Display goes blank after startup

jimdoi · 11-15-2008, 06:56 PM

I have a Toshiba Tecra A7-S712 running Win XP Pro with SP3. After boot and login the display often goes blank and shortly after the fan and HD stop. The power light blinks amber and it appears to be in hibernation. I touch the power button and it comes up right where it left off. There is no “preparing to hibernate” message and it goes suddenly while I am working.

It has an Intel 945GM Express video adapter and I have reloaded the drivers. I have adjusted the power settings but this has not helped. It may do this several times and then run for hours with no problem. It rarely will do it after being on for a while.

I have considered reloading the OS but I really don’t want that hassle for such a minor problem. I don’t think it is overheating because it happens mostly at start up. It does not sound like a SP3 problem but this did start a couple of weeks after upgrading in August.
Any Ideas?

**TriggerFinger** · 11-16-2008, 12:00 AM

Is your AC adapter giving out correct voltage? Is your battery carrying a charge?

Does it really hibernate or your screen just turns dim/black? What do you do after it does that 'hibernate' thing?

jimdoi · 11-16-2008, 09:33 PM

The AC adapter is putting out good voltage and the battery holds a charge very well.

I have seen it occasionally have the backlight go out and then shortly have the whole display go dark. Then after a few seconds the machine shuts down. Presumably the short period of time is while it is saving the data and then it goes into hibernation. All I have to do is hit the power button and it comes right back up. It is not a real big deal but it is frustrating. It will do this two or three times and then run all day without a problem although I have had it do it after an hour or so. I suspected that it happened while some application was starting up but I have not been able to determine what it is. It may be some windows routine that is starting that causes it to hibernate. How can I determine what might be causing it?

**TriggerFinger** · 11-17-2008, 09:20 AM

Please post Power Option Settings screen shot. I am thinking this is more Windows than hardware.

Also try linux live CD and see if it behaves the same, if it does, try a good/working battery and/or a good/working adapter...

jimdoi · 11-20-2008, 08:46 AM

Here is a screen shot of the power saver. I have changed it a few more times but I am still having problems. I can re-boot several times with no problem and then, an hour later, it may just go to standby with out warning, even while I am typing. I no longer think it is some startup program and it clearly is not an overheating issue.
I will try booting in safe mode and with Linux. I don't know if I will get a definitive answer unless it does fail in one of those modes.
The adapter is putting out 15 volts, as specified. I will try removing and reinserting the battery. Any other ideas will be appreciated.

11-15-2008, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
jimdoi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP SP3	Display goes blank after startup I have a Toshiba Tecra A7-S712 running Win XP Pro with SP3. After boot and login the display often goes blank and shortly after the fan and HD stop. The power light blinks amber and it appears to be in hibernation. I touch the power button and it comes up right where it left off. There is no “preparing to hibernate” message and it goes suddenly while I am working. It has an Intel 945GM Express video adapter and I have reloaded the drivers. I have adjusted the power settings but this has not helped. It may do this several times and then run for hours with no problem. It rarely will do it after being on for a while. I have considered reloading the OS but I really don’t want that hassle for such a minor problem. I don’t think it is overheating because it happens mostly at start up. It does not sound like a SP3 problem but this did start a couple of weeks after upgrading in August. Any Ideas? Last edited by jimdoi; 11-15-2008 at 06:59 PM.

11-16-2008, 12:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,823 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Display goes blank after startup Is your AC adapter giving out correct voltage? Is your battery carrying a charge? Does it really hibernate or your screen just turns dim/black? What do you do after it does that 'hibernate' thing? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

11-16-2008, 09:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
jimdoi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP SP3	Re: Display goes blank after startup The AC adapter is putting out good voltage and the battery holds a charge very well. I have seen it occasionally have the backlight go out and then shortly have the whole display go dark. Then after a few seconds the machine shuts down. Presumably the short period of time is while it is saving the data and then it goes into hibernation. All I have to do is hit the power button and it comes right back up. It is not a real big deal but it is frustrating. It will do this two or three times and then run all day without a problem although I have had it do it after an hour or so. I suspected that it happened while some application was starting up but I have not been able to determine what it is. It may be some windows routine that is starting that causes it to hibernate. How can I determine what might be causing it?

11-17-2008, 09:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,823 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Display goes blank after startup Please post Power Option Settings screen shot. I am thinking this is more Windows than hardware. Also try linux live CD and see if it behaves the same, if it does, try a good/working battery and/or a good/working adapter... __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE