Vista Ultimate: blank screen after login and no Aero
Posted by admin on Aug 15th, 2006
I installed Vista Ultimate couple of weeks ago and after a little hiccup during install (I had to run it twice), everything seemed to be up and working ok. Earlier today, I got a notification to install critical updates for Vista, so I did. Also today, I downloaded the latest driver for my video card (ATI Radeon x800GT w/1278MB), hoping to get Aero to work. I rebooted between the updates, and things seem to be working fine, although I still couldn't get Aero to work (it doesn't even show up in the theme list... this appears to be a Radeon problem and is mentioned on their support site).Anyway, later on I rebooted (trying to get the Vista Games to work... almost none of them work for me, which seems to be a common problem judging by the number of messages on the subject). One suggestion was to disable the Games in "Control Panel", reboot, then reenable Games in the "Control Panel" and reboot again. During those reboots, Vista exhibits the following behavior:System start (seems OK) Windows Vista pulsing green bar (seems OK) Vista login screen (input password, seems OK) Screen goes blank...The screen stays blank, the hard drive churns like windows is still running. If I wait a minute for the drive activity to calm down, I can press the "Power" button on the PC and the screen will come back to life (of course, it says "Shutting Down"). If I reboot again after that it comes up fine... this only seems to happen every other reboot.I've tried: unplug/replug monitor, on/off monitor, 'torture' mouse/keyboard, put CD in CD tray (see if causing dialog to pop up changes anything).I just changed my power settings to "Never Sleep"... any other thoughts?Thanks (Sorry its a long one)
Aug 17th, 2006 at 08:58 pm
Hi GeneI assume you mean you have a Vista DVD. If you do you can use it to do a Startup Repair which should fix this. If it doesn't, you can try Safe Mode>>>System Restore from the same place, and you always have the F8 options available. We also have people reporting they have successfully done a "repair install" in Vista which has always been my ace in the hole for repairing XP when other ways did not work, booting from the DVD. I have directions for all these below:I Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment link on the Vista DVD:You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same location.You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is also sometimes effective):support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/enusHow To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots) windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htmNote The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a DVD, see the information that came with the computer. 2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys (sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your modelgo to pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.See for ref: Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htmBoot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st) shortmedia.com/images/mm/Articles/build_computer/bios/bios03.jpgNote If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.4. Click Repair your computer.5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the repair process.7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:How to Use Startup Repair:***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link) blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui/images/2014/500x375.aspxScreenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair" leedesmond.com/images/img_vista02ctpinstallSysRecOpt2.bmpHow To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots) windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm3) Select your OS for repair.4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from theWin RE feature:You'll have a choice there of using:1) Startup Repair 2) System Restore 3) Complete PC Restore ___________________II Repair Install in Vista (Just as in XP Booting from the Vista DVD)Some people have done a successful repair install in Vista which is the most reliable way to fix XP no boots. Make sure your bios is set to boot from the DVD:See for ref: Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htmBoot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st) shortmedia.com/images/mm/Articles/build_computer/bios/bios03.jpgRepair Install microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspxRepair Install (Method 2): support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/315341III Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu):You could also:Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.These methods are outlined inA description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/You will need this reference:How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/enusThe command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exeThe reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows Advanced Options though. Good luck,CH "Gene"