sudden blackouts with XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Osgood
  • Start date Start date
J

John Osgood

I have been getting sudden blackouts with no error message. Screen suddenly
goes blank. I then reboot. Can't figure out any pattern. Anyone else have
this problem?
 
I have been getting sudden blackouts with no error message. Screen suddenly
goes blank. I then reboot. Can't figure out any pattern. Anyone else have
this problem?
Click to expand...

Are you working or is the machine idle? If idle, is the screensaver set for
"none" or "blank"? If working, check Event Viewer (start> run>
eventvwr.msc) to see if it has any clues about what is going on.
 
It happens both ways - when computer is idle or active, usually when active
an quite often when I'm moving a file from one program to another.
Screensaver is on. How do I read the data at eventvwr.msc to be sure who is
the culprit and who is not? Thank you.
 
You need to make note of the time when it happens and then look for a
corresponding event.

My guess is you either have a driver issue or a graphics memory issue.
Check your graphics card manufacture's website to make sure you have the
latest drivers for your card.

If your card has no on-card memory of its own and shares memory with main
system memory, that might be the issue. In that case, you would need to
look into a card with its own memory.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

John Osgood said:
It happens both ways - when computer is idle or active, usually when active
an quite often when I'm moving a file from one program to another.
Screensaver is on. How do I read the data at eventvwr.msc to be sure who is
the culprit and who is not? Thank you.
Click to expand...
 
Where do I find data on my system on the graphics card so that I can check
for drivers, etc., as you suggested?
Michael Solomon (MS-MVP Windows Shell/User) said:
You need to make note of the time when it happens and then look for a
corresponding event.

My guess is you either have a driver issue or a graphics memory issue.
Check your graphics card manufacture's website to make sure you have the
latest drivers for your card.

If your card has no on-card memory of its own and shares memory with main
system memory, that might be the issue. In that case, you would need to
look into a card with its own memory.
Click to expand...
 
Check your system documentation. Also, go to Control Panel, open System, go
to the Hardware tab, click Device Manager, click the plus sign next to
Display, this may also reveal the card and model.
 
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