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Win7 black screen with cursor on boot up before login

Tags:
  • SATA
  • AHCI
  • Cursor
  • NAS / RAID
  • Black Screen
  • Chkdsk
  • Windows 7
  • Login
  • Blue Screen
Last response: in Windows 7
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September 12, 2014 7:03:10 AM

Hello, every time I turn on my computer I get a black screen with nothing but my cursor. This happens before I can log in and after the Windows logo. What could have caused this?

Possibly relevant information: I cleared the CMOS on my motherboard which reset the hard drive to AHCI, so I changed the hd's SATA mode back to RAID to allow for an SSD cache. I then got a BSOD every time I booted up(during the Windows logo). I managed to get rid of the BSOD by running a startup repair and a chkdsk c: /f
HOWEVER the first time I ran the Startup repair my PC shut down with no warning and then kept failing to reboot: my motherboard's power cable was not properly plugged in since I had just installed a new PSU. This reboot loop had happened to me before with my old bad PSU and it blocked my PC from even turning on at all, this is why I had to clear the CMOS
ALSO, I was actually able to get into Windows before changing SATA mode on my hard drive and causing all of this. While inside, Windows prompted me that it had to reboot to install an update
BUT, before that, I checked the SSD cache and it was still on but for some reason I decided to shut down and go change the hard drive's SATA mode on the BIOS

So far I've tried: Startup Repair ; chkdsk c: /f ; chkdsk c: /r ; sfc /scannow

What other options do I have before re-installing Windows?

Here are my specs in case that might help:
Mobo: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming
CPU: i7 4770k (without OC)
GPU: MSI GTX770 Twin Frozr Gaming
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200rpm
SSD(for use as cache): SanDisk 64GB
RAM: Patriot Viper 2x8GB 1866MHz(which defaults to 1600MHz and causes blue screens if XMP is not set in the BIOS)
PSU: Corsair AX860(got this one after RMAing an HX850 :D )
OS: Windows 7 64bit
Case: Fractal Design Define R4
And I had plans to overclock my CPU so I have a Swiftech H220 cooler waiting to be installed

By the way, I created another thread before where someone helped me getting rid of the BSODs: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2288073/change...

Thanks in advance for the help

More about : win7 black screen cursor boot login

September 12, 2014 7:08:35 AM

try reinstalling graphics drivers. What GPU you using?
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September 12, 2014 7:09:43 AM

I should ask, as I am just assuming, you mean Mouse curser, not a blinking underscore after POST? Correct?
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September 12, 2014 10:47:57 AM

delellod123 said:
I should ask, as I am just assuming, you mean Mouse curser, not a blinking underscore after POST? Correct?


Yes, just the movable mouse cursor in a black background
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September 12, 2014 10:49:46 AM

delellod123 said:
try reinstalling graphics drivers. What GPU you using?


How could I go about doing that without accesing Windows?
I have a GTX770
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September 12, 2014 1:09:31 PM

Try a windows repair. Booting into a windows disk. If it cannot repair, try "last know good update" option (should prompt you at the end of repair. If this cannot help, enter windows safe mode and try reinstalling graphics driver for nvidia gtx 770
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September 12, 2014 5:36:46 PM

delellod123 said:
Try a windows repair. Booting into a windows disk. If it cannot repair, try "last know good update" option (should prompt you at the end of repair. If this cannot help, enter windows safe mode and try reinstalling graphics driver for nvidia gtx 770


Attempting to enter safe mode yields the same result of a black screen with a cursor
Since I don't have a disc drive(not because I forgot to get one or anything), I had to use another PC to set up a flash drive to carry a copy of the Windows installation files. How do I go about repairing Windows with a flash drive?
Edit: Ok, I managed boot up from the flash drive, but I instantly get an error message saying:

--------------------------------------Windows Boot Manager--------------------------------------
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next".
3. Click "Repair your computer".

If you don't have this disc contact your system admin(...) for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc000000f
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

Enter: Continue --------------------------------------------------


If I press Enter the PC reboots and then the same will be displayed again
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September 12, 2014 5:56:45 PM

I just tried the "Last known good configuration" by spamming F8 before Windows starts to load which gives you a bunch of options and I got the same black screen again
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September 14, 2014 7:03:19 AM

I re-formated the thumb drive and replaced the Windows files inside of it and it worked
I also tried every option I could with the drive plugged in multiple times but to no avail, I had to re-install Windows
I didn't have any important files anyway
I'll remember to create some backups this time
Thanks for the help
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!