Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Monitor Flashing at startup.

Jun 6, 2012 5:20AM PDT

When I start up my Vista Home Premium computer (Lenovo) the monitor flashes on and off several times before the desktop window appears. Otherwise all works fine.
This has been going on for months.
I connected the monitor to another old computer and it did not flash at all.
Please assist.;
Thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Lenovo
Jun 6, 2012 9:09PM PDT

I assumed Lenovo was a laptop. If so, how did you connect the display to another computer?

Or do you mean a 2nd monitor in a dual monitor setup? If so, tell us more about the specs of this Lenovo, model number, which video card installed, how much RAM, etc, and what make/model 2nd monitor. How is the monitor connected, (which video port)?

What is the setup? Extended Desktop across the two monitors? If so, which is the Primary monitor, the laptop display or the 2nd monitor?

When does this flashing occur, during POST or as Windows is loading, or at the Welcome screen?

Mark

- Collapse -
Monitor flashing at startup.
Jun 7, 2012 12:03AM PDT

Hi Mark. This is as much info as I can get. At 75 years of age I am not that technical and do appreciate
your assistance. Thanks.

Lenovo Vista Home Premium Desktop PC.
3000K Series - Model No. 57068347
Serial No. SS07548916
RAM: 3.00 GB
Monitor is a : DCLCD flat screen.
I have no idea which video card is installed. I don't know what a video card is.

I disconnected the monitor and connected it to an old IBM computer our grand children listen to their CD's.
It is not connected to the Rogers Cable Internet.
I also connected the old monitor from this old IBM computer to my Lenovo computer and the old monitor came on without any flashing when I started up the Lenovo desktop computer.

When I switch on the Lenovo computer then the monitor starts flashing for a long time and eventually the
window with all the icons appears and I can then do whatever.
I hope this helps in your analysis of the problem.
Thanks again Mark.

- Collapse -
Thanks for that information
Jun 7, 2012 5:55AM PDT

It helps to picture the setup but frankly I'm stumped.

You've done all the tests, swapped the monitor and tried the Lenovo monitor on another system, and another monitor on this system. That is what i would have suggested. They all work, so where is the problem? I'm not sure.

Is this Lenovo desktop the same as this one? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3523912&CatId=

If so, I see it has a Power Dial on the front which allows certain features to be 'ramped up'. I wonder if that dial has been used somehow and the system is now unstable?

I can't say more than that because I have never used one.

Tell us again when the monitor starts flashing.

There is a possibility and if you don't know here are the two alternatives when we "switch on"

1] Power on and the maker's Logo image appears until Windows begins to load. Whilst the logo is displayed, you can not see any other messages.

2] Power on and there is no logo. Instead the system's BIOS, (Basic Input Output System), performs its POST checks, (Power On Self Test), and displays messages on the screen. This is the BIOS checking all the hardware in the system, the motherboard, USB ports, video card, hard drives, and so on. These messages can cycle through very quickly so it might look like the display is flashing, but all these screens are black with some white text on it.

In each case Windows does not begin to load straight away because the BIOS has to complete its checks and confirm the hardware is all working. If it wasn't the BIOS would not pass control over to Windows and Windows would not begin to load.

When Windows does begin to load you see a small logo, and perhaps a progress bar. After a while you should see a blue screen called the Welcome Screen, and then your Windows Log in Accounts options should be displayed. You then choose your account, type in the password, press Enter, then the Windows Desktop will display.

So my previous question was, where does the monitor begin flashing? But also, does your Lenovo perform like item 1 above, or item 2 above?

Mark

- Collapse -
Monitor flashing at startup continued
Jun 7, 2012 10:32PM PDT

Hi Mark. My computer is exactly the same as the one in the link you sent me. 3000K Series.
Here is the sequence of events at startup:
Time 7.28 am today Friday June 08.2012. Started the computer.
Monitor starts flashing On & Off about three times.
Lenovo sign comes up.
Then comes the Beep sound.
Monitor flashes twice and then Microsoft Corporation sign runs from left to right.
That stop and flashing starts for about six times.
Windows music sounds and then the request for Password appears. Time now 7.30 am.
I enter my password and all is good.

That 's about as much as I can tell you Mark and know that I appreciate your assistance so far.
Regards........Peter

- Collapse -
That sounds like
Jun 7, 2012 10:56PM PDT

a BIOS problem.

When you turn on your machine you see the Lenovo logo but don't see the BIOS POST messages.

I'm not saying it is a BIOS problem but it would be good to see those messages before Windows starts to load.

When you turn on, you can access the BIOS by pressing F1 to enter the BIOS. Computer BIOSs use blue screens and navigation is by using arrow keys, the TAB key and Enter.

If you manage to get that, (if you don't the first time, let the process continue until Windows loads fully, then shut down, restart and try again), tab to the Main screen and see if there are any options to disable the Lenovo logo on startup. The wording may be different.

Disable the logo. Then "Save and Exit". Do not make any other changes.

The system should start over the boot process and messages should be displayed.

Mark

- Collapse -
Monitor Flashing at Startup. June 09.
Jun 8, 2012 11:45PM PDT

Mark.
You referred to the BIOS POST messages. Did you mean this under the LENOVO sign:
Press Tab to show Post screen etc. and
Press F2 to display boot etc.

These two lines are definitely after the LENOVO sign.

After pressing F1I could not find anywhere to disable or remove the LENOVO sign.

This is a headache eh! Thanks for your continued search.
Regards.

- Collapse -
Can you confirm
Jun 9, 2012 5:26AM PDT

Hi again Peter.

Can you confirm when you pressed F1 did you get a blue screen full of information and areas you could enter to make changes?

The problem is, you might be looking for something that is worded differently. I used Lenovo Logo, but it could be "Splash screen" or anything else like that.

Also, I note you say there is an option to press Tab to see the POST messages. What do you see if you press Tab? In particular, which BIOS is this? The BIOS supplier and BIOS version. For example my POST shows I have Ameritrends BIOS version, (I can't remember off-hand! Happy ).

I think we're going to struggle because I am not finding it easy searching for Lenovo 3000K BIOS articles.

However, Lenovo do have their own community forums here; http://forums.lenovo.com/

If you want to pursue this you may want to register with their forums and post your problem there.

Mark