Screen turns black, and HDD light goes off, BSOD file included, Thanks

[Tulaney]

Hi, hope you're doing well.

this just started happening to me yesterday. Windows 7, 64 bit. I'll be doing nothing in particular on my Toshiba Satellite laptop and the screen will randomly just turn black...the back light is still on. The hard drive light on the front will also stop blinking and just turn off. I have to manually shut down my laptop by holding the power button....I can restart it normally but then after a random amount of time, the screen will turn black again. It might last 15 minutes or an hour but it happens again. I've included the file requested for BSOD situations because I"m not sure of the issue.

Thanks for any help, I truly appreciate it!

 

[Tulaney]

fun new development! i now hear static whenever my computer is playing music or any other types of sounds....ugh

 

[koolkat77]

Welcome to SevenForums.

Is the laptop heating up or warm?

For monitoring the heat/celsius of the system, use Speccy or HWinfo:

• Speccy - System Information - Free Download
• CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

Update the graphics card drivers:

Driver	c:\windows\system32\drivers\atikmpag.sys (8.14.1.6099, 184.50 KB (188,928 bytes), 5/28/[COLOR="red"]2010[/COLOR] 12:56 PM)

Click on the Start rb: ► Control Panel ► Programs ► Uninstall a program ► Uninstall everything related to; ATI. Delete remnants of its drivers/older drivers using Driver Fusion/Sweeper. Then download and run this tool: AMD Driver Autodetect.

Update the drivers for the sound card:

Driver	c:\windows\system32\drivers\chdrt64.sys (4.112.0.0, 701.05 KB (717,880 bytes),[COLOR="Red"] 2/1/2010[/COLOR] 2:45 PM)

(From here or search in google for appropriate version)

Uninstall Norton, it's a frequent cause of BSOD-s. Use Microsoft security essentials and Malware bytes (free). Make full scans with both.
:tip: Do not start the trial version of MBAM, untick the option before proceeding for updates.

• Norton Removal Tool
• Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removes malware including viruses, spyware, worms and trojans, plus it protects your computer
• Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

Run the System File Checker that scans the of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible:

• Click on the rb:
• Type CMD on Search
• Left click and Run as Administrator
• Type SFC /scannow

Full tutorial here:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Free up the start-up, nothing except the antivirus is usually needed.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

Run Disk Check on your hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Look for an update on the BIOS:

BIOS Version/Date	Insyde Corp. 1.50, [COLOR="Red"]5/14/2010[/COLOR]

Version	6.1.7600 Build[COLOR="Red"] 7600[/COLOR]

Install all updates, optional updates including Service pack 1:

• Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

__________________

1. Click on User CP on the top right of this page
2. Click on Edit System Spec
3. Fill in your computer specs
   • http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

__________________
Let us know the results.

 

[Tulaney]

Hey thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it. I did all you mentioned and the sound problem is gone. Didnt get a black screen for 24 hours either....not sure what caused it this time. Seems like things are better overall though, the one thing I notice is that now when I boot up and long in the command prompt pops up for like a second and then disappears...does this mean anything? Should I upload another zip file?

Thanks!!!

 

[koolkat77]

Have you scanned for viruses?
Tried in safe mode?

 

[Tulaney]

Yea, I've ran malwarebytes, combofix, and the windows security essentials scan. After I ran all those and updated the drivers the command prompt thing started popping up after I log in. the black outs are definitely more sporadic but still occurring every so often.

Thanks again for your advice, I can post another SF diagnosis file if you think that might help and narrow things down.

 

[koolkat77]

Sure, please post them.

Upload a screenshot of your hard disk using crystal disk info and Summary tab of speccy:

• CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
• Speccy - System Information - Free Download
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Tulaney]

Here you go...I actually got an error this time when I ran SF_Diagnostic....it didnt create the same files as last time.

Thank you!

 

[koolkat77]

Looks like the motherboard and CPU are heating up a little.

Is this a laptop or a desktop?
How old is the hardware?
Is any part under warranty?

1. Click on User CP on the top right of this page
2. Click on Edit System Spec
3. Fill in your computer specs
   • http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

 

[Tulaney]

Its a Toshiba Satellite Laptop L645D S4037, 2.5 years old, the static noise problem seems to have returned by the way.

 

[Tulaney]

Im sure the warranty is up as well. Also any idea why the command prompt always pops up when I log on?

Thanks so much for all your assistance.

 

[koolkat77]

Try freeing up the start-up, nothing except the antivirus is usually needed.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

Do you have a cooler for the laptop?

 

[Tulaney]

I shot some compressed air into my fan and vents and a bunch of dust came out...hopefully that solved at least one of the problems, I dont have a cooler but ill look into purchasing one. Also I went into the startup folder....and there is one icon that is transparent with a little gear that is labeled "desktop" is this anything to be worried about? Ever seen this? One of these icons will also appear on my desktop every so often.

 

[essenbe]

Tulaney, First I noticed in post #8 that it says caution about your hard drive. That is a warning that the drive may fail. That could be causing some of your issues. I would be sure to back up my data to an external device. I would also recommend that you keep a close watch on your CPU and GPU temps. I use Core temp for the CPU and if you have a graphics card you can find MSI Afterburner to download. Both programs free. Afterburner is an overclocking application, but it will also monitor the GPU temps. If either the CPU or GPU gets too hot, they will quit working causing either a BSOD or the screen going black.

I know you have run a couple of virus scans, but the command prompt makes me think of that. You can run Windows Defender Offline. Here is the tutorial. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-windows-defender-offline.html

There are other problems that could be causing your problems, but those are the ones that first came to mind.