Blank screen in the middle of login

I am using WINDOWS XP Pro on a laptop, and it has been working fine up till now. It seems that when I login , I get the TOSHIBA screen , and then the Windows WELCOME screen, when I try to type my password in the box, the screen blanks out for a few seconds (whether or not I start typing) , and then comes back on. After that everything else repsonds normally.

I have tried disabling the Fast User Switching, but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

The blank screen thing is not a big deal, it's just annoying.

Is there a startup file I can check to see if there is a clear screen command being executed?

Any ideas?


Thanks in advance for the help!

AllReeds

 

Check your event logs for errors and post back with any that look related.

Also, if you haven't already, do a disk cleanup and a defrag.

 

Your PC is doing quite a few start-up things at that point so an unusual delay points to a problem with something not starting quickly.

The event logs (my computer~manage) will be active by that point and should show you any errors or unusual happenings.

The most usual culprits at the time you are seeing the blank screen are network connection problems and hardware issues. With a laptop, the hardware thing is somewhat less likely than with a desktop but still possible. Take a look in device manager and see if you spot any problem areas.

If you are on a network and none of the other ideas work, we can work on that piece but as a last resort.

I'd also try msconfig and unchecking almost all the startup items. If that speeds things up then you can just add the items back in one at a time and locate the problem.

I re-read your original post and I can't tell if this is a new problem or one you've had from the get-go. Would certainly make a difference in troubleshooting the problem.

 

Response about blank screen

The blank screen is only for a few seconds, after the WELCOME screen comes on. If I type quickly, I can get my password in, and then just press enter when the screen reappears.

It is just strange that the WELCOME screen comes on, is ok for about 5 seconds or so, then goes blank, and reappears 3-5 seconds later. Everything after that seems normal. Program usage, speed of various functions, etc.

The laptop is standalone, I'm not connected to a network when this happens,nor to my ISP (Optimum online).

It just started to happen recently...I'll make a list of all programs that I have running, and check device manager, etc. as suggested.

I'll keep trying!

Thanks for the help!