blank screen on vista startup

I have a new computer and have installed the full version of vista home
premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank black screen
after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the only
thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off". The
only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the result
of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at error
reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very few
errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut down
occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution to the
problem. Thanks

Hi Matt,

A) "I have a new computer...." The time to exercise your warranty is now. If
this is hardware related, a component may need to be replaced, and it could
very will be faulty memory.

B) "Is this behavior the result of a problem that I need to find a solution
to?" I think that goes without saying.

C) "I have looked at error reports and there are many - is this normal or
should there be very few errors for a system that is working properly?"
There should be very few.

D) "Also, programs shut down occasionally with the message that windows will
search for a solution to the problem." This is what leads me to believe it
may be memory related. Click start and type 'memory diagnostics' and run
this tool. it will require you to restart to run the diagnostic which may
take some time to complete.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"matt" <> wrote in message
news:97DD5B4A-F5AB-44F3-80E5-...
> I have a new computer and have installed the full version of vista
> home
> premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
> antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank black
> screen
> after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the only
> thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off". The
> only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the
> result
> of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at error
> reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very few
> errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut down
> occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution to
> the
> problem. Thanks

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi Matt,
>
> A) "I have a new computer...." The time to exercise your warranty is now. If
> this is hardware related, a component may need to be replaced, and it could
> very will be faulty memory.
>
> B) "Is this behavior the result of a problem that I need to find a solution
> to?" I think that goes without saying.
>
> C) "I have looked at error reports and there are many - is this normal or
> should there be very few errors for a system that is working properly?"
> There should be very few.
> > D) "Also, programs shut down occasionally with the message that windows will
> search for a solution to the problem." This is what leads me to believe it
> may be memory related. Click start and type 'memory diagnostics' and run
> this tool. it will require you to restart to run the diagnostic which may
> take some time to complete.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "matt" <> wrote in message
> news:97DD5B4A-F5AB-44F3-80E5-...
> > I have a new computer and have installed the full version of vista
> > home
> > premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
> > antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank black
> > screen
> > after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the only
> > thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off". The
> > only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the
> > result
> > of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at error
> > reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very few
> > errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut down
> > occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution to
> > the
> > problem. Thanks
>
> Thanks for the helpful reply. When I say that there are a lot of errors, I am looking in Event Viewer which lists 211 Events. Under "errors" it lists 561, under warning - 1498, Information - 10,882. Alternatively, under Problem Reports and Solutions, there are much less errors - only a page. So, when you say there should be very few errors, do you mean in the event viewer? I will try reseating the memory and running memory diagnostics.

"matt" wrote:

>
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
> > Hi Matt,
> >
> > A) "I have a new computer...." The time to exercise your warranty is now. If
> > this is hardware related, a component may need to be replaced, and it could
> > very will be faulty memory.
> >
> > B) "Is this behavior the result of a problem that I need to find a solution
> > to?" I think that goes without saying.
> >
> > C) "I have looked at error reports and there are many - is this normal or
> > should there be very few errors for a system that is working properly?"
> > There should be very few.
> > > D) "Also, programs shut down occasionally with the message that windows will
> > search for a solution to the problem." This is what leads me to believe it
> > may be memory related. Click start and type 'memory diagnostics' and run
> > this tool. it will require you to restart to run the diagnostic which may
> > take some time to complete.
> >
> > --
> > Best of Luck,
> >
> > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> > My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >
> > "matt" <> wrote in message
> > news:97DD5B4A-F5AB-44F3-80E5-...
> > > I have a new computer and have installed the full version of vista
> > > home
> > > premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
> > > antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank black
> > > screen
> > > after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the only
> > > thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off". The
> > > only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the
> > > result
> > > of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at error
> > > reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very few
> > > errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut down
> > > occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution to
> > > the
> > > problem. Thanks
> >
> > Thanks for the helpful reply. When I say that there are a lot of errors, I am looking in Event Viewer which lists 211 Events. Under "errors" it lists 561, under warning - 1498, Information - 10,882. Alternatively, under Problem Reports and Solutions, there are much less errors - only a page. So, when you say there should be very few errors, do you mean in the event viewer? I will try reseating the memory and running memory diagnostics.
> I removed and reset memory, and on subsequent startup received the same error in the Event Viewer: Error-Event ID 100
Warning-Event ID 200
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance
Date: 7/15/2007 11:46:07 AM
Event ID: 100
Task Category: Boot Performance Monitoring
Level: Error
Keywords: Event Log
User: LOCAL SERVICE
Computer: Matt-PC
Description:
Windows has started up:
Boot Duration : 73552ms
IsDegradation : false
Incident Time (UTC) : 7/15/2007 3:43:57 PM
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance"
Guid="{cfc18ec0-96b1-4eba-961b-622caee05b0a}" />
<EventID>100</EventID>
<Version>1</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>4002</Task>
<Opcode>34</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000010000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-07-15T15:46:07.979Z" />
<EventRecordID>223</EventRecordID>
<Correlation ActivityID="{00000000-E0A8-0000-AD48-F3F4F6C6C701}" />
<Execution ProcessID="1908" ThreadID="1064" />
<Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational</Channel>
<Computer>Matt-PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-19" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="BootTsVersion">2</Data>
<Data Name="BootStartTime">2007-07-15T15:43:57.718Z</Data>
<Data Name="BootEndTime">2007-07-15T15:46:04.495Z</Data>
<Data Name="SystemBootInstance">66</Data>
<Data Name="UserBootInstance">64</Data>
<Data Name="BootTime">73552</Data>
<Data Name="MainPathBootTime">43552</Data>
<Data Name="BootKernelInitTime">19</Data>
<Data Name="BootDriverInitTime">6307</Data>
<Data Name="BootDevicesInitTime">10474</Data>
<Data Name="BootPrefetchInitTime">28410</Data>
<Data Name="BootPrefetchBytes">433713152</Data>
<Data Name="BootAutoChkTime">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootSmssInitTime">1551</Data>
<Data Name="BootCriticalServicesInitTime">920</Data>
<Data Name="BootUserProfileProcessingTime">282</Data>
<Data Name="BootMachineProfileProcessingTime">558</Data>
<Data Name="BootExplorerInitTime">22401</Data>
<Data Name="BootNumStartupApps">7</Data>
<Data Name="BootPostBootTime">30000</Data>
<Data Name="BootIsRebootAfterInstall">false</Data>
<Data Name="BootRootCauseStepImprovementBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualImprovementBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootRootCauseStepDegradationBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualDegradationBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootIsDegradation">false</Data>
<Data Name="BootIsStepDegradation">false</Data>
<Data Name="BootIsGradualDegradation">false</Data>
<Data Name="BootImprovementDelta">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootDegradationDelta">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootIsRootCauseIdentified">false</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
This is new Crucial memory (1 stick of 1GB), and it seems unlikely, but
maybe the memory stick is defective. What are other possible causes of this
problem?
I did an Express bios update for the Intel motherboard - could it be the
motherboard or the bios update?
Thanks
for your help

Was it running without errors before the update. If yes then that is your
problem, otherwise follow Ricks advice, especially item 1.

"matt" <> wrote in message
news:686FC6E2-C5AE-4D07-BBAB-...
>
>
> "matt" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>>
>> > Hi Matt,
>> >
>> > A) "I have a new computer...." The time to exercise your warranty is
>> > now. If
>> > this is hardware related, a component may need to be replaced, and it
>> > could
>> > very will be faulty memory.
>> >
>> > B) "Is this behavior the result of a problem that I need to find a
>> > solution
>> > to?" I think that goes without saying.
>> >
>> > C) "I have looked at error reports and there are many - is this normal
>> > or
>> > should there be very few errors for a system that is working properly?"
>> > There should be very few.
>> > > D) "Also, programs shut down occasionally with the message that
>> > windows will
>> > search for a solution to the problem." This is what leads me to believe
>> > it
>> > may be memory related. Click start and type 'memory diagnostics' and
>> > run
>> > this tool. it will require you to restart to run the diagnostic which
>> > may
>> > take some time to complete.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Best of Luck,
>> >
>> > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> > My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>> >
>> > "matt" <> wrote in message
>> > news:97DD5B4A-F5AB-44F3-80E5-...
>> > > I have a new computer and have installed the full version of
>> > > vista
>> > > home
>> > > premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
>> > > antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank
>> > > black
>> > > screen
>> > > after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the
>> > > only
>> > > thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off".
>> > > The
>> > > only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the
>> > > result
>> > > of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at
>> > > error
>> > > reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very
>> > > few
>> > > errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut
>> > > down
>> > > occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution
>> > > to
>> > > the
>> > > problem. Thanks
>> >
>> > Thanks for the helpful reply. When I say that there are a lot of
>> > errors, I am looking in Event Viewer which lists 211 Events. Under
>> > "errors" it lists 561, under warning - 1498, Information - 10,882.
>> > Alternatively, under Problem Reports and Solutions, there are much less
>> > errors - only a page. So, when you say there should be very few
>> > errors, do you mean in the event viewer? I will try reseating the
>> > memory and running memory diagnostics.
>> I removed and reset memory, and on subsequent startup received the same
>> error in the Event Viewer: Error-Event ID 100
> Warning-Event ID 200
> Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational
> Source: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance
> Date: 7/15/2007 11:46:07 AM
> Event ID: 100
> Task Category: Boot Performance Monitoring
> Level: Error
> Keywords: Event Log
> User: LOCAL SERVICE
> Computer: Matt-PC
> Description:
> Windows has started up:
> Boot Duration : 73552ms
> IsDegradation : false
> Incident Time (UTC) : 7/15/2007 3:43:57 PM
> Event Xml:
> <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
> <System>
> <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance"
> Guid="{cfc18ec0-96b1-4eba-961b-622caee05b0a}" />
> <EventID>100</EventID>
> <Version>1</Version>
> <Level>2</Level>
> <Task>4002</Task>
> <Opcode>34</Opcode>
> <Keywords>0x8000000000010000</Keywords>
> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-07-15T15:46:07.979Z" />
> <EventRecordID>223</EventRecordID>
> <Correlation ActivityID="{00000000-E0A8-0000-AD48-F3F4F6C6C701}" />
> <Execution ProcessID="1908" ThreadID="1064" />
>
> <Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational</Channel>
> <Computer>Matt-PC</Computer>
> <Security UserID="S-1-5-19" />
> </System>
> <EventData>
> <Data Name="BootTsVersion">2</Data>
> <Data Name="BootStartTime">2007-07-15T15:43:57.718Z</Data>
> <Data Name="BootEndTime">2007-07-15T15:46:04.495Z</Data>
> <Data Name="SystemBootInstance">66</Data>
> <Data Name="UserBootInstance">64</Data>
> <Data Name="BootTime">73552</Data>
> <Data Name="MainPathBootTime">43552</Data>
> <Data Name="BootKernelInitTime">19</Data>
> <Data Name="BootDriverInitTime">6307</Data>
> <Data Name="BootDevicesInitTime">10474</Data>
> <Data Name="BootPrefetchInitTime">28410</Data>
> <Data Name="BootPrefetchBytes">433713152</Data>
> <Data Name="BootAutoChkTime">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootSmssInitTime">1551</Data>
> <Data Name="BootCriticalServicesInitTime">920</Data>
> <Data Name="BootUserProfileProcessingTime">282</Data>
> <Data Name="BootMachineProfileProcessingTime">558</Data>
> <Data Name="BootExplorerInitTime">22401</Data>
> <Data Name="BootNumStartupApps">7</Data>
> <Data Name="BootPostBootTime">30000</Data>
> <Data Name="BootIsRebootAfterInstall">false</Data>
> <Data Name="BootRootCauseStepImprovementBits">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualImprovementBits">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootRootCauseStepDegradationBits">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualDegradationBits">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootIsDegradation">false</Data>
> <Data Name="BootIsStepDegradation">false</Data>
> <Data Name="BootIsGradualDegradation">false</Data>
> <Data Name="BootImprovementDelta">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootDegradationDelta">0</Data>
> <Data Name="BootIsRootCauseIdentified">false</Data>
> </EventData>
> </Event>
> This is new Crucial memory (1 stick of 1GB), and it seems unlikely,
> but
> maybe the memory stick is defective. What are other possible causes of
> this
> problem?
> I did an Express bios update for the Intel motherboard - could it be the
> motherboard or the bios update?
> Thanks
> for your help

"John Barnes" wrote:

> Was it running without errors before the update. If yes then that is your
> problem, otherwise follow Ricks advice, especially item 1.
>
> "matt" <> wrote in message
> news:686FC6E2-C5AE-4D07-BBAB-...
> >
> >
> > "matt" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi Matt,
> >> >
> >> > A) "I have a new computer...." The time to exercise your warranty is
> >> > now. If
> >> > this is hardware related, a component may need to be replaced, and it
> >> > could
> >> > very will be faulty memory.
> >> >
> >> > B) "Is this behavior the result of a problem that I need to find a
> >> > solution
> >> > to?" I think that goes without saying.
> >> >
> >> > C) "I have looked at error reports and there are many - is this normal
> >> > or
> >> > should there be very few errors for a system that is working properly?"
> >> > There should be very few.
> >> > > D) "Also, programs shut down occasionally with the message that
> >> > windows will
> >> > search for a solution to the problem." This is what leads me to believe
> >> > it
> >> > may be memory related. Click start and type 'memory diagnostics' and
> >> > run
> >> > this tool. it will require you to restart to run the diagnostic which
> >> > may
> >> > take some time to complete.
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Best of Luck,
> >> >
> >> > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> > My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >
> >> > "matt" <> wrote in message
> >> > news:97DD5B4A-F5AB-44F3-80E5-...
> >> > > I have a new computer and have installed the full version of
> >> > > vista
> >> > > home
> >> > > premium. I have only a few programs installed - mostly antivirus and
> >> > > antispyware. On startup, on a few occasions I would get a blank
> >> > > black
> >> > > screen
> >> > > after the screen with the windows logo and before the desktop; the
> >> > > only
> >> > > thing I can do is hit ctr-alt-delete and select the option "log off".
> >> > > The
> >> > > only other thing I have done is a bios update. Is this behavior the
> >> > > result
> >> > > of a problem that I need to find a solution to? I have looked at
> >> > > error
> >> > > reports and there are many - is this normal or should there be very
> >> > > few
> >> > > errors for a system that is working properly? Also, programs shut
> >> > > down
> >> > > occasionally with the message that windows will search for a solution
> >> > > to
> >> > > the
> >> > > problem. Thanks
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for the helpful reply. When I say that there are a lot of
> >> > errors, I am looking in Event Viewer which lists 211 Events. Under
> >> > "errors" it lists 561, under warning - 1498, Information - 10,882.
> >> > Alternatively, under Problem Reports and Solutions, there are much less
> >> > errors - only a page. So, when you say there should be very few
> >> > errors, do you mean in the event viewer? I will try reseating the
> >> > memory and running memory diagnostics.
> >> I removed and reset memory, and on subsequent startup received the same
> >> error in the Event Viewer: Error-Event ID 100
> > Warning-Event ID 200
> > Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational
> > Source: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance
> > Date: 7/15/2007 11:46:07 AM
> > Event ID: 100
> > Task Category: Boot Performance Monitoring
> > Level: Error
> > Keywords: Event Log
> > User: LOCAL SERVICE
> > Computer: Matt-PC
> > Description:
> > Windows has started up:
> > Boot Duration : 73552ms
> > IsDegradation : false
> > Incident Time (UTC) : 7/15/2007 3:43:57 PM
> > Event Xml:
> > <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
> > <System>
> > <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance"
> > Guid="{cfc18ec0-96b1-4eba-961b-622caee05b0a}" />
> > <EventID>100</EventID>
> > <Version>1</Version>
> > <Level>2</Level>
> > <Task>4002</Task>
> > <Opcode>34</Opcode>
> > <Keywords>0x8000000000010000</Keywords>
> > <TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-07-15T15:46:07.979Z" />
> > <EventRecordID>223</EventRecordID>
> > <Correlation ActivityID="{00000000-E0A8-0000-AD48-F3F4F6C6C701}" />
> > <Execution ProcessID="1908" ThreadID="1064" />
> >
> > <Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational</Channel>
> > <Computer>Matt-PC</Computer>
> > <Security UserID="S-1-5-19" />
> > </System>
> > <EventData>
> > <Data Name="BootTsVersion">2</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootStartTime">2007-07-15T15:43:57.718Z</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootEndTime">2007-07-15T15:46:04.495Z</Data>
> > <Data Name="SystemBootInstance">66</Data>
> > <Data Name="UserBootInstance">64</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootTime">73552</Data>
> > <Data Name="MainPathBootTime">43552</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootKernelInitTime">19</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootDriverInitTime">6307</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootDevicesInitTime">10474</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootPrefetchInitTime">28410</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootPrefetchBytes">433713152</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootAutoChkTime">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootSmssInitTime">1551</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootCriticalServicesInitTime">920</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootUserProfileProcessingTime">282</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootMachineProfileProcessingTime">558</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootExplorerInitTime">22401</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootNumStartupApps">7</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootPostBootTime">30000</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootIsRebootAfterInstall">false</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootRootCauseStepImprovementBits">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualImprovementBits">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootRootCauseStepDegradationBits">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootRootCauseGradualDegradationBits">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootIsDegradation">false</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootIsStepDegradation">false</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootIsGradualDegradation">false</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootImprovementDelta">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootDegradationDelta">0</Data>
> > <Data Name="BootIsRootCauseIdentified">false</Data>
> > </EventData>
> > </Event>
> > This is new Crucial memory (1 stick of 1GB), and it seems unlikely,
> > but
> > maybe the memory stick is defective. What are other possible causes of
> > this
> > problem?
> > I did an Express bios update for the Intel motherboard - could it be the
> > motherboard or the bios update?
> > Thanks
> > for your help
>
> I ran memory diagnostic, and it found no errors. Would I be looking exclusively for a hardware problem as the cause of this problem?