Screen goes blank with Vista + ATI Radeon

I have a problem with my system. Randomly, my computer screen goes blank
while I am in the middle of something (typically writing a paper since I'm in
grad school). It happens as quickly as 2 hours back to back. Once the
screen goes blank, the computer does not enter hibernation or anything, nor
can I get the blank screen to go away by any combination of key pressing or
mouse movement. I typically have to manually shutdown and restart the
computer. Once I restart the computer, I start it in normal windows mode
again. Then I go to the Events Viewer to see what happened to my system
right before the screen went blank, and there is always a series of 4 error
messages relating to my ATI graphics card. Typically it involves the mom.exe
program, a missing file for a "skin", and two other ID errors. First I
researched the program "mom.exe" which has the same name as a keylogger file
(however I ran anti-virus and anti-spyware, and the one on my computer is not
the keylogger). It seems as though the mom.exe program has some issues with
Windows Vista in some of the older driver versions. So, I went to my
manufactorer's website and downloaded the newest driver available for my card
and my operating system. But the next time I used the computer, the blank
screen came back up. I called the technical support for my computer
(toshiba) and their solution was to turn off hibernation/sleep. The screen
still went blank.

So now, the technical support hotline people are telling me that I need to
send my laptop off for a diagnosis of the problem. I am in the middle of my
semester for grad school and I CANNOT afford to send my laptop off because of
school constraints, and I CANNOT afford to have my computer screen blanking
out and losing my work. So my question is, can I fix this problem without
sending my computer off??? Right now I have disabled my graphics card, and
my system isn’t slowed down too much, however I am afraid that the problem
will only worsen from here. But at least my screen isn’t blanking out and
I’m not losing work.

So, any solutions, ideas, suggestions????

By the way, here are my system specs:
Windows Vista 32 bit
Toshiba A215-S4757 laptop
ATI Radeon x1200 graphics card
ATI Display Driver for Windows Vista Version: 8.393.3
Processor: AMD Turion 64x2 1.80 Ghz
Memory (Ram): 1918 MB

"Megandy" wrote:

> I have a problem with my system. Randomly, my computer screen goes blank
> while I am in the middle of something (typically writing a paper since I'm in
> grad school). It happens as quickly as 2 hours back to back. Once the
> screen goes blank, the computer does not enter hibernation or anything, nor
> can I get the blank screen to go away by any combination of key pressing or
> mouse movement. I typically have to manually shutdown and restart the
> computer. Once I restart the computer, I start it in normal windows mode
> again. Then I go to the Events Viewer to see what happened to my system
> right before the screen went blank, and there is always a series of 4 error
> messages relating to my ATI graphics card. Typically it involves the mom.exe
> program, a missing file for a "skin", and two other ID errors. First I
> researched the program "mom.exe" which has the same name as a keylogger file
> (however I ran anti-virus and anti-spyware, and the one on my computer is not
> the keylogger). It seems as though the mom.exe program has some issues with
> Windows Vista in some of the older driver versions. So, I went to my
> manufactorer's website and downloaded the newest driver available for my card
> and my operating system. But the next time I used the computer, the blank
> screen came back up. I called the technical support for my computer
> (toshiba) and their solution was to turn off hibernation/sleep. The screen
> still went blank.
>
> So now, the technical support hotline people are telling me that I need to
> send my laptop off for a diagnosis of the problem. I am in the middle of my
> semester for grad school and I CANNOT afford to send my laptop off because of
> school constraints, and I CANNOT afford to have my computer screen blanking
> out and losing my work. So my question is, can I fix this problem without
> sending my computer off??? Right now I have disabled my graphics card, and
> my system isn’t slowed down too much, however I am afraid that the problem
> will only worsen from here. But at least my screen isn’t blanking out and
> I’m not losing work.
>
> So, any solutions, ideas, suggestions????
>

I think its something similar to my problem with nvidia graphics cards.
The new drivers cause it for me, you could try installing some old
drivers and see if that makes any difference.


--
Choogster

** HTTP://WWW.64BITDRIVERS.COM ***
The Ultimate Web2.0 64bit driver resource

I am having the same problem. I have attempted to get in contact with
Toshiba, but with practically no success.

I purchased my laptop from Best Buy and bought the extended warranty
from them, so I plan to take my computer in and have them check it out.

It is frustrating that this is happening. Sadly, I'm glad to know that
I'm not the only one with this issue. I just wish Toshiba would be more
willing to help out.


--
Kelley M

Same problem here but I get a white square in random places when the rest of
the screen goes black. I too lose what I was working on. I also don't have
time for this and am in graduate school. This has been going on since I had
Vista Home Basic and then upgraded to Home Ultimate because the school's VPN
requires Ultimate - which of course was another $90. So I feel as if I'm
spending more money and time than I really have right now. How do I contact
Microsoft or would it be Dell.

Also, when I upgraded it lost the connection to my HP printer and sound and
I've tried all the ways I know how to reconnect to them.

"Megandy" wrote:

> I have a problem with my system. Randomly, my computer screen goes blank
> while I am in the middle of something (typically writing a paper since I'm in
> grad school). It happens as quickly as 2 hours back to back. Once the
> screen goes blank, the computer does not enter hibernation or anything, nor
> can I get the blank screen to go away by any combination of key pressing or
> mouse movement. I typically have to manually shutdown and restart the
> computer. Once I restart the computer, I start it in normal windows mode
> again. Then I go to the Events Viewer to see what happened to my system
> right before the screen went blank, and there is always a series of 4 error
> messages relating to my ATI graphics card. Typically it involves the mom.exe
> program, a missing file for a "skin", and two other ID errors. First I
> researched the program "mom.exe" which has the same name as a keylogger file
> (however I ran anti-virus and anti-spyware, and the one on my computer is not
> the keylogger). It seems as though the mom.exe program has some issues with
> Windows Vista in some of the older driver versions. So, I went to my
> manufactorer's website and downloaded the newest driver available for my card
> and my operating system. But the next time I used the computer, the blank
> screen came back up. I called the technical support for my computer
> (toshiba) and their solution was to turn off hibernation/sleep. The screen
> still went blank.
>
> So now, the technical support hotline people are telling me that I need to
> send my laptop off for a diagnosis of the problem. I am in the middle of my
> semester for grad school and I CANNOT afford to send my laptop off because of
> school constraints, and I CANNOT afford to have my computer screen blanking
> out and losing my work. So my question is, can I fix this problem without
> sending my computer off??? Right now I have disabled my graphics card, and
> my system isn’t slowed down too much, however I am afraid that the problem
> will only worsen from here. But at least my screen isn’t blanking out and
> I’m not losing work.
>
> So, any solutions, ideas, suggestions????
>

On Oct 10, 9:11 am, Megandy <Mega...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Right now I have disabled my graphics card, and
> my system isn't slowed down too much, however I am afraid that the problem
> will only worsen from here. But at least my screen isn't blanking out and
> I'm not losing work.

I might just try what you did in the time being, that's good info. In
the event viewer, I'm seeing an error in the Kernel-WHEA section that
may be a RAM or CPU issue. Maybe has to do with graphics card
allocating memory? The other A215's where I took my laptop showed the
same error. (And referencing the other post, I've tried several
different ATI drivers, to no avail).

A lot of people are having the same problem. Toshiba is in the
process of trying to figure out how to fix. It could be as simple as
a BIOS update, but it could involve a hardware replacement. The guy I
took my laptop to said to hold tight until they come up with a fix.
It sounds ridiculous, but it is what it is. I plan to continually
call until this thing is fixed.

Good luck!

Sorry, I have the same problem and I have already sent my computer back to
Toshiba twice to get it fixed...but it is not yet fixed.
But my question is how do you disable your graphic card? Do you just close
ATI? I uninstalled ATI but the same problem still appears...

Thank you!

"redbird" wrote:

> On Oct 10, 9:11 am, Megandy <Mega...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > Right now I have disabled my graphics card, and
> > my system isn't slowed down too much, however I am afraid that the problem
> > will only worsen from here. But at least my screen isn't blanking out and
> > I'm not losing work.
>
> I might just try what you did in the time being, that's good info. In
> the event viewer, I'm seeing an error in the Kernel-WHEA section that
> may be a RAM or CPU issue. Maybe has to do with graphics card
> allocating memory? The other A215's where I took my laptop showed the
> same error. (And referencing the other post, I've tried several
> different ATI drivers, to no avail).
>
> A lot of people are having the same problem. Toshiba is in the
> process of trying to figure out how to fix. It could be as simple as
> a BIOS update, but it could involve a hardware replacement. The guy I
> took my laptop to said to hold tight until they come up with a fix.
> It sounds ridiculous, but it is what it is. I plan to continually
> call until this thing is fixed.
>
> Good luck!
>
>

Yes I am having this problem too. I really like my Laptop and I don't
want to send it back but it is frustrating. I took it back to the store
once and they couldn't figure out what it was. I am wondering is it a
Toshiba based problem or is it a Vista + ATi based problem. What models
are everyone using. I think one person had a Dell. If that is the case
then it probably isn't strictly a Toshiba problem. It maybe an ATi/
Vista problem that needs to be resolved.

By the way, here are my system specs:
Windows Vista 32 bit
Toshiba P205D-S7454 laptop
ATI Radeon x1200 graphics card
ATI Display Driver for Windows Vista Version: 8.393.3
Processor: AMD Turion 64x2 1.90 Ghz
Memory (Ram): 1918 MB


--
Moomtaz

I have a Toshiba Satellite A215 and experienced the blank screen pretty
much every day. Wasted many hours on the phone with Toshiba techs
reinstalling Vista, updating the Video Driver and BIOS which DOESN'T
WORK. Sent it in and still came back defective (all they did was update
BIOS again) I was reading Amazon.com reviews of the Toshiba A215-S4747
and came across this suggestion: "If you are running VISTA, try going to
the Power Options, advanced options, processor power management, and
change the value of the minimum processor state to 100%." It's been a
week now and still no blank screen. My computer NEVER has gone that long
without blanking out so I'm extremely hopeful the problem is solved. My
only question now would be what are the long term effects of your min
processor state being 100%? My fiancee has a Tablet PC which runs Vista
and her default settings came with 100% min processor state plugged in
so I can't imagine It could be that bad. Any thoughts on this would be
aprecciated. Hope this suggestion helps for everyone... -Trevor


--
Trevor

Do you have the latest graphic drivers from the Dell Website and not from
the ones from the ATI site?Laptop vendors often modify the drivers since
they are using onboard chips instead of a separate graphics card.
"Moomtaz" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Yes I am having this problem too. I really like my Laptop and I don't
> want to send it back but it is frustrating. I took it back to the store
> once and they couldn't figure out what it was. I am wondering is it a
> Toshiba based problem or is it a Vista + ATi based problem. What models
> are everyone using. I think one person had a Dell. If that is the case
> then it probably isn't strictly a Toshiba problem. It maybe an ATi/
> Vista problem that needs to be resolved.
>
> By the way, here are my system specs:
> Windows Vista 32 bit
> Toshiba P205D-S7454 laptop
> ATI Radeon x1200 graphics card
> ATI Display Driver for Windows Vista Version: 8.393.3
> Processor: AMD Turion 64x2 1.90 Ghz
> Memory (Ram): 1918 MB
>
>
> --
> Moomtaz