Startup gets to Windows logo, but not further unless sleep

Hi guys, new to the forum and very much hoping to get help to the following problem:

I'm experiencing a very unusual problem that I've never encountered before nor read about anywhere on the internet. After installing a clean install of Windows 8 on my Dell Inspirion N5050, startup does get past the Dell logo and onto the Windows loading logo. However, it won't go further than this. The logo goes away, leaving the screen blank (NOT black) and it won't continue to the logon page or start menu. All lights are burning (meaning it's working somewhere underneath that weird blank screen). And the funny thing that when I press the power button (or close the lid) to put it to sleep and then wake it up by pressing again, the logon/start menu is there and Windows is working perfectly.

In short: everything works perfectly, except that I have to put the computer to sleep and wake it back up in order for me to see/get into windows.

Has anyone heard of this problem before? I'm so utterly confused here!

Thanks so much in advance!

Rose