my screen goes black, i can't do anything

i got an HP laptop with windows 7 about a week ago. i was on city of heroes last night and it worked fine. at one point the screen just blacked out, and the sound stopped. i thought the computer turned off but the power light was still on as if nothing happened.

today it KEEPS happening. i log in, and i'm not on my toon for more than 40 seconds before it just blacks out on me. any reasons for why this is happening? or maybe a suggestion as to what i could do about it?

I'd recommend starting with Zloth's ++ Common Solutions & Posting Guidelines ++ thread that is stickied in this forum.

Secondly, post a log from running CoH Helper as it will give information about your system and the CoH installation and settings.

Thirdly, post a log from running HijackThis. This will show what else is going on on your computer while you are playing CoH.

thanks!

your link for common solutions [or something] is broken though. it says page is not found when i click on it.

Okay, thanks for pointing it out. Wonder how long it's been broken and no one has said anything?

Anyway, this link will get that Common Solutions thread.

COH helper:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.8---

DxDiag gathered at November 1, 2009 20:41 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Central Processor: AMD Turion(tm) II Ultra Dual-Core Mobile M600 (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 4096MB
.Net Memory Report: 2693MB out of 3836MB available
Page File: 6221MB (1449MB currently in use)
C Drive: (ST9500420AS ATA Device) 421889MB out of 460935MB (91%) free
D Drive: (ST9500420AS ATA Device) 2579MB out of 15699MB (16%) free
E Drive: (hp BDDVDRW CT10L ATA Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7600.16385 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI display adapter (0x9712)
Video Memory: 1970 MB
Driver Version: 8.632.0.0
Driver Date: 7/2/2009 12:54:54 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers and Dual Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
Driver File: stwrt64.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.6225.0000
Driver Date: 7/21/2009 8:33:32 PM

Sound Device Description: SPDIF (Digital Out via HP Dock) (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
Driver File: stwrt64.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.6225.0000
Driver Date: 7/21/2009 8:33:32 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Quanta
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 3638
Motherboard Version: 33.11
BIOS Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
BIOS Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS Version: HPQOEM - 3
BIOS Release: 20090822000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1280x768
3D Resolution: 1280x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Medium
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: None
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: Low Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned on)
Depth of Field Enabled: Yes
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Low (with world bumpmaps)

World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: Yes
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.600
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 44314 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1600.20091015.6T
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found


Hijack this:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 7:57:04 PM, on 11/1/2009
Platform: Unknown Windows (WinNT 6.01.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16385)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee Security Scan\1.0.150\SSScheduler.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2\CorelIOMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QLBCTRL.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuschd2.exe
c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Media\DVD\DVDAgent.exe
c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\TouchSmart\Media\Kernel\CLML\CLMLSvc.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\hpqToaster.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_clipbook.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Toolbars\Shared\SkypeNames.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...estbuy&pf=cnnb
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...estbuy&pf=cnnb
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...estbuy&pf=cnnb
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...estbuy&pf=cnnb
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - {0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Symantec NCO BHO - {602ADB0E-4AFF-4217-8AA1-95DAC4DFA408} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\coIEPlg.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec Intrusion Prevention - {6D53EC84-6AAE-4787-AEEE-F4628F01010C} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\IPSBHO.DLL
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: HelloWorldBHO - {ABD3B5E1-B268-407B-A150-2641DAB8D898} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Homepage Protection\HomepageProtection.dll
O2 - BHO: Microsoft Live Search Toolbar Helper - {d2ce3e00-f94a-4740-988e-03dc2f38c34f} - c:\Program Files (x86)\MSN\Toolbar\3.0.0560.0\msneshellx.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - {FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton Toolbar - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\coIEPlg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Microsoft Live Search Toolbar - {1E61ED7C-7CB8-49d6-B9E9-AB4C880C8414} - c:\Program Files (x86)\MSN\Toolbar\3.0.0560.0\msneshellx.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPCam_Menu] "c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Media\Webcam\MUITransfer\MUIStartMenu.exe" "c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Media\Webcam" UpdateWithCreateOnce "Software\Hewlett-Packard\Media\Webcam"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Corel File Shell Monitor] C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2\CorelIOMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QlbCtrl.exe] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QlbCtrl.exe /Start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NortonOnlineBackupReminder] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Norton Online Backup\Activation\NobuActivation.exe" UNATTENDED
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdatePRCShortCut] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery\MUITransfer\MUIStartMenu.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Recovery" UpdateWithCreateOnce "Software\CyberLink\PowerRecover"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WirelessAssistant] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [LightScribe Control Panel] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe -hidden
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - Global Startup: McAfee Security Scan.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - {DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: symres - {AA1061FE-6C41-421F-9344-69640C9732AB} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\coIEPlg.dll
O23 - Service: Andrea ST Filters Service (AESTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\stw rt64.inf_amd64_neutral_ccf0dd3cb081af84\AESTSr64.e xe
O23 - Service: Agere Modem Call Progress Audio (AgereModemAudio) - LSI Corporation - C:\Program Files\LSI SoftModem\agr64svc.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AMD External Events Utility - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Com4QLBEx - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\Com4QLBEx.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: GameConsoleService - WildTangent, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP Games\HP Game Console\GameConsoleService.exe
O23 - Service: HP Health Check Service - Hewlett-Packard - C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\hphc_service.exe
O23 - Service: hpqwmiex - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\hpqwmiex.exe
O23 - Service: HP Service (hpsrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Hpservice.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Norton Internet Security - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\16.7.2.11\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Protexis Licensing V2 (PSI_SVC_2) - Protexis Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Protexis\License Service\PsiService_2.exe
O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Shared files\RichVideo.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Audio Service (STacSV) - IDT, Inc. - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\stw rt64.inf_amd64_neutral_ccf0dd3cb081af84\STacSV64.e xe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 11668 bytes

great. now it just turned off on me.

I can almost guarantee it's overheating. The blackout but not complete shutdown sounds like automatic overheating protection. CoH stresses the processor and graphics chip like nothing else. Also laptops aren't known for having great cooling ability.

Go here http://download.cnet.com/SpeedFan/30...html?tag=mncol and download speedfan. Or if somebody else recommends a better temperature monitor then you can try that.

Now what you can do about overheating. First make sure that there is nothing blocking any vents on the laptop. That means no laying it on soft surfaces like a bed or a lap. You can also get a cooling pad like this one http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Noteb...7132037&sr=8-1 Just make sure you get the right size for your computer.

Ok. Let's start with the ingame graphics settings.

I recommend setting it to run in Windowed Mode at the Desktop resolution since Windows 7 has problems at times with Alt-Tab while playing.

Turn off Vertical Sync.
Turn off Anisotropic Filtering.
Turn off Bloom.
Turn off Depth of Field.
Lower the Max Particles to 25050.

You can find explanations and the CCC settings to use in the first post of Bill Z Bubba's stickied ATI Issues and Settings Recommendations thread at the top of the Technical forums.

The good new is that once Going Rogue is released, and the concurrent issue for those that don't buy the expansion, the ATI issues will be resolved.

Others have resolved some issues by making sure that Compatibility Mode is NOT enabled on the shortcut for launching CoH. I do recommend setting it to Run as Administrator however.

ha. soo...

i figured out it only blacks out when i have CoH running and my computer charger plugged in at the same time. pretty bizarre.

i had this problem last time, therefore had to get a new laptop. i guess it burned out or something. but the lesson to be learned here is don't get an hp pavillion dv7 if your a big CoH player. :]

I've seen (or is that really not seen) something similar to this happen before although when the screen goes black it would still show the power effects when I attacked and the UI was still visible. I eventually traced it down to the supplier of my PC had left the clear plastic protective covering on the graphics card which was causing it to overheat.

I can tell you that finishing a timed mish and find the last few glowies when you can't see where you are isn't easy. Defeating the last few remaining mobs was interesting as well.

no suggestions on what i could do to fix this?

I plug my charger in and my computer just blacks out while i'm playing city of heroes. It also happens when i try to use my zune player. ah!

The fix is to get a laptop cooler/stand. Also make sure any exhaust areas are clear of obstructions.

When the laptop is plugged into the brick I'm going to assume that both the CPU and video will be running at top speed (plugged in Vs battery power configuration) and the poor thing overheats.

To see if this theory is sound you could try and download and run Furmark and see if that will cause your screen to black out as well. It is also uses OpenGL for graphics. If it does, then answer is additional cooling is needed.

Use /maxfps 25 to see if it will reduce the heat level and thus keep your system from blanking out. That will cap out the maximum frames per second to 25. Use a lower number if you can stand it. /maxfps 0 will uncap your framerate.

It's a total band aid solution but if it works well enough to keep you limping along...