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

Caution: I downloaded this and Norton stopped it from executing and claims it is trying to install something called 'Insight'. It is from a German site... never fully trust anything foreign.

Reading in another forum it was suggested pressing shift+windows key+f2 as it was an issue with windows being confused into thinking an extended screen was in use. After trying everything (including repair from my original install disc which failed every which way it could be used). So after hours and hours in desperation I restated my PC waited for the booting to black screen with movable white cursur and tried the windows key with different combinations, unsure which one worked, but eventually the busy cursur appeared and then windows loaded my desktop!

In summary just hold down the windows key, then try everything!

I think the problem was caused by trying to sort out Photo Gallery following instructions regarding colour profiles, so if photo gallery doesnt work, then use something else!

SOLVED!!!

Struggled with the issue for years.

Turn off windows Fast Startup

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6320-fast-startup-turn-off-windows-8-a.html

After I swapped monitors I encountered the black screen with cursor after seeing startup screen and windows logo at boot up.  The black screen occurred just before the user select display.  There was no response to ctrl-alt-del and restarting I could not even get to safe mode via f8.  I could start the system completely with the old monitor and hop swap the new one but restarting with the new monitor still ended up with the black screen and cursor.

I had installed Acronis True Image Backup a few days before in preparation for upgrading to Windows 10 because I did not expect Norton Ghost to be compatible with W10.  I also set up the optional Acronis Safe Zone partition on the hard drive to make future system recovery more convenient.  After eliminating the Acronis Start up option and restoring the hard drive to its previous state the problem is solved.

This was the issue that was causing the problem on my computer.  To be clear, the symptom was that my machine booted to a completely black screen with a moveable mouse pointer cursor (*not* to a black screen with a flashing immovable text cursor - that's a very different problem.)  Other than that, nothing else was visible on the screen.  If this is your symptom then read on.

What I found was that the computer was actually working and at the logon screen, but it just wasn't displaying the logon screen because it appeared to be confused about being in extended display mode (like what you use when you project a laptop or use multiple monitors.)  I could actually remotely connect to my computer in this state from my other computer over the network using remote desktop connection and it was completely live and running and rendered into the remote desktop connection window just fine.

Anyhow, to fix the problem if this is the cause of your black screen and mouse cursor, you need to have your PC switch into displaying to the "PC screen only".  On windows 7/8/8.1/10 this can be done without being able to see the Easy Switcher or Project bar.  With your computer at the black screen with moving mouse pointer, hold down the windows key, then hit P, then release both keys.  The Easy Switcher or Project bar should now be activated even though you can't see it.  Now hit and release the "Home" key. This will select the first/top entry on the Easy Switcher/Project bar which is "PC screen only".  Then, hit the Enter key for it to take effect.  On my computer the main monitor woke up and displayed the logon screen.