Black screen with flashing cursor

[Pam8]

It all started when files & folders went missing, they weren't in the recycle bin & or in any other part of the system. I then decided to do a system restore which was successful. After a few hours I went to turn on my computer, the dell logo comes up & then goes to a black screen with a flashing cursor at the top left side. I turned it off & on again, the dell logo screen has an F2 & F12 option, I have clicked F2 & carried out a PC diagnostics thorough test which passed, so I assume the problem is the Windows 7 operating system .

I do have a backup disk of my own which I created & also an external backup drive, unfortunately I'm not having much luck with these unless I'm not booting them right. This is how I've done it:

- All other USB connections ie. printer etc are disconnected except for monitor, mouse, keyboard & external backup drive.

- I switch on computer, dell logo comes up with F2 & F12 option

- I click on F12 which leads to a box asking me to 'Please select a boot device', the options are hard disk, cd/DVD rom, USB hard disk, diagnostics & enter setup

- I click USB hard disk which leads to the black screen with white text 'booting Linux', this then leads to the NTI Backup Now EZ box, this asks me to press the restore button to begin restoring the computer & also to select alternative restore point if needed.

- when I click restore, it is carried out successfully but then when it restarts the black screen with flashing cursor reappears

- I tried the F2 option which leads to a BIOS screen & tried booting from there & changing the booting sequence order but it still leads to the NTI Backup Now EZ box asking me to restore.

 

[AddRAM]

Welcome to the Forums Pam8

Do you have a windows 7 image which you created and stored on the external ?

Have you run a startup repair ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

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

 

[Pam8]

Unfortunately I don't have a system repair disc in order to do a startup repair. I only have a backup cd, a Toshiba backup external hard drive and a drivers & utilities disc which came with the computer.

 

[AddRAM]

Do you have access to another W7 pc ? You could make a startup repair disc from there, all you would need is a blank cd.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

What happens when you try to boot from this backup disc you created ?