Windows 7 boots to an unresponsive black screen with mouse cursor...

Anonymous
2012-04-05T04:26:16+00:00

Started up the PC one day and it booted to a black screen. I didn't change the configuration in any way, it just happened suddenly.

What it does:

The PC turns on like normal. I get the bios screen. I get the Windows logo screen. Then I get a black screen with a mouse cursor in the middle.

I can move the mouse, but the buttons don't do anything--left or right click.  No keys on the keyboard change the screen. Ctrl+Alt+Del does nothing. Windows key does nothing. Esc does nothing, etc. At this point the only option is to hold down the power button and turn it off.

What I've tried:

I tried to start it in safe mode, but the same thing happens. It shows the system files that are loading. The last file it shows loading is Windows/system32/DRIVERS/AtiPcie.sys then it goes to a black screen with a mouse cursor again; only this time it is in safe mode resolution so the mouse cursor is larger and not as sharp. Also, no keyboard strokes have any affect just as with normal mode.

It is a Dell Inspiron, so it came with an onboard repair utility. I used the Startup Repair tool, but it found no problems. The diagnostics tools found no issues with the hard drive or any of the other major system components. However, this error came up which appears to be related to the multi-card (SD, micro SD, etc.) reader on the front of the PC:

error code 4400:011A

msg:SCSI_1-000 DISK_generic-_SD/MMC - target not ready

It seems that this is unrelated to the black screen. I unplugged the card reader and still had the same problem. Otherwise, it passes all other tests the onboard diagnostic utility has including, memory tests, fan tests, hard drive tests, etc.

I have not, however, tried a full system restore yet. From what I've read in several forums, many have tried this in similar situations and still had the same problem. Since there are several files I'd rather not lose, I wanted to explore all other avenues.

Sorry if this is a repeat question in the forum. Most of the other situations seemed similar, but there was always something they could do that I could not, like press Ctrl+Alt+Del or boot into safe mode or whatever.

Here is as much of the system info that I can gather without having the PC on (not mine, I'm doing this for a friend):

-Dell Inspiron (I think it's a 570)

-OS: Windows 7 Home

-AMD Athlon II X2

-Integrated Video Card (I tried both the VGA output and the HDMI, which he normally uses, and both give the same results) ATI Radeon HD 4200

I hope I've been thorough enough to allow you to help me without wasting any of your time, and I thank you in advance.

Windows for home | Other | Input and language

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-24T11:37:48+00:00

    This happened to one of my Windows 8 Dell laptops. The FIX I had was identifying and removing the culprit application -In my case an extra "antivirus" inadvertently installed (A2antimalware)

    I accessed the Task Manager from the blank screen by hitting ALT+CTRL+DEL keys, clicked on the Services tab and stopped the A2antimalware service. This allowed me to start Windows Explorer by clicking on File, Run New Task and typing explorer.exe in the window and clicking ok (Start windows explorer). From here I just accessed Add or Remove programs in Control Panel to remove the "antimalware" EMSISOFT application, restarted and voila! NO MORE BLANK SCREEN!!!

    Hope this helps someone.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-03T18:28:37+00:00

    Hi,

    You should be able to access the BIOS as you boot as that happens before Windows loads.

    Start the computer and look at the screen for Setup/Settings - often F2 and press that. If

    you don't do it fast enough Windows will attempt to restart so you may need to reboot and

    try again. If you can't get to the BIOS there are hardware issues and you need to seek the

    help of the System Maker or a real computer shop (one that does its own in-shop service).

    ===========================================================

    Why is my screen black when I start Windows 7?

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/why-is-my-screen-black-when-i-start-windows-7 

    **References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.**Saving any needed data and re-installing Windows 7 might be the best

    option though here are a few others.

    You can save your files by putting the drive in another computer or an

    external drive case and then backing them up. Do so using several

    methods in a redundant manner. Of course a real computer shop or

    your System maker can help recover the files.

    Or you could use an Ubuntu boot CD to back up the data.

    Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer

    Can you access Safe Mode? Repeatedly tap F8 as you boot? If so you can try Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - Double

    Click on - Driver tab - click UPDATE driver - then Right Click on

    Device and UNINSTALL - REBOOT.

    A method to try to access the desktop (try in both regular Windows 

    and Safe Mode) is to CTRL + ALT + DEL - Task Manager and on

    Process Tab find EXPLORER.exe and END PROCESS on it -

    then on Applications Tab - lower right - New Task - type in

    EXPLORER.exe. Safe Mode is reached by repeatedly tapping F8

    as you boot up. CTRL + SHIFT + ESC also starts Task Manager.

    First check this thread in case its a simple one and if not come back

    to this thread.

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaprograms/thread/50247d5e-0ae0-446c-a1bd-11287fd1478a

    Black screen issues are extremely tough to repair and any fix is

    usually on a hit or miss basis. That there is no information on a black

    screen like there is on a blue screen just adds to the difficulty. Often

    using a restore point nor startup repair will have any effect.

    You can try a google to see suggested repairs some of which have

    worked however these cover a wide field of efforts.

    Here is a video of one fix.

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=black+screen+of+death+vista&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1

    Here is another fix

    http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2008/12/the_mysterious_black_screen_of.php

    Do you have a Window 7 Disk? You can try System Restore from it.

    If you do not have the disks your system maker will sell them cheap.

    Or try from Safe Mode if you can get there.

    How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

    You can create a Recovery Disk or use someone else's same version

    (to do the System Restore it only has to be bootable).

    How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

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

    These require the correct Windows 7 Disks (especially if you can't

    boot into Safe Mode.)

    Try Startup Repair -

    What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

    How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

    Try StartUp Repair from Recovery Options or a Windows 7 boot disk

    How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7

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

    Here are Google searches where several have found different solutions :

    "Windows 7" Black Screen - check this one 1st

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=vista+black+screen&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen&oq=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen&gs_l=serp.3..0l2j0i7j0.11061.20608.0.21138.19.13.1.0.0.4.874.5490.2-2j4j5j1j1.13.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.5fPLvNo9C0U&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4624fb5637e33ac3&bpcl=35466521&biw=1024&bih=731 

    "Windows 7" Black Screen Solution

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vista+black+screen+solution&aq=f&oq=&aqi#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen+solution&oq=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen+solution&gs_l=serp.3..0j0i8i30l3.83803.88983.0.89342.18.9.2.0.0.4.1950.6210.0j1j1j2j2j7-2j1.9.0.les%3B..1.0...1c.1.DJgtecu85jA&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4624fb5637e33ac3&bpcl=35466521&biw=1024&bih=731

    "Windows 7" Black Screen Fix

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vista+black+screen+fix&aq=f&oq=&aqi#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen+fix&oq=%22Windows+7%22+black+screen+fix&gs_l=serp.12..0j0i7l3.112960.116439.0.118669.13.5.1.0.0.3.1809.5242.2-1j5-1j0j2j1.5.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.K18bh3X267U&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4624fb5637e33ac3&bpcl=35466521&biw=1024&bih=731

    If needed and you can access regular Windows at all.

    If nothing works you can do a repair installation.

    How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

    How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

    Another method that sometimes works : In the Command Prompt of

    a Windows 7 boot disk type : (type one line or copy and paste one line

    at a time and then hit enter - do not type parenthesis or BOLD)

    c:

    cd\

    cd c:\Windows\System32\winevt        (there is a space between cd and C: )

    ren Logs LogsOLD                             (there are spaces between ren and Logs and Logsold) 

    REBOOT to Windows

    =================================================================

    These help in some cases :

    There are backups in the C:\Windows\System32\Config\Regback folder.

    Use these methods to replace the registry with a backup.

    Boot with a Windows 7 disk. Both of the below accomplish restoring

    a registry backup.

    How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP

    from starting ( Vista and Windows 7 also using the manual instructions)

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/

    Check this thread - you can use the Command Prompt of a boot disk or Recovery.

    (This is Vista and Windows 7 is the same)

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistasetup/thread/55f98088-0fc3-4371-a005-d95a457d9de6

    ========================================

    How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

    What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

    **If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.**Often a these disks will help when the OEM Recovery Disk does not.

    Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs - now charging $9.75 for the ISO

    images to make the disks. (These can be made on any computer running XP,

    Vista, or Window 7 that has a CD/DVD burner.)

    http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

    How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc - Free (Must be made on a

    Windows 7 computer running the same 32 or 64 bit.)

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

    **A Installation Disk can also be made to use for Repair. Of course you woulduse your own COA (Product Key).**Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1

    • Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) - X17-58996

    • Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) - X17-58997

    • Windows 7 Professional (x86) - X17-59183

    • Windows 7 Professional (x64) - X17-59186

    • Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* - X17-59463

    • Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* - X17-59465

    See MVP Andre Da Costa's message in this thread.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/how-can-i-download-gatewaywindows7recovery-disc/3c0ecd74-cfc1-4188-89c7-a6bbe8113ee1

    Hope this helps.

    Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-03T11:54:56+00:00

    That is why you have to boot off of a Windows Defender offline disk.  This is symptomatic of Zero Access virus.  That won't fix it but it might allow you to boot to safe mode or another way to start up the PC.  If not I can show you another forum that will help you.

    Good luck.

    Ed

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-14T05:12:38+00:00

    THIS WORKED FOR ME: When re-booting your computer tap either F2 or F8 (I did simultaneously) and use the down arrow key to navigate to the "Last Known Good Configuration" and select with "Enter" key and if you get lucky like mysself your problem will be solved as it worked for me when I thought a factory restore looked like the only solution as I could afford an external hard drive large enough to back my cp up.

    THANK GOD THIS WORKED.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-11-03T00:38:38+00:00

    Hi, i own a toshiba and im absolutely not a tech wizard and i don't understand what everybody is saying here and i'm sorry but i really don't know what to do? Any chance you might 'guide' me step by step?

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