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

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  1. Posts : 12
    Windows 7
       #1

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


    Hello,

    My laptop will not boot. I end up with an empty black screen or a blue screen with no icons, just a cursor. I get choices for 'normal startup' or ' repair' but not safe mode. Any help appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,994
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit
       #2

    Hello JoLaRo and welcome to Seven Forums.

    One of the Forum experts has prepared a couple of tutorials that might help you out.

    Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

    Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

    If you're still having issues after following the tutorials, please post back.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    nice, thanks for all the tips. I cannot use them:

    I cannot access safe mode, thus I have no way to command the computer to do anything.

    I do not have any virus that I know of, system was completely scanned yesterday.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10,994
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit
       #4

    Was Step 5 in the "Failure To Boot" tutorial not working either?

    5. Once the System is clean if it won't start boot into System Recovery Options via the F8 menu or disk as shown in tutorial, run Startup Repair repeatedly up to 3 separate times with reboots in between each - no matter what it reports.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,994
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit
       #5

    You could also try repairing your system with a System Repair Disk. You'd use it to boot your computer and access the various repair options.

    System Repair Disc - Create

    Another option (maybe a "last resort" option before doing a clean install) is to try a repair install. A repair install will try to fix your currently installed Windows 7 while preserving your user accounts, data, programs, system drivers, etc. You'll need a Windows 7 w/SP1 install disk and your 25 digit Product Key in case you need to reactivate with Microsoft. The repair install tutorial includes a link for obtaining a legal install disk for your specific Windows 7 edition. (See the 3rd entry in the red "Warning" box for the link to download the Windows 7 ISO file. You'd download the ISO file to your computer then burn it to a blank disk to create the bootable DVD.)

    Repair Install

    Once the repair install is finished, you'd have to reinstall all Windows Updates. To (hopefully) make things a bit easier, you could first use the Hotfix Rollup which installs the first 90 or so updates after SP1 was released. Then you can manually check for any additional updates.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    OK, I haven nothing going on that looks like the startup repair screens referenced in the tutorial.

    I got a black screen that asked me if I wanted to start windows normally or not, the only two choices.

    I picked 'repair' and eventually ended up at a blank blue screen with a cursor, low res, and no choices.
    If I picked 'start normally' it would try, then initiate the 'repair' and shazam, you guessed it, blue screen of nothing)

    It did just hang on a black blank screen for a long time, other times.

    I left it in the corner and now it says it is running some kind if 'disc repair' that 'might take an hour' (this is, at least, a step up from the useless blue screen with the flower thing in the lower right hand corner) but it has been sitting for 7 hours and nothing has changed.

    Do I reboot again and interrupt any 'repair' it's doing or just leave it? The hard disk light is on. I just doubt it is getting anywhere.

    I don't know about creating any repair discs - if they have to be CD's I have no way to burn them.Can you repair from USB? Sorry if I am asking stupid questions, I just don't do this for a living. I didn't get any repair disc things with the computer.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    JoLaRo said:
    nice, thanks for all the tips. I cannot use them:

    I cannot access safe mode, thus I have no way to command the computer to do anything.

    I do not have any virus that I know of, system was completely scanned yesterday.
    Perhaps you should take the time to actually read Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

    Entering Safe Mode is only one option given and if it isn't possible every repair is available using a boot disk. The disks are provided too.

    You can also try to access System Recovery Options from the F8 Advanced Boot Options to run Startup Repair, try System Restore, and do the Command Line repairs listed.

    Everything possible that can be done to start unbootable Win7 is in those steps. If you have questions about any of them then ask back, but don't reply to a set of over a dozen steps by saying you can't use them. Of course you can use them, just like thousands of others have. It takes access to another PC and doing the work. If you aren't able to do those then take it to a shop and pay hundreds of dollars.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    OK, I am sorry if I am not able to be clear. I am doing my best to try and follow. Please know this.

    Please also know that when I use F8 I do not get directed to a place where I have 'system recovery options', I don't see a thing that looks like those screen shots. I was never at a familiar screen for system recovery, or repair, or safe mode. I don't know why.

    I really am trying. I am sorry if I do not understand all the steps that you do use every day all at once.
    Let me say if we switched jobs you might have a hard time doing mine at first, even with steps to follow. I work in a hospital. yes, you could do the lab tests with tutorials, but you would need first to understand what you are reading, yes? And how to operate the machines that are unfamiliar? So perhaps you can understand if I have some confusion, that is all I am asking.



    Let me ask you again: My computer has been now, sitting since 7 hours ago or more, stating it is trying to do a disc repair. Although I now have a cancel button on this screen, I cannot cancel the operation, this is what it says.

    I question whether anything at all is happening, since it apparently took the computer an hour to get to this screen, and now it has been here 7 hours. Do you think I should power off the computer and attempt all the steps I can in the tutorials or just leave it alone overnight to see if anything changes. I do not know if it is really 'repairing' anything. What would you do?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Computer has now sat overnight, 18 hours, still on startup repair. I do not know if it is actually repairing a thing.

    Should I leave it for a day or two or try something else? What would you do?
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Power down by holding the power button, then reboot into BIOS setup to perform Step One of the tutorial you haven't started on yet. The key for BIOS setup (F1, F2, ESC, etc) should appear on the first BIOS screen. We could give you this information if you had provided your PC make and model. Fill in your specs now in the bottom left corner of post.

    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. A video probably can be found via Google for how to replace the hard drive on your model PC, or how to disassemble your PC. It's normally under a small door on the back with a HD symbol. It may only need reseating to get it detected.

    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.
      My Computer


 
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