continues to fail during startup.

To troubleshoot startup problems

1.  Restart your computer. Immediately after the screen goes blank for the first time, press the F8 key repeatedly. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears. If the menu does not appear, restart your computer and try again. Use the cursor keys on your keyboard (your mouse will not work) to select Last Known Good Configuration, and then press ENTER. Windows XP attempts to start.

2.  If you recently installed new hardware, shut down your computer and disconnect the hardware. Then, restart Windows XP and troubleshoot your hardware to get it working properly.



3.  Restart your computer and press F8 again. This time, choose Safe Mode and press ENTER. Windows XP attempts to start in Safe Mode, which does not automatically start programs and hardware, and displays very primitive graphics. If Windows XP starts successfully in Safe Mode, you can remove any programs or updates you have recently installed. Then, restart your computer normally.

Good Luck!