Black Screen W/Flashing Cursor on boot up

One more update to give little more results. I won't be able to finish this test now as long then expected BUT it did in part test the drive. Due to size I am assume SATA Disk is my hard drive as it is taking some time to scan this.

But so far what I did was after the quick test I then went to the bottom opetion which is a system tree test which has a menu with lots of sub menus for each area. And is for pretty common issues I guess.

So i chose the OS System won't load issue and testing that now but won't be able to finish it before I leave but the initial testing of the hard drive all seems to have passed fine. The 3 areas tested were

Test - SATA Disk S/N = Long number here HA HA - Confidence Test

Tests performed were read of the media at the start middle and end of it.

Test Results - All Pass

Test - SATA Disk S/N = Long number here HA HA - Device Quick Check

Test Results - Pass

Currently it is running a Drive Self test (LONG) So this one might have to interupt as time is short and did not get as far as I wanted.

Everything prior to the above tested items (Lengthy list of boot area tests) All passed with GREEN CHECKS!!

Hi Again

Test is still running so will post results either later or tomorrow as been a long day. So far the input I have gotten back during the test indicates that the shorter drive tests are fine regarding the hard drive but have not gotten results regarding longer tests of the drive guess those wil come when test is completed.

NOW did have a question for anyone familar with hard drives.

IF there is an issue that is not easily fixed BUT the hard drive is OK I know there are kits you can get to convert a internal hard drive to an external slave drive.
Problem is is that Dell in their stupidity partitined the drive on this system The C drive is the smaller of the 2 (TOO small in my opinion) and then the larger is the D drive. and then of course the hidden restore area of the drive also is on there.

So my question is can this partitioned drive be converted to an extenal (providing the drive in fact good and readable) drive and hence allow me to back up my files on another computer at least saving my files from being lost forever?

THANKS!!!!

karlsnooks said:

Please update your system specs:
Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (3rd item in the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use SIW or Speccy or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on the SAVE CHANGES button.

I'll post what I know but don't have access to the computer to get this or is it in the Bios???

Will check later today as already restarted the test as I have a 600GB drive on my system so the drive scans take forever to run.

Also just a quick update. I did manage yesterday afternoon to get 82% scanned before my body just wore as as had some major dental work done yesterday so was just completely wiped out. But by 82% all the tests including drive tests to that point came up with a passing mark! Have restarted it this morning so am hoping by mid to late afternoon to have it completed I hope!!

Will post the results and check the bios for that info once that is completed. Meantime will fill in what I do know of the specs.

OK results are in and everything passed the test. I do have a friend whose a Dell computer engineer so he's checking but I am hoping this passing grade means the system is saveable!!!!

I finished the test and everything passed fine even my hard drive. Does this mean that the drives OK and might just be a bad boot area. So does this mean a boot disk should work fine getting me back in or could there be issues with the drive that diagnostics did not find even with long search?

anything folks as need to know what these results might mean for me getting back into my computer and what if anything I need to do to get back in!! Thanks

Yes, looks like the physical drive is completely fine, so getting the information off it is just a logical issue (i.e. partitions/filesystems/the MBR etc.)
And yes, you can put the internal drive into an external enclosure no problem. It doesn't matter what it contains or how its partitions are set up...though the hidden recovery partition won't be very useful once the drive is external.

Now if I can get my hands on a boot disk or boot repair disk will this maybe get me back into the computer? Just did not know to make one so don't have one been trying to hunt a friend up who has Win 7 but no luck so far but if I get a boot disk might this resolve the issue??