Black Screen W/Flashing Cursor on boot up

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  1. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
       #1

    Black Screen W/Flashing Cursor on boot up


    Hi

    Having problems here.

    First off I have a Dell Inspiron n7010 system running Windows 7 Home 64bit

    OK the other night I shut down my system and all seemed fine until next day. I went to reboot and got the normal Dell splash screen with both the Set Up (F2) and Boot (F12) options. After the Dell screen finished it then went to load Windows, but instead I got a Black Screen with Flashing Cursor. Can't move cursor at all.

    On the Dell screen I can access the Set Up (F2) bios pages. I can also access the Boot Options (F12) Page.

    What I can not gain access to is the Restore (F8) menus.

    I did not know to make any sort of boot disk or boot repair disk so I do not have either of these and I do not know of anyone who is using windos 7 that could make me one to use. Also Dell puts the rstore on the hard drive so onlyhave a MS Works CD and a Drivers & Utilities CD l ran the diagnostics utility but forgot to plug in my computer so when it was almost done the battery must have died so will redo the test later as tired tonight as been up half the night with this issue. But for memory the first 6 of the 8 memories areas it was scanning tested fine. Will post an update later today when Iget chance to run the whole thing again!!

    I know others have had this screen. Is there a solution as have spent the last day or so googling it and seems very mixed results depending on the user and their own case with this black screen w/cursor.
    • Some have said bad hard drive (I HOPE NOT THE CASE FOR ME AT LEAST!!!)
    • Some have said bad mother board.
    • Some have said virus or malware
    • Some have referenced a software update both Microsofts and also specific computer companies.
    So what can I do to get to my files at least to back them up that is providing the drive is OK!!!

    I do know from the boot menu my hard drive is showing in the boot menus. Does this mean that the drives OK but maybe a corrupted boot area or something?

    Any help much appriciated!!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #2

    Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

    What you are experiencing can be hard to fix, but it could well be the hard drive has gone to the big computer in the sky.

    This link may offer some insight, but I have to say it doesn't look promising.

    Win7 won't boot, black screen with blinking cursor - Microsoft Answers

    Have you contacted Dell to see if they can help?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #3

    Scottish,
    Welcome to SevenForums.

    Boot into the bios.
    Select the item to reset the bios to the default settings.

    Now can you boot up into win 7?

    If not, go back into the bios.

    Does the bios show your hard drive?

    You really do need to go to a store or to friend and make yourself a System Repair Disc.

    The version of Win 7 doesn't make any difference.

    What does make a difference is the "bittiness" of the system, that is, if you are running the 32bit version of Win 7, then you are looking for a system which also has the 32bit version of Win 7 installed. And of course if your system is 64 bit then you are looking for a 64bit system.

    Making the disc is extremely simple.

    You can use a CD or a DVD.

    Here's the procedure:
    START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
    Last edited by karlsnooks; 05 Oct 2011 at 04:02. Reason: remove line
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    seavixen32 said:
    Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

    What you are experiencing can be hard to fix, but it could well be the hard drive has gone to the big computer in the sky.

    This link may offer some insight, but I have to say it doesn't look promising.

    Win7 won't boot, black screen with blinking cursor - Microsoft Answers

    Have you contacted Dell to see if they can help?
    Hi Seavixwen32

    Well am hping it isn't the drive. I'll check page ot more throroughly but from a quick scan don't think anything new.

    and not called Dell yet as have been busy with dental appoitments during the day so not had chance yet.

    karlsnooks said:
    Scottish,
    Welcome to SevenForums.

    Boot into the bios.
    Select the item to reset the bios to the default settings.

    Now can you boot up into win 7?

    If not, go back into the bios.

    Does the bios show your hard drive?

    You really do need to go to a store or to friend and make yourself a System Repair Disc.

    The version of Win 7 doesn't make any difference.

    What does make a difference is the "bittiness" of the system, that is, if you are running the 32bit version of Win 7, then you are looking for a system which also has the 32bit version of Win 7 installed. And of course if your system is 64 bit then you are looking for a 64bit system.

    Making the disc is extremely simple.

    You can use a CD or a DVD.

    Here's the procedure:
    START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
    Hi Karlsnooks

    Already tried the default settings but was no good.

    As for the Hard Drive showing in the Bios it does seem to be there. When i go into boot options page I have 4 or 5 options. The hard drive option has a small plus sign next to it. If I click entr it opens the sub menu which then shows the type of drive installed.

    At present the hard drive is listed in second place as I wanted to run the utilities CD this morning to run the tests so I have temporarily slid the CD to top so it loads so rerunning the diagnostics from the CD this time plugged in HA HA takes awhile so maybe the computer kicked off last night due to time based on battery.

    As for boot disk don't know of anyone here but wrote my dad to see what he's running and crossing my fingers it's 7 64 bit!!!

    ---------------------

    Will update this again when I get the tests finished
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 467
    Seven ultimate 32bit
       #5

    Are you sure there are no external hdd's, or a flashdrive in the machine...???
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    SmurofNeves said:
    Are you sure there are no external hdd's, or a flashdrive in the machine...???
    Only thing plugged in is the power cord and battery and I have also tried some of the remove battery options some have said but also did not work.

    Shortly will post the results of the memory test as it's running the last batch now so will be done in 10 minutes or so give or take a few.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #7

    Scottish,
    I don't have any idea where you are physically located, but even without a Dale Carnegie personality, you should be able to go into a coffee shop with wifi acess, CD in hand then go up to some friendly-looking soul who has a new laptop, explain your problem and ask them if you could burn a system repair CD.

    I don't know about DELL but with Toshiba, you can tap the F12 (instead of the F2) key during boot time, and you will have the opportunity to perform a one-time boot from cd/usb stick instead of from your hard disk. This is simpler than going in and changing the boot order and then have to change the boot order back again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    karlsnooks said:
    Scottish,
    I don't have any idea where you are physically located, but even without a Dale Carnegie personality, you should be able to go into a coffee shop with wifi acess, CD in hand then go up to some friendly-looking soul who has a new laptop, explain your problem and ask them if you could burn a system repair CD.

    I don't know about DELL but with Toshiba, you can tap the F12 (instead of the F2) key during boot time, and you will have the opportunity to perform a one-time boot from cd/usb stick instead of from your hard disk. This is simpler than going in and changing the boot order and then have to change the boot order back again.
    Well am in NYC but the area I live not sure I want to ask anyone that question HA HA maybe mid town might but depends as so many here are so sceptical of when people ask for things they always start right off thinking begger HA HA But if all fails might have to do that.

    As for suggestion yes F12 does have boot options but is simple to change so not so worried about the order from that point. Am just hoping like crazy it is something else as need stuff off this drive I had not recently backed up as just got so busy with these stupid dental appointments over the last month to get that done and now am knocking myself in the head for not having backed up before all this!!

    Memory results coming very soon working the last batch right now (I hope HA HA) At least is is showing last on the screen I am on!!!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    OK memory test finished and all 8 areas tested passed with all 8 showing passed in green text just in case there are different levels of passing.

    Will now do a system test but have feeling will need to do it again later as thinking the drive might take time being 600 GB's and have impants going in this morning so might have to restart it again when I get home as feeling might take longer then I have at the moment.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 25
    windows 7 home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    OK running the system test. It ran for little bit then came up with a short menu to allow for a quick test (20-30 minutes), extended test (hour +), custom test and one other forget what it was.

    Since have to go shortly I selected the quick test just to have a general idea what is going on. The results of the quick test are back including the quick test of the hard drive and it says ALL PASSED in GREEN text.

    So am not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing. Being it seems the drive also passd am hoping like crazy it is a GOOD THING!!!! Maybe just corrupted boot routine I hope.

    Any imput based on the results I have so far would be much appriciated!!!!

    THANKS!!!!!
      My Computer


 
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