The Dreaded Black Screen -- Dell Inspiron N7010

[JC95]

On start-up, I get the Dell screen, followed by options for the F-2 and F-12 buttons. I then get a black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left corner.

I tried removing the battery and pressing the power button for 40 seconds, no luck. Starting in Safe Mode is not possible either.

I got some CD's from Dell. One is for the Dell OS, and the other is for Drivers and Utilities.

My main concern is saving whatever files, documents and photos I can. Any idead if that's possible?

Thank you

 

[x BlueRobot]

You could try following the steps within this tutorial:

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

If all the steps fail then, I would create a new Windows 7 Installation DVD using a different computer, and then perform a clean install without all the Dell bloatware;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Hope this helps,

Harry

 

[JC95]

Thanks for your help, Harry. I wanted to get my files backed up before I tried anything, so I took the computer to Best Buy and had them back everything up on the hard drive. The hard drive appears to be fine.

When I called Dell, they sent me two CD's. One is for the OS, the other CD is green and it is for the Drivers And Utilities. Any idea on what I'm supposed to do with these? I can't boot in safe mode, but I can get to the BIOS screen using F2.

I'm willing to try anything. As mentioned before, saving files and documents is no longer a concern for me. I'd just like to get this black screen to go away!

Thank

 

[x BlueRobot]

Install Windows again using the Dell OS disc they gave you, and then install all the drivers from the other disc they have given you.

Have you got your files backed up?

Once you have Windows working and all the drivers installed, we can work on removing some of the bloatware installed from the (Dell programs which are not needed) disc.

 

[Kaktussoft]

What happens exactly if you boot the pc? You see bios and then... nothing? only black screen with text cursor in top left?

 

[Kaktussoft]

power on your pc and tap F8 multiple times. Do it all the time, about every half a second for 20 seconds or so. Does a menu appear?

 

[gregrocker]

Dell provides a clean copy Win7 REinstallation DVD which only has the Dell branding and activation baked in, so it will be sufficient for doing the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Follow the steps closely especially how drivers are handled in Win7, so you only want to import any drivers still missing in Device Manager after all Important and Optional Windows Updates are finished. Then you want the latest drivers on the Dell DOwnloads page for your tag number, not the disk which is out of date almost as soon as it's pressed.

 

[JC95]

Have you got your files backed up?

Yes

What happens exactly if you boot the pc? You see bios and then... nothing? only black screen with text cursor in top left?

I boot the computer and get a black screen with a text cursor. I can prss F2 to get to bios.

power on your pc and tap F8 multiple times. Do it all the time, about every half a second for 20 seconds or so. Does a menu appear?

Nope. I'm not able to use safe mode

Dell provides a clean copy Win7 REinstallation DVD which only has the Dell branding and activation baked in, so it will be sufficient for doing the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Follow the steps closely especially how drivers are handled in Win7, so you only want to import any drivers still missing in Device Manager after all Important and Optional Windows Updates are finished. Then you want the latest drivers on the Dell DOwnloads page for your tag number, not the disk which is out of date almost as soon as it's pressed.

Thanks for the link, looks helpful. I completed step one, but step 2 is a problem. I see the screen below, but when I quickly press any key, nothing happens. I've tried rebooting and pressing other keys, still nothing.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thanks for the link, looks helpful. I completed step one, but step 2 is a problem. I see the screen below, but when I quickly press any key, nothing happens. I've tried rebooting and pressing other keys, still nothing.

That's very important information. Something stops the continuation of the process.
Only 1 internal disk is connected?

It's a laptop...correct? Is it easy to (temporary) disconnect the internal disk?

 

[Kaktussoft]

The computershop made a backup of your files. How did they do it? With acronis, norton ghost, win7 backup?
Or just folder you can browse on a backup?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Download partition wizard bootable CD and burn it
Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online
take the last one in the list called Bootable CD
Boot from the DVD/CD. Now rebuild the MBR
How to Rebuild MBR with partition magic? Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Video Help.
Apply the changes and try to boot normally.
Did partition wizard show the partitions? Post output

 

[Kaktussoft]

I found this:
How to rebuild MBR with magic partition manager?

System not found? Need rebuild MBR?

You may never feel rare to those error messages: "Operating System not found" or blank screen without any message when you boot the computer? Whatever, sometimes you may corrupt Windows' MBR (Master Boot Record) unintentionally and come with the problem failing to enter the system. In this situation, to rebuild MBR rather than reinstall the windows will be much more convenient and time-saving to fix the boot failure.

 

[JC95]

Thanks for the link, looks helpful. I completed step one, but step 2 is a problem. I see the screen below, but when I quickly press any key, nothing happens. I've tried rebooting and pressing other keys, still nothing.

That's very important information. Something stops the continuation of the process.
Only 1 internal disk is connected?

It's a laptop...correct? Is it easy to (temporary) disconnect the internal disk?

Yes, it's a laptop. Not really sure what an internal disk is.

The computershop made a backup of your files. How did they do it? With acronis, norton ghost, win7 backup?
Or just folder you can browse on a backup?

They just copied them and put them in folders in an external hard drive. I fear this is going to all go over my head. I've removed viruses and used safe mode many times before, but I fear this is gonna be much more complicated.

 

[gregrocker]

Try tapping the F12 key at boot, look for Dell Diagnostics and run them to check out the PC hardware. Report back findings.

Have you tried booting the DVD which Dell provided? Try that next.

First try it by tapping vigorously the F12 key when you start the PC, choose DVD drive to boot from menu. Do you get the prompt to Press any Key? Does it work this time.

Next boot into BIOS setup by tapping F2 key. Look for BIOS BOot order. Is DVD drive set first to boot, then HDD? If not set DVD drive first, then HDD, Save changes and Exit. Try booting DVD again. What happens?

Next go back to tutorial and write the latest ISO for your licensed version to flash stick using Steps 1 and 2. Boot stick using F12, under Removable, USB or HD"s - you may have to expand a category to find it.

Report back on all steps.

 

[JC95]

I tried pressing keys again before I ran Dell Diagnostics and got to a screen that said to choose an OS. I chose the only option: Windows Setup [EMSEnabled]. It then said Windows is Loading Files. After about 3 minutes, I got a screen that said Starting Windows.

I am now following intructions given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Looks promising....I will report back shortly with the results!

 

[JC95]

Question...would you suggest an "Upgrade" or a "Custom Installation?" The directions say custom, I was just curious what the difference was and which is best for my situation. I have backed-up my files at Best Buy.

 

[gregrocker]

That is the Dell F12 one-time BIOS Boot Menu. Did you see a listing for Dell Diagnostics? This is the reason I suggested you run it, because if it doesn't run then you can delete all partitions during reinstall. So go back and tap the F12 key as suggested to see if Diagnostics shows up on the menu and if so if it will run all the way through - very valuable to know before a reinstall.

If Diagnostics doesn't appear or won't run, then you can reboot into the installer again and choose Custom install, use the Drive Options shown in Step 7 and 8 to Delete all partitions (save the small OEM partition if Diagnostics does run) then create New as you wish to being the install.

 

[JC95]

Thanks! I'm running diagnostics. So far, no problems. Still have 20 minutes to go. So if I have no issues with diagnostics, which option would I select?

 

[gregrocker]

Have you studied the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 so you understand the the methods and tools to get a perfect reinstall?

If so boot the Dell Reinstallation DVD, choose Custom Install, then delete all partitions except the OEM Diagnosics partition, create New partitions in the space as shown in Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7 illustrated steps, format the new partition(s) only, then click Next to install.

Pay close attention to how drivers are handled in Win7 as it is different than XP. The closer you stick to the steps in the Clean Reinstall tutorial, the better install you will have and keep.

 

[Kaktussoft]

It's (most likely) just the MBR that got stuck. Why not simply rewrite it with Partition Wizard?