Black Screen After Restore

VFN

VFN

Member
After a system restore I get a black screen after password entry. I can access task manager and see 5 processes running. I'm able to click a restart and my pc then boots properly. I've searched and know this issue is long-traveled but I'm wondering if this restore issue is unusual and if I should be concerned.

The only device I added recently is a cable modem, but I think I've seen this happen before. I also just restarted with no issue.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 546
    CPU
    Sempron LE-1300
    Memory
    2GB DDR SDRAM 800MHZ-2X1GB DIM M
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200
    Sound Card
    VIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 32" HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320GB NCQ Serial ATA (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache
IME there are 2 different "solvable" causes for the black screen error (and goodness knows how many unsolvable ones).

The first is malware. Malware removal by a qualified malware removal pro will usually fix these things.
The other is outdated drivers. Updating the drivers will also usually fix these things.
But the critical piece here is the ability to get into Windows. If you can't get into Windows, then there's no easy way (IME) to fix it.
As a 3rd suggestion, I'd suggest running SFC.EXE /SCANNOW from an elevated (Run as administrator) Command Prompt.
You may want to create another Administrator account to see if the system does this with it also. If it doesn't, then there's an issue with the user account - and you'd be best served by transferring your data to the new user account.

At work we used to work on them (black screen issues) for a while (up to 2 weeks) before we gave up and formatted them. But there's just too many different things that can go wrong and cause this issue.
Now we only try restoring the system with a System Restore point. If that doesn't work, then we backup the data, perform hardware diagnostics, wipe the hard drive, and install Windows "clean" with updated drivers (NEVER use the driver CD that came with your system/mobo - it's outdated even before you get it!!!).
 

My Computer

System One

If I was able to restart without the black screen, does that suggest it isn't malware or that the cause, whether malware or not, is quirky? It seems strange that the problem arises through a restore but doesn't when restarting thereafter.

Thanks again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 546
    CPU
    Sempron LE-1300
    Memory
    2GB DDR SDRAM 800MHZ-2X1GB DIM M
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200
    Sound Card
    VIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 32" HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320GB NCQ Serial ATA (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache
Run a full anti virus scan
Download malwarebytes and make a full updated scan. Use the free version.
This will tell you if you have malware
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
It was taking time to sort things out, I have seen it before. Future restarts should be fine.
You haven't used any cleanup tools that remove the Hibernate option from the log off, turn off menu have you, as that is known to cause black screens at startup and wake from sleep options.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
I don't have Hibernate as an option. I have Switch User, Log Off, Lock. Restart, Sleep and Shutdown. In the advanced power settings Hibernate is set to 1080 and is not greyed out. I don't think I ever had Hibernate as an option.

In a Help and Support search under Hibernate this is brought up: "What Happened to Standby and Hibernate....In this version of Windows, sleep saves your work to memory and puts your mobile PC into a power-saving state....Note: Hibernate is still available as an advanced power setting. For more information, see change power management settings."

I have a desktop btw.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 546
    CPU
    Sempron LE-1300
    Memory
    2GB DDR SDRAM 800MHZ-2X1GB DIM M
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200
    Sound Card
    VIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 32" HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320GB NCQ Serial ATA (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
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