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
    2013-06-22T08:38:48+00:00

    I had the same problem but when I pressed the f8/f2 button, I did not see an option for the "last known good confiuguration".....help????

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-06-25T17:40:50+00:00

    I am having the EXACT problem including what Francoise wrote - my drive is partitioned and the problem only occurs on the 2010 partition, I can startup in the 2007 partition just fine. Both have Windows 7 on them. But when I do the F8 and try to go to "last known" it only displays dates for the C drive - the 2007 side. I haven't backed up in a while and I have LOADS of data I cannot risk losing.

    I'm not especially technical and my office tech person isn't returning our calls. What do I try next?

    PS: Even when I launch in Safe Mode - I get a black screen with a movable mouse.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-26T13:17:44+00:00

    Mine just did the exact same thing, black screen with a mouse cursor-- only mine showed white text in the bottom right corner, "Windows 7" "Build 7600" "Your copy of Windows is not Geniune"

    I gave it about 5 minutes to keep booting (I noticed the hard drive was still pounding away) and it eventually brought up a "Validate Windows" screen. I clicked okay, it told me my copy was indeed genuine, like I knew it was, and then brought up my desktop.

    Strange, Microsoft.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-06-26T20:00:53+00:00

    Try tapping f8 rapidly upon start up ONLY to reach the recovery options prompt as I found f2 or f12 from me alone did nothing on my Toshiba Satellite. If Last known good config. doesn't work the only option at this point is to access the recovery partition and launch the recovery wizard that is built in to your pc if it's still in tact (mine got erased in one instance when installing a new os {windows 8} and had to have it reconstructed in my case) and restore your pc to an earlier state and if this option is not possible then get ready to factory restore.  

    PS. If you per chance own a Toshiba laptop like myself you may be able to reach the hdd recovery option by holding 0 when staring up and restore the computer by choosing to restore with "Saved Data" state and not  the "Out of Box" state option as an alternative to a complete factory restore.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-06-26T20:03:18+00:00

    Strange indeed! Are you using the version of Windows that came with your pc?

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