Black screen on startup

[Helen Lillard]

When I turn on my computer, sometimes after the bios and windows flag, the screen goes black. If if hit the windows or control key it will start up. This was happening about every 20th time I logged on. Now it is happening about every 5 times. This started after I had it in the shop to connect the lights on front (which they had left disconnected after a previous shop time). I took it back, but they can't seem to find the problem. They even gave me a new montitor, saying that was the cause. The day after I brought it home, it started again. Several people have told me it could be the video card. Can anyone help me? I am a novice.

[Pantion]

Hmm... does it happens on a after some exact time? Maybe the standby mode is enabled on the BIOS and/or windows and kick in on a very short time. Check it on windows first under power management on Control Panel... and then on your BIOS.

[Helen Lillard]

Power Schemes show Always ON. Should it? How do I check my BIOS?

[DHatAVI]

Hi Helen, this is a copy of my answer that I posted over at 'Host Club' for you also. I also had this same exact problem some time ago, the boot process would just stop (with a blank screen), but would continue if I hit any key or even clicked the mouse. I don't remember if I had installed any software just before it started, but I was running Norton AV 4.0. I reinstalled windows over itself, as well as other programs that required a registry and .dll entry in windows, and have not had a problem since, and still using NAV 4.0.
David