Can virus cause the screen to go black?

[kkickert]

I was walking my dad through installing AVG 8.0 - it identified some viruses - at the end it said scan was complete the only option was to close the program.

When he did it shut down and now the screen will not come on.  He says it sounds like the CPU is running but he can't see anything.  How do you correct a problem without visibility to the screen?  He is running XP
Thanks

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Is there Absolutely nothing on the screen? Even right when you turn the computer on?

[Broni]

Also, how about Safe Mode?

[AzNVi3t2007]

Does the computer go past post or nothing at all when booting up???