Unable to start - black screen or empty blue screen w cursor??

What is the result of Step One of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot You must start at Step One, checking if the hard drive is detected anywhere in BIOS setup - normally under storage, BIOS Boot Priority order, etc. It may appear as a serial number you can google to find the make/model.

If the hard drive is not detected then it needs to be replaced.

If the hard drive is detected then proceed with the steps in tutorial. I would also test the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to learn its exact condition. If you can't determine the HD maker by googling its serial from BIOS, use Seatools ISO burned to CD with Windows Image Burner to test the HD.[/QUOTE]


**The hard drive is detected in the BIOS under boot priority order. If I try to run the HDD diagnostic tool thing from the set up screen I reach via Thinkvantage button, it does not run it gives an error message.

Computer is now hung up again at the startup repair screen.

I am currently unable to do steps 2 or 3 as I have no safe mode access and no burner for any antivirus scan but as I mentioned, it was scanned the day before it became non-responsive. It had not had much use inbetween. Basically it went into hibernation and crashed when it tried to wake up.

I have no working burner so am off to procure a USB stick to continue with step 6 in the tutorial.

The hard drive is easily accessed.

T410 Model 2537-23U
sorry I don't know if the "Make" is Lenovo or Thinkpad but it says both.

I'd write Windows Defender to Flash stick to boot to check infection first since it may not repair if infected.

Then write Seatools ISO to stick after reformatting to test HDD

Then write Win7 ISO to stick to do other repairs.

If you get to the steps for Partition Wizard and can take a camera snap of the drive map with all listings shown we can sometimes spot the problem. How do I boot Partition Wizard bootable cd from my USB?

At any point you can skip to rescue files and do the Reinstall in my links below. You'll have the best install of Win7 possible if you stick with those steps only.

OK so skip to the steps in your most recent reply (i.e. Defender, SeaTools, W7 ISO?

Seatools for Window or Dos??

Dos is the ISO burned to disk or written to stick.

You don't need to skip any steps.

uh, you can go ahead and close this thread. I'm completely overwhelmed by tutorials inside tutorials and steps I don't understand and can't figure out if I've started or finished. Startup 'repair' (startup liar) is simply sitting as it has been for hours, and whaver that recovery iso thing is, is still downloading, apparently it's more than 3 gigs.

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do or where I was before the next 59 steps got added, so thanks for demonstrating that you're really smart about this, but I can't follow it.

All you need to do is ask back for any questions you have and we'll answer them. I've answered all the questions you've had in a timely manner.

It takes more patience than trying a few steps and then giving up in anger. If you have that patience then you will not fail because we won't let you, because we do not fail or quit and always get the problem resolved when their is cooperation and an eagerness to learn and not quit. If you can't summon the patience then you'll need to take it to a shop which often costs hundreds of dollars, even more than the PC is worth.

A Startup Repair that drags on for hours like you're experiencing often means a failing HD with such a scrambled file system the Disk Check being run cannot piece it back together or gets lost. That's the reason I asked you to check if the HD is even detected. When you said it was detected in Boot Order, I suggested next you test it to see if it is functional. I also suggested that if you get to the Partition Wizards steps in tutorial you post back the drive map shown by the booted PW disk, so we can see if the partitions are intact. You can also rightclick on each partition to see if the files are intact which is a very good sign.

From there it is just a matter of trying everything possible to start it, or skipping to the steps to rescue your files and then either run Lenovo One Key Recovery (the button next to the power button) or do the Clean Reinstall since you've made the Win7 disk to do repairs.

If you'll go to the Lenovo Support Downloads webpage for your model you should be able to find a Manual or further information about running Recovery.

Suppose that everything else fails including Recovery: If you stick with it and do the Clean Reinstall Factory OEM then you end up with the best possible install of Win7 one can have. There is no amount of money one can pay to have a Win7 install this flawless.

Power down, unplug charger and battery. Hold power button down 30 seconds. Now try power adapter to power up. Then battery.

Next boot into BIOS Setup to check SATA controller setting, then reset BIOS to defaults. Start? Check SATA setting to see its same.

If you understood how not angry (0) and completely confused 100%) I am you'd understand how confused I am.

I asked in the beginning I was understanding to run the repair thing 3 times. Well it is just hanging, I asked many times, do I just get out of this? No answer, but links to tutorials.

When you add different things to try, I have utterly no idea if I am supposed to stop what I was doing and start them or wait or what? The last thing I thought I understood was getting some iso thing onto a usb stick. Then there was another post about not to do that yet, but to do somehting else.

Then I read a tutorial that jumped to another and another. NO idea where that got left. I am on an old netbook, it is not so easy to get 10 tabs open at once.

So I have no idea where I am or what on earth is next.

You might as well be speaking Russian, because I am L.O.S.T. I don't get it. Do you want me to go back and run some windows defender thing or stick the iso onto a disk, I don't get it, now you are talking about the BiOS. Last I heard I was on step, like 2 or something way back there. Now I don't know anymore.


I don't get it.

What do I do now?

Tried the set up repair option - all the computer did was hang for hours. For 3 days.

Tried to run SeaTools. All I get is a black screen that says Free DOS or something, could not find any command that works.

Tried booting from USB and using many different tools to create bootable USB incase that was the problem but nothing has changed.

Sorry but am totally lost as to what to do next.

Reboot into Lenovo Thinkvantage Button to access BIOS setup. Do you see settings for CSM, Legacy BIOS or boot, Secure Boot on any tab?

Look for Reset to Defaults, choose this and save.

You need to burn a Windows 7 DVD or write to 4+ gb flash stick using the ISO and tool from Step 6 of Failure to Start tutorial. Use this to rescue any files, run Startup Repair and if necessary System Restore from the Repair choice on second screen. If any of these will run then proceed with the steps to wipe the HD to reinstall given in Overcoming Installation Failures tutorial below pic below.

Ask back any questions. Someone will try to help as I am traveling now.