I am getting a black screen with a cursor

[actualdruid33]

I have a dell sr500 vostro 220. I have Vista Home Basic, with service pack 1 installed. Recently my computer told me that I needed to install some important updates and when I did then my computer refused to reboot. I can get to the screen where I can chose to boot into safe mode and safe mode with networking, ect. ect. but after it loads the files then I get a black screen with a white cursor that I can move around and that's it. I can perform all of the tests that are in the F12 menu. I have even performed tests on my monitor and everything was fine. I cannot do the control+alt+delete action to bring up the task manager. My monitor seems fine but at the end of the test it says that my monitor is out of range. I cannot get to my desktop or even to the welcome screen. I have tried to restore my computer to the last known good configuration and it does nothing. I don't know what's wrong. Please someone help me. All of my personal files and pictures are on this hard drive. I cant lose them. I have surfed the web and I have tried everything that I found and NOTHING works...... what do I need to do? please let me know. Thanks for your time and effort.

 

[Boozad]

Please remove you email address from your post.

Can you boot into Safe Mode seeing as you get the option or do you get the black screen even then?

 

[actualdruid33]

No it wont

I try to load into safe mode, safe mode with networking, and safe mode with command prompt. My computer loads all of the necessary files and then it just goes to a black screen with a cursor.

 

[actualdruid33]

and I did remove my email address as well......

 

[Boozad]

Can you get into the BIOS?

 

[actualdruid33]

no I cannot I can only get into the F8 screen, F12 setup, and F2. After everything is said and done it wont load in the slightest fashion. it shows the files being loaded but it just goes to a black screen where I can only move the cursor around and NOTHING else. It will not boot in ANY way.

 

[gregrocker]

You'lll need to be able to boot into F12 to run Dell's bootable Diagnostics and boot disks provided to repair the OS in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html.

If not try F2 to enter BIOS setup to check if HD is detected under Storage, SATA devices or Boot order. If not it needs to be reseated until it is detected, or replaced.

Booting into these should not be affected by OS failure on the HD, but is usually a user failure to tap the key vigorously or soon enough. If it absolutely will not boot then reset the CMOS to try to get it to boot F12: How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS) [Easy, 10 to 15 Min]

Everything that can possibly be done to start Win7 is in the steps for http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html, leading up to if necessary rescuiing your files to run
How to restore your Windows 7 computer to factory settings | Dell US or do the superior http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164