Black Screen, Still see cursor though. ALWAYS HAPPENS

Problem has been an ongoing issue. I have never bother to try to fix it. It only happens to my desktop. It has now been occuring for well over 5 months.

It seems to always appear or show symtoms after my computer is left on for days. The symtom tends to appear around the third day or after. I will come back from work or some other place and i will click around to get the monitor to wake up. I don't make my computer go to hybernate mode or sleep(quite sure i don't make it go to sleep i think i have it set up to turn off the monitor after 15 minutes). The screen will be on just black. I see a flickering mouse curson on the screen though. just blinking/flickering. Can't see icons or anything else. Only command that does work is CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Brings up that other menu/window screen. I can see it just fine no flickering or anything alike. As soon as i click on any of the options and that screen is gone it does the same once more.

My temporary solution so far has been holding down the power button and shutting it down.

There are more issues that also appear over time when my computer is left on for days.
I hope i am understandable, never been good at describing.

Anyone care to take a crack at it?

I consider myself very knowledgeble on computers so any information you guys need i think i should be able to provide it quick and fast :)

My Specs

System Manufacturer/Model Number Gateway / Slight Modifications
OS Windows 7 Ultimate X64
CPU AMD Phenom X4 9100e
Motherboard Gateway RS780
Memory 2GB X2 DDR2
Graphics Card(s) ATI HD 4600
Sound Card N/A Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays Gateway 19"
Screen Resolution 1440 x 900
Hard Drives WD 80GB
WD 640GB
WD 1,000GB
PSU Antec BP 550watts
Case Antec 300

Hello Chris,

Try these repairs:
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Startup Repair

Also, look for updates. You might want to add drivers to the update list (this will automatically tell you what drivers you are missing): Device Installation Settings

please excuse my delay in reporting results. With New Years Days and EVe. I haven't been home to get work done.
So far I done sfc /scanow. Had to restart will repeat a few more times and make sure to get better results.

Chris,

No problem on the time, I am in no rush, and I do this for free. Do you have your computer set to enter sleep or hibernate? check the power options settings>advanced

What antivirus do you have installed? In addition, could you run this?: Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free

Check your HDD for errors: Check a drive for errors

After you complete the previous check, type "memory" into the start menu search and schedule a memory check. restart. These may take some time. I can take you down the rabbit hole further after you've completeed these steps, let me know!

It has been reported that Avast! isn't a very good antivirus at all and has computer problems. I would recommend uninstalling it via the tool: avast! Uninstall Utility. I am not saying this to support another AV or for any ulterior motive, it is just plain and simple bad. I can recommend a simple but strong AV if you would like: Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows or you can go to our Security Forum section here: What's the Best Anti-virus? and see what others have put as their favorite AV. (Please don't choose AVG either...). Removing that AV may help your computer some.

Sorry that it is taking so long, Chris. Guess it is thurough. Perhaps leave it on overnight? Make sure the temps don't get too hot (or don't normally).

Did you disable windows firewall when Comodo is in use? Admittedly, I don't use Comodo so I wouldn't know if it does disables windows firewall automatically. I am of the mindset that windows firewall is completely fine in and of itself, but in this it is your choice. I've heard some good things on that firewall.

Let me know how all this goes. I guess it will just take time to complete.

Chris,

It doesn't bother me one bit. Though I may be strongly opinionated, it is your computer, and your software. I will only make suggestions, and you must filter what you would like to try. I appreciate you letting me know that you don't want to try that, most people just skip over without letting me know the steps they've taken. Also, others often have different opinions than I do. I am also not an MSE fanboy, so I've linked you in my previous post to a discussion on the AV security topic, if you'd like to read what others have experienced with many different AVs. You probably won't want to read all of it (its long).

For the drive errors, use both options offered. Let me know how it goes, and take as long as you like, I feel no need to rush anything as long as you don't.

If you don't use java (today, many people don't seem to use it very often, or even need to), then I strongly recommend removing it completely. It is highly susceptable to viruses. I have had difficulty removing java from my computer, so if you would like, you might try using Revo uninstaller free (Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems) to remove it with. It is more thorough than Control Panel's uninstaller.

If you do use java, make sure it updates automatically so as to ensure that updates block most of the security holes that are found. I've had mine updated and I practice relatively safe web browsing, but I was still infected. MSE found and removed the culprits for me, then I removed java with Revo uninstaller. No longer a chance to get infected through java.

Also Chris, in my signature at the bottom of my post is a link to "optimize Windows". There you will find methods to increase speed and performace, some of which may help you (couldn't hurt at least). You might look through it and see if there is anything that you would like to use. It could free up resources and allow the black screen not to come up too often