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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.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Same problem here, the problem was corrupt files on Windows\system32\config folder named:
DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE and SYSTEM (no extension)
Rename them old with extension .old and replace them all with the same files on the Windows\system32\config\regback folder
You'll need any utility to start the PC with command prompt (windows startup disk for example)
I have read through all of these posts as well as other search results.
Thanks for replies but I have yet to see one reply that has understood there is nothing to see but a cursor, and NO buttons work. No bios setting or boot screen or even windows disc will give an option to restore to a saved image on the hard drive itself. No command prompts, no running anything from an F button. Nothing. Every reply implies some function is available to run something. I cannot believe this is going unsolved by Microsoft. Reminds me of xbox 360s breaking once a year.
What I found when I ran into this Black Screen with only a mouse cursor was the following :
I setup a bomgar trial using my laptop.
This worked for me in my Black Screen situation.
What I find is annoying x 10000
My PC working fine, until it popped up to tell me to install antivirus software. Which I went to their recommended website - Bitdefender.
Paid them, bought the saftware, download and installed... blah blah blah...
Now that Bitdenfeder told me to update and restart, and I followed.
End up everytime I restart I get black screen with mouse cursor, and stuck there forever.
This is how it end up... Buy/ pay the money, for something to cause your PC stop working!
I have to go back to my recover point and now fighting my money back from this so called "Anti-Virus" company, in fact, causing us more trouble than having virus on my PC!
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.
