Can't install Windows 7, getting black screen with cursor


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #1

    Can't install Windows 7, getting black screen with cursor


    I’m having some problems with my PC, and suspect it MAY be related to Windows 7. Yesterday I was using my PC and it started crashing. It would either freeze, show me a blue screen error and reboot, or just flat out reboot. I believe the problem is one of three possible things: Windows 7 problems, bad motherboard, bad CPU.

    I’ve been using this PC in this configuration with no changes since November, 2009 when I upgraded my PC, and haven’t had any problems with it until recently. I have an upgrade disc, and I always do the ‘Clean Install’ option. I tested it with different video card & sound card configurations, and with a single memory stick in different ports, etc. I’ve also downloaded and ran Seagate’s SeaTools program to do a hard drive check and it came out clean. No matter what hardware configuration I tried, it still crashed. It would work for about 5 minutes, then crash. Strange thing is, it would not crash if it were in safe mode, which led me to believe it was a problem with Windows or possibly some drivers.

    I tried to do a system restore and, as usual, it didn’t help at all. I finally decided to just try and wipe the hard drive and do a clean install. Every time I try to install Windows 7, it goes through the install process until it gets to the last step, reboots, then when the progress bar is about 3/4 of the way through, I just get a black screen with my mouse cursor. I can move the cursor, but can’t do anything else. Hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL does nothing. I’ve tried installing it at least 4 times and always get the same result. I also tried installing the 32-bit version of Windows 7, same thing. When I install an older copy of Windows XP Pro that I have, it will install but that’s about it. It won’t let me install my video drivers or do much else with it.

    Here’s my PC info:
    Motherboard: MSI NF750-G55
    CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition
    Memory: 4GB (2 x 2GB) G. Skill DDR3 1600 SDRAM
    Hard Drives: 1 TB Seagate & 350GB Western Digital
    Power Supply: Cooler Master 500W

    This setup has been working without issue since November, 2009. I’ve not even opened the case in at least 6 months, and don’t install a ton of new programs. Haven’t installed anything in the last 2 weeks. The main reason that I suspect a possible problem with the motherboard is that I have had a problem where, when booting up the PC, I get a very quiet tone during the POST test, then I get the usual *beep* and it boots up. There was a problem for a while where it wouldn’t boot up, and I would just shut it down & restart it and it worked fine. More often than not, it would boot and work with no problem, so I didn’t bother doing a warranty return on it.

    I’ve been looking through the forums here and I’ve tried recovering the boot record as outlined here: MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

    No dice.

    Any ideas?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,963
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
       #2

    You haven't opened the case in over six months? Don't know if it will help or not, but you might need to clean some dust of there. Its not had to get a ton of dust inside the case, which can clog a fan or cover the heat sink, causing over heating. Heat + electronics = bad.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    That was one of my thoughts too. When I was doing my testing today, switching around/removing parts to try and isolate the problem, I did give it a good cleaning also with the compressed air. Sadly, no change.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #4

    Welcome to SF! jjmiller1980 Sounds like you may be running into the same or similar hardware problems with your board or possibly a bad dimm where the installation hangs and problems with the bios eprom stall the system entirely.

    On a 3 1/2yr. build just replaced a few months back having power up problems it finally let go while the new case was down temporarily refusing to do anything other then spin fans. That will need either a new bios chip or total board replacement at some later date.

    Bad memory however will also cause numerous installation as well as operational problems on any system where a good run of memtest would be a thought to consider.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 2,963
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
       #5

    Unfortunately, when electronics overheat, a lot of times once the damage is done its done. Plain and simple. I just read where you mentioned the quiet tone during post. Unfortunately, I have no clue what the actually sounds are telling you, just that it is trying to tell you something. I suggest using memtest86 and letting it check the RAM 5 or 6 times (what others have recommended on here). If that doesn't turn up anything, we can start looking into what it would take to flash the BIOS, assuming th e BIOS has become corrupted.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    One of my first thoughts was that it might be overheating, because it started when I was playing a game. I ran a program to display the CPU temp and it never broke 40C, and the fans never stopped running. I also shared the thought that perhaps it was overheating due to dust on the inside, but it wasn't very dusty at all. Currently, I'm running memtest on it, just to make sure it's not the memory. If that turns out fine, another forum I posted on suggested unplugging the second hard drive, so I may try that. I didn't think about flashing the BIOS, but that's definitely something I can try also.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 51
    Windows 7 32bit, Windows XP Pro., Ubunto.
       #7

    Win 7 can hang to this situation if it's trying to find something in the driver loading time.
    1. make sure everything else is disconnected, like networking (my router caused this problem once), usb sticks, web cams etc.

    2. It can also be caused by explorer - which controls the desktop from loading, if so try this if you have a black screen and a moving mouse to show its not hung.
    You will not see the result until at the end when desktop loads.

    1. Pres ctrl+shift+Esc ....... this will launch task manger - but you will not see it!.
    2. Press alt+F ........ gets the file pull down - but you will not see it yet.
    3. Tap the N key ....... new task
    5. Type in the word Explorer and press enter.

    This will then bring the desktop to life - if this was the problem.

    Mik
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 8,608
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1
       #8

    Win 7 can hang to this situation if it's trying to find something in the driver loading time.
    1. make sure everything else is disconnected, like networking (my router caused this problem once), usb sticks, web cams etc.
    Good information here, Mike8
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Win 7 Home premium 64bit
       #9

    Your not alone with black screen with cursor, ive posted about this same thng recently and mine still does it. The weird thing is my workaround is going into the bios at boot up and switching to another hard drive under boot sequence that doesnt have windows on it. When it comes up it says bootmgr. missing hit shift control alt delete to restart so i do then go back into my bios and set the original hard drive that has windows 7 on it to boot first and it comes right up like normal. I dont understand it. Ive been working with computers since the commodore vic 20 in the 80s and never seen this. I cant seem to find a answer to fix this other than trying to swap Win 7 install onto the other hard drive (I have 3) to see if that fixes it. I havent yet tried the fix above about typing explorer yet. Might go with a SSD drive soon anyway and add win 7 to it.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #10

    One way to rule out a bad drive is try running the drive manufacturer's own or some other diagnostics on the main drive itself. Since you already tried swapping out the video card that can be ruled out for that being what has overheated especially during a gaming session.

    For problems seeing a fresh install go on a first thought would typically point at a bad dimm being present of for a recent build your dram settings may be off as another thought.

    Besides memory or another board related problem examining the drive itself using a diagnostics program from the manufacturer or other source to see if that is having problems would be another item. The last build here however saw 5 sata HDs and never ran into any problems installing to the host boot drive.

    A problem drive on the other hand was like one where Windows still ran but rough while any attempt to reinstall failed until the drive was replaced! That happened with one old drive where the heads were toast but on a then 4yr. old drive. Yet new drives can also have defects at times where this shouldn't be ruled out as one possible cause.
      My Computers


 

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