Windows 7 - Black Screen, Still see cursor though. ALWAYS HAPPENS

Problem has been an ongoing issue. I have never bother to try to fix it. It only happens to my desktop. It has now been occuring for well over 5 months.

It seems to always appear or show symtoms after my computer is left on for days. The symtom tends to appear around the third day or after. I will come back from work or some other place and i will click around to get the monitor to wake up. I don't make my computer go to hybernate mode or sleep(quite sure i don't make it go to sleep i think i have it set up to turn off the monitor after 15 minutes). The screen will be on just black. I see a flickering mouse curson on the screen though. just blinking/flickering. Can't see icons or anything else. Only command that does work is CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Brings up that other menu/window screen. I can see it just fine no flickering or anything alike. As soon as i click on any of the options and that screen is gone it does the same once more.

My temporary solution so far has been holding down the power button and shutting it down.

There are more issues that also appear over time when my computer is left on for days.
I hope i am understandable, never been good at describing.

Anyone care to take a crack at it?

I consider myself very knowledgeble on computers so any information you guys need i think i should be able to provide it quick and fast

My Specs

Hello Chris,

Try these repairs:
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Startup Repair

Also, look for updates. You might want to add drivers to the update list (this will automatically tell you what drivers you are missing): Device Installation Settings

It sure sounds like it is going into some form of power saving mode. Check your power options in BIOs and then check them in Windows.

Check for a BIOs update to see if this a kown issue and has been resolved by a BIOs update, many MB had wake up troubles that were fixed with a BIOs update so it will not hurt to check that out.

please excuse my delay in reporting results. With New Years Days and EVe. I haven't been home to get work done.
So far I done sfc /scanow. Had to restart will repeat a few more times and make sure to get better results.

So i did : SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Startup Repair
I updated, even did optional windows updates. It Still happen got black screen with cursor blinking and me being able to move it.

Sorry it took to reply but this problem takes a few days to appear.

Chris,

No problem on the time, I am in no rush, and I do this for free. Do you have your computer set to enter sleep or hibernate? check the power options settings>advanced

What antivirus do you have installed? In addition, could you run this?: Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free

Check your HDD for errors: Check a drive for errors

After you complete the previous check, type "memory" into the start menu search and schedule a memory check. restart. These may take some time. I can take you down the rabbit hole further after you've completeed these steps, let me know!

No my computer never goes into hibernate mode.

My Power Option plan is on High Performance, turning off the display at 15 minutes. Computer to sleep: Never.
I have Avast free Anti-Virus, as my Anti Virus. Comodo Firewall. and other security tools that are run manually.

Currently running MS Safety Scanner. It's been running for almost 4 hours and it's not even done with my smallest drive, let alone a partition of that drive. I can see this running for at least 10 hours.

To get better results i will check HDD for errors AFTER its done.
The memory check will also be done afterwards. Just wanted to update you. Thanks for trying, i still have doubts we will be able to solve it though. I am positive it's not a virus related issue. We will just have to wait for HDD errors( i have a gut feeling this might be it). Anyways once again thanks.

It has been reported that Avast! isn't a very good antivirus at all and has computer problems. I would recommend uninstalling it via the tool: avast! Uninstall Utility. I am not saying this to support another AV or for any ulterior motive, it is just plain and simple bad. I can recommend a simple but strong AV if you would like: Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows or you can go to our Security Forum section here: What's the Best Anti-virus? and see what others have put as their favorite AV. (Please don't choose AVG either...). Removing that AV may help your computer some.

Sorry that it is taking so long, Chris. Guess it is thurough. Perhaps leave it on overnight? Make sure the temps don't get too hot (or don't normally).

Did you disable windows firewall when Comodo is in use? Admittedly, I don't use Comodo so I wouldn't know if it does disables windows firewall automatically. I am of the mindset that windows firewall is completely fine in and of itself, but in this it is your choice. I've heard some good things on that firewall.

Let me know how all this goes. I guess it will just take time to complete.

As far as me uninstalling the anti virus Avast, that will be last resort if we believe the source of the problem to be coming from Avast. MSE is too weak in my opinion . If i will be dealing with a few false positives vs lower detection rate so be it, I tend to know what to trust if i can't trust it i can scan it with malwarebytes and other security software if i am still paranoid i can get it checked out by 2 friends who deal with this kind of stuff. Last resort i have system images.
I hope this does not bother you.

I don't hate on MSE i have it on my laptop and i had it beforeon this desktop.

Anyways the Safety scanner detected 4 issues related to java, i will scan local C once more.

As far as checking for drive errors do you want me to "Automatically fix file system errors." or Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sector... or both ? on what drives? All? ( I have a feeling this will take... LONG)
If so how can i schedule it to do all one after another ?

The memory scan has been schedule for next restart most likely after the safety scanner test will i restart.

Chris,

It doesn't bother me one bit. Though I may be strongly opinionated, it is your computer, and your software. I will only make suggestions, and you must filter what you would like to try. I appreciate you letting me know that you don't want to try that, most people just skip over without letting me know the steps they've taken. Also, others often have different opinions than I do. I am also not an MSE fanboy, so I've linked you in my previous post to a discussion on the AV security topic, if you'd like to read what others have experienced with many different AVs. You probably won't want to read all of it (its long).

For the drive errors, use both options offered. Let me know how it goes, and take as long as you like, I feel no need to rush anything as long as you don't.

If you don't use java (today, many people don't seem to use it very often, or even need to), then I strongly recommend removing it completely. It is highly susceptable to viruses. I have had difficulty removing java from my computer, so if you would like, you might try using Revo uninstaller free (Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems) to remove it with. It is more thorough than Control Panel's uninstaller.

If you do use java, make sure it updates automatically so as to ensure that updates block most of the security holes that are found. I've had mine updated and I practice relatively safe web browsing, but I was still infected. MSE found and removed the culprits for me, then I removed java with Revo uninstaller. No longer a chance to get infected through java.

Also Chris, in my signature at the bottom of my post is a link to "optimize Windows". There you will find methods to increase speed and performace, some of which may help you (couldn't hurt at least). You might look through it and see if there is anything that you would like to use. It could free up resources and allow the black screen not to come up too often