Black Screen W/Flashing Cursor on boot up

[scottish2]

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!!

 

[seavixen32]

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?

 

[karlsnooks]

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

 

[scottish2]

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.

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

 

[SmurofNeves]

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

 

[scottish2]

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.

 

[karlsnooks]

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.

 

[scottish2]

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!!!

 

[scottish2]

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.

 

[scottish2]

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!!!!!

 

[scottish2]

One more update to give little more results. I won't be able to finish this test now as long then expected BUT it did in part test the drive. Due to size I am assume SATA Disk is my hard drive as it is taking some time to scan this.

But so far what I did was after the quick test I then went to the bottom opetion which is a system tree test which has a menu with lots of sub menus for each area. And is for pretty common issues I guess.

So i chose the OS System won't load issue and testing that now but won't be able to finish it before I leave but the initial testing of the hard drive all seems to have passed fine. The 3 areas tested were

Test - SATA Disk S/N = Long number here HA HA - Confidence Test

Tests performed were read of the media at the start middle and end of it.

Test Results - All Pass
​

Test - SATA Disk S/N = Long number here HA HA - Device Quick Check

Test Results - Pass
​

Currently it is running a Drive Self test (LONG) So this one might have to interupt as time is short and did not get as far as I wanted.

Everything prior to the above tested items (Lengthy list of boot area tests) All passed with GREEN CHECKS!!

 

[scottish2]

Hi Again

Test is still running so will post results either later or tomorrow as been a long day. So far the input I have gotten back during the test indicates that the shorter drive tests are fine regarding the hard drive but have not gotten results regarding longer tests of the drive guess those wil come when test is completed.

NOW did have a question for anyone familar with hard drives.

IF there is an issue that is not easily fixed BUT the hard drive is OK I know there are kits you can get to convert a internal hard drive to an external slave drive.
Problem is is that Dell in their stupidity partitined the drive on this system The C drive is the smaller of the 2 (TOO small in my opinion) and then the larger is the D drive. and then of course the hidden restore area of the drive also is on there.

So my question is can this partitioned drive be converted to an extenal (providing the drive in fact good and readable) drive and hence allow me to back up my files on another computer at least saving my files from being lost forever?

THANKS!!!!

 

[karlsnooks]

Please update your system specs:
Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (3rd item in the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use SIW or Speccy or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on the SAVE CHANGES button.

 

[scottish2]

Please update your system specs:
Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (3rd item in the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use SIW or Speccy or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on the SAVE CHANGES button.

I'll post what I know but don't have access to the computer to get this or is it in the Bios???

Will check later today as already restarted the test as I have a 600GB drive on my system so the drive scans take forever to run.

Also just a quick update. I did manage yesterday afternoon to get 82% scanned before my body just wore as as had some major dental work done yesterday so was just completely wiped out. But by 82% all the tests including drive tests to that point came up with a passing mark! Have restarted it this morning so am hoping by mid to late afternoon to have it completed I hope!!

Will post the results and check the bios for that info once that is completed. Meantime will fill in what I do know of the specs.

 

[scottish2]

OK results are in and everything passed the test. I do have a friend whose a Dell computer engineer so he's checking but I am hoping this passing grade means the system is saveable!!!!

 

[scottish2]

I finished the test and everything passed fine even my hard drive. Does this mean that the drives OK and might just be a bad boot area. So does this mean a boot disk should work fine getting me back in or could there be issues with the drive that diagnostics did not find even with long search?

 

[scottish2]

anything folks as need to know what these results might mean for me getting back into my computer and what if anything I need to do to get back in!! Thanks

 

[Corazon]

Yes, looks like the physical drive is completely fine, so getting the information off it is just a logical issue (i.e. partitions/filesystems/the MBR etc.)
And yes, you can put the internal drive into an external enclosure no problem. It doesn't matter what it contains or how its partitions are set up...though the hidden recovery partition won't be very useful once the drive is external.

 

[scottish2]

Now if I can get my hands on a boot disk or boot repair disk will this maybe get me back into the computer? Just did not know to make one so don't have one been trying to hunt a friend up who has Win 7 but no luck so far but if I get a boot disk might this resolve the issue??

 

[karlsnooks]

CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button