This computor acts like it is booting up but won't finish by showing the desktop. It just ends with a dark blue empty screen and no error messages. You can reboot and go into safe mode. I have done a system recovery to a known date when everything worked. No help. I've also reseated the video graphics card. No help. Eliminated the video graphics card and gone directly to the mother board video output-same thing. When using either the video card output or the output of the mother board, if I unplug the monitor, I get a no signal message. So, it seems the video output works either way (including in safe mode). I've gone into Device Manager and everything looks good there, no exclamation poitns etc. What else can I try? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

In safe mode u can see desktop,in normal mode u cant see desktop.I suspect u have soft problem,try to repair or reinstal windows xp.

Try this: In safe mode, run msconfig > go to the Startup tab and deselect everything. Try a normal boot.

Um I would just simply, from the blue screen, hit Ctrl+Alt+Del go to Taskmanager then select File and New Task (Run). Then type Explorer and voila its back. I had this problem my self and it was Symantec Endpoint 11.0 Anti-Virus that was preventing the Explorer.exe from starting. Not sure if it is the same for you.

So far nothing is helping. To ace omega: I tried before to Control Alt Del after a normal boot up with the blank screen.That doesn' work because nothing works in the normal boot up except holding down the main power button to shut off and start the computor. I did try this in Safe mode, though. I went to Task manager, then file, new task and typed explorer. That didn't do any good. To aegis1: As far as going into safe mode and the running msconfig, deselecting everything, I did that too. No difference. To kuwese: I wonder if you aren't right? But how do I restore windows.xp? Doing a system or micorsoft restore in safe mode doesn't work. The DVD/CD drive is not working in safe mode. The PC doesn't even see the CD drive. I went into the boot up sequence and the only thing it looks like it is set up to boot into is the hard drive. If I had a recovery disk or full blown Windows XP version, I would change the boot up to the CD and let it boot up to the CD. Unfortunately I don't have a recovery cd or Windows full blown CD. I guess, I am screwed unless someone has some other ideas to try.

"I did try this in Safe mode, though. I went to Task manager, then file, new task and typed explorer. That didn't do any good." This means your Explorer Exe has become corrupter. Being that Exloerer.exe is the heart of Windows you will need to boot from a Windows install CD, and do a repair.