Windows 7 upgrade, black screen

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks again. One last thing (I hope), how do I allow it to boot from the dvd if I can't change the boot order. Remember, all I see is a black screen. For others reading this thread, only buy a legitimate copy of anything. I have learned the hard way!

Why can't you change the boot order if needed?

You change the boot order by entering the BIOS. It has nothing to do with Windows.

You enter the BIOS by holding down a particular key immediately when you try to start.

Which key?? Not sure on a Dell, it varies. Try the delete key. If that fails, try various of the F keys. You should be able to Google which key you need on a Dell.

Once the BIOS loads, you have to fish around in it for the location where you change the boot order.

Dells may also have some type of a boot menu where you could choose to boot from the DVD drive on a one-time basis. The menu should come up with an F key---if it's available on Dells at all and if your fiddling with the PC has not removed that capability.

 

[Nathc]

Brilliant thanks. I was thinking I couldn't get intp the BIOS

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Brilliant thanks. I was thinking I couldn't get intp the BIOS

I think it may be the F2 key on a Dell.

Try it and find out. You may as well know now rather than later.

 

[Nathc]

Right, I have turned the system on and I cannot even access the BIOS. I need to wait for the dell logo screen and then press the f key. Screen is blank from the moment I turn it on. Doesn't budge at all. Maybe I don't have a BIOS anymore!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Shut down as completely as you can. All switches off, so you can do a cold start.

Start and immediately hold down the F2 key. Keep it down.

Do you see ANYTHING other than a blank screen?

If that gives you nothing, I am out of ideas other than resetting the CMOS by pulling the battery for a minute or so.

I assume you can hear noises of some type when it tries to start--fans, hard drives, electrical noise, something however faint?

 

[Nathc]

I'm in work now and have taken it with me. I have tried what you have suggested, with no luck. It will just not budge from the original blank screen. The hard drive may be turning over - but i'm not sure. Will have a proper listen in a bit and report back. Removing the Cmos - is it straightforward? Will google anyway. At the mo all i'm thinking is I need a new bloody laptop

 

[Nathc]

......Nothing but a completely blank screen when I turn it on. The power light comes on. I have spoken with the guy who installed from the same disc on a Vista and an XP system, and he is up and running with no errors.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I know next to nothing about laptops. For all I know, you simply have a dead screen. Or you may have major hardware problems.

Inspect your manual or go online to Dell and enter your service key for complete access to Dell troubleshooting, specifications, downloads, etc.

Nor do I know if you could still recover to Vista if you bought those Dell recovery DVDs.

It is possible F2 is the wrong key. I am out of ideas.

 

[Nathc]

Thank you so much for your time. Will post back later

 

[alishathomaz]

Removing the graphics driver in safe mode might work for you. Just remove it via Device manager.

 

[Nathc]

How bizzarre. I removed the battery and left it for a few minutes. I then plugged the AC power cord, without the battery attached, and it has just sprung to life. It seems that maybe the install was interrupted through?? I am currently at the last stage of the install 'Transferring files, Settings and programs' and it seems to be progressing.

Will report back the results!!

 

[Nathc]

Well it has got to 69% and the laptop has turned off again. The fan is running. No keys that I press are having any effect whatsover

 

[Nathc]

Here is where I am:

After 69% screen turned off and left only the fan turning. I left it approx 1 hour before removing the power and attempting to reboot.
Plugged in another monitor to ensure it wasn't my creen - no change
Removed and reseated both of my memory chips - no change
Removed Bios battery - no change

One other website suggest removing the HD and formatting it. Putting it back in to the laptop before performing a clean install. This will not work either, as I cannot even get the dell screen.

I cannot believe nobody has ever seen this issue, ever.

I'm now searching for new laptops on line. Preferably with Windows 7

 

[lyndonws]

I had a similar situation, but found a slightly different solution by changing my video card temporarily:

Symptoms: After the 'welcome screen' I got a black screen with just the cursor (no My Computer icon). It would, however, let me run in Safe Mode w/networking.

I tried these fixes, in roughly this order:
1) Reset BIOS to default ...no change.
2) Tried Prevx Fix in Safe Mode ...no change.
3) Ran full virus scan in safe mode using Avast Antivirus ...returned one infected file [arg318495.exe or Win32:Crypt-MHR] MHR = Malware Hash Registry ...Successfully deleted, but still no change!
4) Removed recently installed video card, and replaced with old card. I do not believe the new card was a cause, but it prompted Windows to notice a hardware change, and ask for repair/restore selections during startup. After choosing 'system restore' my desktop loaded normally, and I switched the video cards again.

 

[gregrocker]

Reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI to try install, set HD first to boot.

Now trigger DVD drive using Dell F12 key at boot. At first screen, press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, run Diskpart Clean Command.

Close Command Box, click Install now, Custom Install, then at drive selection screen just click Next to let installer create and format your partition and begin install.

Follow these same steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

If this fails report back exactly what happens and at which step, any error message verbatim.

test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes.
Take out all but 2gb to try install.

Test your HD with HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

 

[Nathc]

Unfortunately I cannot even make the splash screen let alone enter the BIOS. When I turn on, the power light is in, and nothing else. I don't think the motherboard is kicking in, which suggests a power supply failure or moth8erboard failure. Not sure the install caused it, but somethings gone wrong big time. Def hardware

 

[gregrocker]

Remove battery and Ac adapter cord, hold down power button for 30 seconds to drain power. Leave battery unplugged, plug back in AC cord.

If that doesn't work, remove AC cord, hold power button down 30 seconds, then plug back in cord while holding power button.

If these steps fail, unplug cord, remove the memory, plug in cord, power up again to see if it beeps. Then power down, unplug cord, hold power button 30 seconds, replace memory, plug in cord and try again.

 

[Nathc]

Hi All - Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I need to summarise exactly what I have done

Currently, when I press the power button on my Laptop, the power light comes on and the dvd drive kicks in for a second then stops. The fan is not turning, the hard drive does not start, the screen remains blank. things I have tried:

Removing both of my memory boards and putting back. I have swapped both over, and also I have ran with only 1 board (1gb) in one slot (all combinations)
Removing the hard drive and booting
Removing the Cmos battery
Removing the keyboard
Trying an external moniotor
I have powered with and without the battery in, power cord only, I have also tried ensuring all capacitance in the systems has gone by powering on with no p[ower source connected.

Someone I work with suggests it is the Motherboard, as this needs to power before anything else start (BootLoader) etc. The W7 installation would have had nothing to do with it in his eyes.

I do not get any screen - Dell Splash, Bios, No beeps. I have ordered a Caddy to back up my files from my hardrive.

My next step was to contact Dell to see if they are able to trouble shoot. I believe there are some Dell diagnostic buttons that can be pressed upon initial power up - does any body have these?

Again, thanks everyine for your time

 

[gregrocker]

You can back up your files externally with the Win7 DVD or Repair CD using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console,

or use Paragon rescue disk to recover data