ouch..guess I got mine..;)
Hmm..I'm surprised they have you doing that much on the laptop. Sorry about the various innaccuracies.. Guess I just got a coupla bad techs..;)

Black screen with white letters- undocked profile means that it's looking for a docking station; usually a 'brick' of some kind with more connectors (USB, Keyboards, mice, etc). Usually that means it's been set up for more than one type of configuration. The laptop usually clamps into the docking station (there's usually a connector on the bottom or back of the unit..

I should have considered spinning letters, that doesn't sound like the typical BSOD. The only thing I can think is that perhaps it was putting the log on the screen? (sorry, hard to tell from the words..and you can't do screen caps at that point) Or something else is going on.

4 green lights, then... the computer goes through a self-check, called 'post', before it loads the OS. Usually (or at least in the past), that usually means it's passed the Processor, memory, and is testing the keyboard. Usually the next thing you hear is a floppy (if you have one..;), then the Hard drive. But usually you get something on the screen at least when it's checking memory (depends on BIOS..the motherboard..as to what you'll see)

 Re-image -sorry, that's jargon. It's what we say at work when we have to wipe the hard drive, and put a new OS and programs (we have the whole shooting match on the network, then just run a download program ..;) I guess it's just personal preference; I tend to try everything but the system board first, except as a last resort

Following was a long blather explaining what he did, and why, but everyone above and between has covered all the bases. It would have been a cluster-crosspost..;) Hope I wasn't too confusing.

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)