Black Screen upon Win7 logon, now result in "Windows Failed to Start"

[goobers]

Black Screen upon Win7 logon, now result in "Windows Failed to Start"

Yesterday I started having problems with my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit desktop machine. Here's the sequence of events I would encounter:

I would start the computer, logon normally, and about 3 minutes after I logged on my video would go black, monitor lights blinking like there was no signal, but the power to the system was still running. Each time I rebooted into normal Windows boot, the system would result in the same error.

I tried re-seating all my components to no avail. I also tried unhooking one component at a time, to no avail.

I started trying to diagnose the issue. Event Viewer logs provided nothing except for some generic error codes which I reviewed on EventID.net. I found that booting into Safe Mode worked fine. I found that doing a Clean Boot would result in the error. I found that doing a selective startup with Windows Services only would result in an error. I found that booting with Diagnostic Services only would result in an error.

I tried using a Windows 7 repair disc to repair my install and that didn't work. When I tried to do a full re-install over my existing install, my computer wouldn't stay on long enough for everything to finish.

Finally at 9:30pm last night the system stayed on with a normal windows boot with all services running (with the cd-rom unplugged; I don't think this actually had any impact) for a few hours before I went to sleep. I left the computer on overnight to see if it would last.

This morning when I woke up at 8am the computer was again black screen, monitor blinking, etc. Upon rebooting the machine, I got the following error message:

"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next"
3. Click "Repair Your Computer"

If you do not have the disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance"

I tried reseating my hard drive and unplugged all the other components, and continue to receive the same error message. This leads me to believe my Windows installation is corrupted and has been the root of all my problems, but don't understand why that would make my screen go black like the video card disconnected.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[remm]

Since the error did not occur in SafeMode where Win uses a generic low-res 600x800 video driver, but occurred in Clean Boot mode, where your hi-res installed video driver is used, I would guess the problem is a corrupted video/graphics driver. You might try looking for the latest vid driver from the manufacturer website, of your particular machine.

 

[Tookeri]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums!

I see you have tried a lot of things but you haven't mentioned SFC, so give that a try: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[goobers]

The biggest issue I have now is I can't even boot into any form of Windows (safe mode, clean boot, normal) to reinstall video drivers. I will give the System File Checker a go with one of my system repair disks to see if that works.

 

[maxie]

Read the Tutorial below ...


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[goobers]

So I was able to do a startup repair to get me back into Safe Mode, but now Safe Mode is no longer working and after about 1 minute the screen goes black and I have no option but to reboot. Sometimes when I reboot now, the system hangs just after the BIOS screen and it gets stuck on black screen for a few minutes. I try to bring up boot options, that doesn't work. It doesn't even make it to a Windows loading screen. My only option is to hold the power button down to kill everything, and then turn it back on and cross my fingers.

 

[maxie]

Follow the Steps in my above Post ....

 

[goobers]

Maxie - I can't even complete the steps in your above post because my screen goes black while I'm attempting to do anything now. It goes black when I'm using a recovery disc to attempt a repair, it goes black about 1 minute after I log into Safe Mode, goes black 1 minute after I log into Diagnostic Services or Selective Services mode. Basically, everything I've tried from your suggestions to running antivirus to running a recovery disc to safe mode is now failing all the time...and that's if I even make it past the BIOS post.

 

[maxie]

You could have a Hardware problem ... To rule that out Download a Live CD ..