Blank Screen When You Start Your Computer

SYMTOMS

• When you start your computer, you may see a blank screen with a white dot in the upper-left corner of the screen.

CAUSE

• This issue may occur if you are using an Accelerated Graphic Port (AGP) video adapter but your AGP slot has not been configured to accept the video adapter.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem:


NOTE: To complete the following steps, you must have a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) video adapter.

WARNING: Internal computer components may be damaged by static electricty, use of too much force for removal or insertion, or the use of inappropriate tools. If you are not very familiar with computer hardware installation, Microsoft recommends that you contact a qualified technician for repair of internal computer components.

1. Shut down your computer, and then unplug it from the wall socket.
2. Open your computer case, and then remove the AGP video adapter.
3. Insert the PCI video adapter card into the first available PCI slot.
4. IMPORTANT: You may have to change your computer BIOS in this step. Do not do so unless you are very familiar with BIOS changes.

Make sure that your computer BIOS is configured to use the PCI video adapter before the AGP video adapter. You may have to change the VGA BIOS sequence (PCI/AGP) in your computer BIOS. When you do this, you change the video adapter that is used as the primary video adapter. The PCI bus is typically enumerated before the AGP bus. Because of this, the PCI video adapter is designated as the primary video adapter. For more information about how to change the VGA BIOS sequence, contact your computer manufacturer or read your computer documentation.

After you start your computer, obtain and install Windows drivers for your AGP video adapter. For information about how to do so, read your video adapter documentation, or contact the manufacturer of your video adapter. After you have configured the AGP video adapter, you can safely remove the PCI video adapter.