Re: Start Menu dispays a black screen

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:19:43 -0800, Malke <notreally@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

David wrote:

I definitely installed all the m/b based hardware and the video
drivers BEFORE updating XP. The machine is a home build so there is no
OEM to refer to. Admittedly I did use the supplied CDs for both these
sets of drivers but I have since checked and these all seem to be the
most recent anyway.

If you have the very latest video drivers - downloaded from the video
card mftr.'s site (unlikely to be the ones on the CD included with the
card which are usually older) - and the problem still occurs, you have
to address the seemingly random nature of the problem.

To troubleshoot if it is a software issue and after you've determined it
isn't a driver issue, you'll need to observe what else is running when
the problem happens. Make notes and observe at least three instances to
see if you can narrow it down to another program or process that is
running in the background.

Using Task Manager, Process Explorer from Sysinternals, and doing
clean-boot troubleshooting will help with that.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

If you can't track it down to software and the problem occurs truly
randomly, look to the video card hardware. Most random problems are
caused by failing hardware. It doesn't matter if the hardware is new;
in fact if hardware is going to fail it will usually do so pretty
quickly or go forever. With a video card, the way to troubleshoot is to
uninstall it and swap it out with a known-working one. If the problem
disappears, replace the original card.

Malke,

Once again thanks for your time on this. I was hoping to have
discovered a pattern by now which is why I haven't responded earlier.

It has only happened once since starting this thread and that
occurred just after reinstalling the video drivers. I used the latest
from the manufacturer's website, but they turned out to be the same
version as those already installed.

What happened was that the pinned shortcut for windows explorer began
playing up. When clicked it I got a dialog saying something to the
effect that the shortcut could not be created here and did I want to
create one on the desktop instead. Having selected no, I then
deselected IE from 'show on start menu' in start button properties.
Then reselected it and when I pressed apply I got the black screen
phenomenon. After reboot the start menu was restored with a now
functioning IE shortcut.

Not a very helpful occurrence I would suggest?

As to replacing the graphics card with a known functioning one -
unfortunately I do not have such things lying around, so that will not
be an option, but I see where you are coming from. My first step will
be to try and isolate when it occurs as you suggest, but that may take
a while since it doesn't seem to be occurring too often. Of course on
the one hand that is a good thing, but it is very frustrating when it
does occur.

I will let you know if there are any developments.

David
.