What a weird problem! Boot related

[rtcpenguin]

Only recently, before my computer goes to the password logon screen for XP home, it blacks out for about a minute (just after the XP loading bar). I've defragged and run scandisk, neither have helped. Memtest86 ran for about 35 minutes without any errors..

WTF?

 

[EeyoreX]

I'm not entirely sure what the error/problem/issue is... Windows gets to the password screen then blacks out? Or does it blackout right away? Can you log in at all? How about safe mode? Does that work? Also, a 35 minute run with memtest is probably not enough. If I suspect memory errors and want to run a memtest, I run it while I am at work. That's a minimum of 9 hours.

\Dan

 

[lobadobadingdong]

it's common, but should only last for a second or two while it initializes you video drivers. you might try reloading your video drivers.

 

[rtcpenguin]

i like your answer, alien-head man.

the exact problem is this:

the computer seemingly boots normally...it goes through all the posts etc, starts loading windows (with the XP home screen), then blacks out for a full 60 seconds, before reaching the login screen (after that it works normally)...

ill try removing the drivers and reinstalling.

 

[fslove]

If you are on a network it could be that XP is trying to search out another computer on the network. Do you have any mapped drives of other computers setup on your computer?

 

[rtcpenguin]

This is on an ethernet connection at a college. I dont think any network settings were modified in the last month.