Windows 7: Laptop boots to blank screen and cursor. Help.

Hello, my laptop won't boot correctly. Everything loads but instead of the home login screen showing up, I get a blank screen with a cursor. I tried booting in safe mode and restoring but I still get a blank screen. Tried booting a recovery cd, but still get the blank screen. This happened right when I was watching a video, the computer just went black and restarted itself to a blank screen. Anyone have any advice? Thanks.

See if you can boot to a safe mode command prompt. Then run

sfc /scannow

Let us know how that goes.

If nothing unusual, then create a bootable puppy linux cd.

Puppy live-CD

See if that runs without problem. Trying to determine if this is a hardware or operating system/driver problem.

By the way, are your notebook vents clear and fan running?

Can you get to your boot menu or bios? usually this is done during the loading screen where the manufacturer of your laptop's logo comes on the screen.

usually an F2, F10, F12 or Delete key will get you there during this screen.

When I boot in safe mode, I still get the blank screen. Is the command prompt suppose to show up? I don't think its a vent issue since my laptop is recently new. I'll try the puppy cd when I get home later tonight.

Yes, I can get to the boot menu and bios menu.
I tried repairing, safe mode, and restore to last point, but I still get a blank screen.

No, when you hit F8, you have the options listed below in attachment. You want to select "safe mode with command prompt". Were you able to try that successfully?

Lemur, you're going the same place I am.

True. But when I asked about entering the sfc command at safe mode prompt, the OP just mentioned going to safe mode. Wanted to verify...

Totally. I'm acknowledging that you're faster than I am on this one

Hi, so I removed the hard drive from my laptop and booted the computer with my recovery cd and it actually worked. No blank screen, the dvd I booted actually showed up. Does this mean my hard drive or some file on it is corrupt? Do you think replacing the laptop hard drive will fix the issue?

I would probably reformat the drive, and run a chkdsk on it. There are also several hard drive diagnostic utilities out there, some specifically made for the hard drive. What hard drive do you have?

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