So, I just thought I;d report back after the dust settled.
After ruling out the motherboard with an in-the-shop computer repair, the problem reoccurred. I assumed it was the video card, with minor possibility of monitor.
I also found that if I left the heat on in the living room where the computer is overnight, it reduced the video load time from unbearable and intolerable, to merely annoying,sometimes obnoxious, sometimes only quirky. So, while it was still periodically frustrating beyond belief, I punted on replacing the card, eventually intending to do it.
Meanwhile, I've been intending to replace the monitor with a bigger widescreen, saw a good deal and went for it. I didn't really think this would fix the problem; mostly I wanted a new monitor. Anything else was a shot in the dark and gravy.
Plugged in the new monitor. Worked perfectly 1st time, every time. No more video load lag time. I don't leave the heat on any more.
So...I guess it was the monitor!
Hi....this has been an intermittent problem for awhile. I have no ideas left. Any help is appreciated of course. It is XP software system, Dell XPS machine.
--I boot several times during the day. It is often slow regaining the video, but usually not a problem that way. Almost invariably overnight of late, however, the computer has far more serious problems the next morning. It seems to boot properly. In fact, I can hear audio from my programs loading (like SKYPE). But no screen, no display. That overnight rest seems to harm it for no apparent reason.
I've run chkdsk /f and chkdsk /r on several occasions. About a year ago when this happened one of them reported my volume was dirty and it fixed it. I had little problem since. However, it's hard to say whether the volume became dirty because of the constant reboots or vice versa. That is, usually I get it to work by simply turning the machine and immediately rebooting it. On the 2d try, although sluggish, it typically works. Today, it actually took 4 tries to get the screen to come up, though, which is quite a hassle.
Given the past history, I would suspect it is not a video card failing. I checked the volume with chkdsk /r yesterday and everything was fine.
What else could it be? And what accounts for the intermittently more serious issues overnight?

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