White screen at boot up - mystery  

Ok so I don't think this is an issue with Windows 10 as it did it in Windows 7 as well. It's an Asus netbook Atom N550 which came with Windows 7 starter. Someone had cloned the drive onto a bigger drive and there were lots of odd partitions everywhere so I repartitioned the drive and then wiped the unused space.

Around that time noticed the occasional white screen on start up but not always. Thought maybe I had corrupted windows with the partial wipe so fully wiped the drive and reinstalled from system image of the c drive. Still doing it. I had intended to upgrade it to Windows 10 anyway so clean installed Windows 10. Still doing it. So it isn't a corrupt file system. Don't think it's a driver issue either. Hard drive passed with no errors as well.

I wondered if it could be a failing monitor or the graphics card - but the strange thing is - it only happens on boot up - a minute or so - then the log in page appears. And it doesn't happen if I restart. Only if I shut down and then boot up from turn on. So if it was hardware surely it would happen all the time?

Have fast start up turned off and have boot booster turned off in the bios as well.

I can get into the bios by hitting F2 repeatedly and waiting till the screen stops being white. So it's a time thing - it's white for a period of time then clears.

Any ideas? Clean install on wiped hard drive. Now I did upgrade the bios while in Windows 7 - via the Asus update utility - all went smoothly. I just can't remember if the white screen thing started before the bios update or not. So I reflashed the same bios via the update and that went smoothly. Didn't make any difference. So before I try downgrading the bios (which is a total pain and I can't use the Asus update utility to do that, only to upgrade) just wondered what else it could be.

Thanks. That would be a shame as it’s immaculate inside and out and everything works. Thing is it seemed fine until I started messing about with it so wondering if it is a bios thing. Screen is now permanently white. With a nice new install behind it!

I can try downgrading the bios if it was that - eliminate that - although difficult with a white screen. I could try changing the screen but it could be the graphics card which is no doubt soldered under motherboard (certainly isn’t on top of motherboard and board doesn’t come out easily.

Anyone know if the symptoms are more like screen or graphics card? Because when it was coming out of the white phase it displayed perfectly. Checked screen connection at one end - off to check the bit behind the bezel.

I have older ones than 7 years!

Thanks - yes this one might end being spares then. Thing is I love netbooks Eee ones anyway. You can buy them for about £30 and breathe new life into them by upgrading the software - occasionally I get one that isn't repairable though, but mostly I just swap the bits around and get a good working one. If I can find a cable I'll test to see if it's the screen. If not the screen then the graphics chip and give up. They still sell well second hand and arstill fun. I just wish they'd make some new ones. I think of them like the Austin mini - it was a car you could just keep replacing bits on and fixing. Apart from the soldered bits I guess. The 1005HA had a removable graphics hard I believe. Don't like chromebooks personally - and I prefer a netbook to an ipad.
I keep wishing they would make an up to date version of the Eee 701sd - but with a touch screen as well as a keyboard. Can't help loving them.

Hazel123 said:

Thing is I love netbooks ... I think of them like the Austin mini....

I have a netbook, it's my 'take anywhere' machine. As it happens - I also have a Mk1 Austin Mini .

Thanks all. Lol I loved Austin Minis too. It was the car they always used to teach people on at car maintenance classes. Will try the cable/screen test. This particular model isn't that commonly sold so finding another one to swap the screen with wouldn't be that easy. It's a 1018P and I think people just take care of them and keep them. I could get a new screen and still not make a loss as bought it for £20. I just get the satisfaction of having them working and running well and if I make a bit of a profit on resale it's a bonus.

Netbook and iphone are my two "go anywhere gadgets". Just don't like tablets and need a keyboard! A tablet with an attachable keyboard is not the same - you need to use the touchscreen for too much and the ergonimics are so different. Whereas a netbook with a touchscreen is much better! IMHO. Think I might write to Asus - after all the 701 was a big hit and groundbreaking when first released - maybe they should do it again. I still think it's amazing even now to have a proper little mini laptop. My 701sd with a bigger ssd and Windows 7 is nice and zippy. And most 10" ones run Windows 10 well.

Sorry - gone off topic.

It was the screen. Replaced it. All fine now.