I need some help from you guys,
I've turned on my PC today and everything goes the usual way, however after finishing to boot, load all startup programs, the vista screen becomes dark (just as when UAC dialog appears, or when power cord is removed in a laptop). Rebooting doesn't help, the same thing repeats.
I'm running Vista Ultimate, UAC has been disabled for months, it's not a laptop but a desktop PC.
What could be the problem?
Thanks for any replies,

Let me guess, you mouse is still fully white (like it was before it goes dark)?
I believe this definitely has something to do with the UAC, which is odd because you have it switched off.
I'm having the exact same problem and cannot find the application causing the error, I am on a Laptop with Vista Ultimate.
My first suspicion is iTunes!?
Any more help would be appreciated.

Problem solved (for me).
I recently did a clean install of Vista and had just put the latest version of ATI's Catalyst Control Center on, i tried restoring the defaults (which i believe can be found in the lower-right hand corner of the main windows, when catalyst is set to Advanced View). it worked for me, hope it does for you.

Clean install of Vista also worked for me, although it's no real solution.
The problem never happened again.
"Jacki Boi" wrote:

I think I have the same problem. Here's what happens:
I log into my profile after a fresh boot. Everything looks fine and the right brightness. Startup programs load but sometime within the first minute or so the screen goes to about half its original brightness. It looks as if there is a grey semi-transparent layer over everything (much like a UAC prompt, without the prompt window) but the mouse is still bright-white as it was before the screen darkened. When UAC is actually triggered, the screen gets darker still as secure desktop prompts me, but goes back to the dull greyish desktop when I take action to the UAC prompt.
None of this happens when I boot the computer in safe mode or before I log into my profile, so I'm pretty sure it's a startup program that triggers this behavior.
Anyone else with this problem and/or a solution??

"kbjazz" wrote:

In article , mrnevets discussions.microsoft.com says...

Try using MSCONFIG to disable the startup items. Does the problem disappear? If yes, enable them one by one, and reboot every time until the problem resurfaces. Then you found the culprit.
Kind regards, Mark Veldhuis.

I've been having the same problem. I've determined that the problem only occurs when my iPod is connected at boot up and iTunes loads when logging in.
Solution: Disconnect iPod at boot up. No problems since.

After disabling all startup items and then re-enabling them one by one, I found that the Catalyst Control Center (for my ATI Radeon Mobility card) was the culprit. Strangely enough, I'm sure I installed the CCC after the problem started happening, but apparentely removing it also removed what the problem might have been in the first place.

I have exactly the same problem, but with a different scenario:
I was working well with my laptop (Vista Business x86 on an toshiba a215-s4757) with no problems, yesterday I installed Host Adapters for Biztalk 2k6 and a recomended patch from Problems and Fixes, KB94xxx don't remeber the exact kb, so i restart the computer and everything goes right, until the next reboot when the symptoms appears as you describeb in your post... I uninstall the patch, doesn't work... I uninstall the Adapters, doesn't work... I restore my computer to a previous state in restore and backup, doesnt work!!!
I'll try to stop from start the Catalyst Control Center, well I see that in october 11 in this year has been an update for the software and the drivers from ATI...
Some more data I remeber that in the first atempt or reboot, the CCC.exe doesn't exit well and Vista shoes you that the program doesn't close to the kill signal...
Some more info??
"mrnevets" wrote:

Have you installed Service Pack 3 for Office XP? Office XP is really not certified for Windows Vista, so thats why you might be experiencing unexpected incompatibility it.
Error 3000 seems like a common problem with Databases: google.com.jm/search?hl=en&q=Error+3000+-+Microsoft+Access&btnG=Google+Search
For Access related issues, try microsoft.public.access Andre Blog: adacosta.spaces.live.com My Vista Quickstart Guide: adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry "Johnny Meynell"