Solved Black screen with cursor on startup following Windows Update

[Grimgor]

Hi everyone

Earlier this evening, I updated my computer, which included about ten new important ones, and four optional. One of the optional ones was an NVIDIA drivers update. Thinking little of it, I set it to update, then watched a movie on the computer while I waited. During it, the screen went black three times (as if the power had been cut) and the computer's noise level dropped significantly. After less than a second, it was back to normal in all cases and afterwards, after seeing the update (where the NVIDIA driver had failed to update), I figured that was the problem. Windows Update said it needed to restart in order to install the drivers correctly, and I let it. Unfortunately, every time I start up now, the screen goes instantly black, and there is nothing but my regular windows cursor. The left side goes on a bit beyond my screen (I can move the cursor off-screen), but that's it. I have tried starting up with my the driver CD for my monitor, the one for my graphics card, as well as my Windows Restore disk. None of them work. I also can't enter Safe Mode because it never starts up, no matter how much I press F8. I've even tried hooking up an old keyboard, in case the USB ports somehow didn't work that soon in the startup or something. No dice, it won't even light up the Lock keys.

Any help would really be appreciated!

 

[zigzag3143]

Have you tried booting in Safe mode (F8)?


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[Grimgor]

I tried repeatedly pressing F8 on startup, which didn't work. If there is some other way, I'd love to hear it

 

[Kaktussoft]

boot into recovery environment from system repair disk or windows installation dvd
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html option 2
then http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html option 2.
This will rollback your system (not documents, pictures etc) to a prior date/time.
Take some restore point prior to problems.

 

[Grimgor]

Trouble is, I don't have access to any of those menues. The black screen and cursor starts immediately after I turn the computer on, no BIOS, no nothing.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Trouble is, I don't have access to any of those menues. The black screen and cursor starts immediately after I turn the computer on, no BIOS, no nothing.

no bios screen at all? Normally you see bios screen? Do you know the key to enter bios settings?

 

[Grimgor]

No blue screen, and I'm pressing F8.

 

[Kaktussoft]

No blue screen, and I'm pressing F8.

What happens excatly when starting computer? Now you say blue screen, last time you said black screen

Most of the time F2 or DEL is defined for entering bios

 

[Grimgor]

You asked for blue screen, and I said (there is) no blue screen. There is only the black screen

What happens is: The computer makes the regular startup noises, and keeps sounding normally for a minute or two. But no picture ever appears. Eventually (within thirty seconds or so) the cursor appears.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I didn't ask for blue screen ... I asked for BIOS screen. But you don't see it now. Did you see BIOS before?

 

[Grimgor]

Ah, I see. Nope, I didn't before, either.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Ah, I see. Nope, I didn't before, either.

So you did never see BIOS screen before... strange. Maybe display bios splashscreen has been disabled. But system worked before so went through bios startup (only you never saw it). Have a look in your motherboard manual how to enter bios setup. Most of the time it's F2 or DEL.

If you have a blinking cursor press ctrl-alt-del multiple times. Something happens then? Do you realy don't see any messages???? Something like "press F2 to enter setup"? Look carefully!

 

[Grimgor]

I looked in the manual, and it said Del was the one used. When I press that repeatedly, the black screen with a cursor never appears, and the computer doesn't complete its startup, so it would seem like I'm in the BIOS. I have tried, using user manual screenshots, to navigate to 'Load Fail-safe defaults', but so far no luck.

 

[Grimgor]

Just bumping this to update: Regardless of what I press, I can't get the supposed BIOS menu to coorporate.

 

[writhziden]

Have you tried running with just your CPU and one RAM module in the system to see if you can get into the BIOS? Sometimes, a failing piece of hardware can prevent the BIOS from opening properly.

• If you swap or remove any components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working.
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

 

[Grimgor]

Hello, I have good news! Evidently, the drivers I installed at the time swapped something with the monitor plugs around, so one of the others became the one to recieve all the input from the computer instead. Regardless of what happened, or how, I had to use another plug for my monitor, something the computer gave no indication of. I'm sorry to anyone whose time I wasted, but also massively relieved that there wasn't a problem as serious as I feared.
Thank you guys for being so helpful, expecially Kaktussoft for his patience