• Booting computer results in black screen with cursor after System Restore.
    11 replies, posted
Hey guys. As the title says I'm having a huge problem. Whenever I start my computer all is fine until I get to the login screen which doesn't appear, instead all I see is my cursor on a black screen. I'll explain what happened and what I've tried to resolve this issue. A new set of headphones arrived yesterday and I went to install them, when I first plugged it in windows said it was downloading some drivers, but I the manual said to put it into a port I'll always use and I realised I put it in the wrong one. I pulled it out mid-driver install and 2 of the drivers got errors installing. I couldn't get them to try installing again so I just moved on to running the cd with drivers to install. The install kept hanging half way through so I ended the process mid-install. (Noticing a theme here? Yeah. I'm a moron.) So. I tried a few more times and eventually they fully installed, I restarted my PC and it started up, although slower than usual. I couldn't hear sound [b]and windows such as the windows volume control wouldn't open, which makes me believe this could be a driver issue?[/B] so I assumed the worst and went to system restore and restored to the point where I first began installing the drivers. This brings me to where I am now. Every time I attempt to boot the PC all I'm greeted with is the black screen and cursor. Some have recommended to try pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete but nothing happens. Here is list of things I have tried: - Booting in any form of Safe Mode = Gives me the same black screen as if I started normally. - Last Known Configuration = Same as last time. - System Restore = [b]All my restore points are now missing.[/B] Including one earlier than when I restored to. - System Recovery options. - Running diagnostic options = memtest, DSKCHK (Can't remember it's name properly). Neither have worked at helping. Memtest reported no problems. I have attempted to run SFC /scannow but it has given me one of two errors, it used to give me an error along the lines of "Can not scan due to repair process, please restart computer". I followed some more advice and added some extra commands and now I get an error about "Windows Resource Protection". I understand most of you would probably recommend I just reinstall windows or reset but I was never provided with a Windows 7 disc. It is vital to me than I do no lose my files. I am willing to try anything as long as I do not have to wipe my computer. I was given two back up discs but the back up on those disks date back a few months and as I said, losing any files isn't an option for me. Thanks for your time, I'd appreciate any help I can get. I forgot to mention, I ran Malwarebytes and found a Trojan and other malicious files but removing them has no given any results. -Update-: I managed to run SFC, however it did not find any integrity violations. I'm incredibly confused and I desperately need help.
Use a Linux livecd, backup the stuff you want to keep then reinstall Windows. You can get a legit Windows 7 disc from [url]http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links[/url] the product key should be stuck on your computer somewhere or on the papers that came with it.
[QUOTE=Chryseus;45824770]Use a Linux livecd, backup the stuff you want to keep then reinstall Windows. You can get a legit Windows 7 disc from [url]http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links[/url] the product key should be stuck on your computer somewhere or on the papers that came with it.[/QUOTE] Is that my only option? I don't have any spare writable CDs. Would a USB version be possible? [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] My friend is willing to let me borrow a HDD for me to save my stuff on. Could I use that. Reinstalling windows means the computer will be wiped, right? [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] Instead of a windows CD, I was given two CDs that make a complete back up of my computer. So I think I can use that instead of a windows CD and restore my computer to the back up. Then I can copy my stuff over.
[QUOTE=Tom083;45824921]Is that my only option? I don't have any spare writable CDs. Would a USB version be possible?[/QUOTE] Pretty much, if you can't get in to safe mode there is not a whole lot you can do. Using a USB flash drive instead of disc should work fine, you can use [url=http://www.pendrivelinux.com/linux-live-usb-creator/]LiLi[/url] for Linux and [url=http://www.webupd8.org/2010/10/create-bootable-windows-7-usb-drive.html]this[/url] or [url=http://rufus.akeo.ie/]this[/url] for Windows. Yes those backup discs should work as well for Windows.
[QUOTE=Chryseus;45824977]Pretty much, if you can't get in to safe mode there is not a whole lot you can do. Using a USB flash drive instead of disc should work fine, you can use [url=http://www.pendrivelinux.com/linux-live-usb-creator/]LiLi[/url] for Linux and [url=http://www.webupd8.org/2010/10/create-bootable-windows-7-usb-drive.html]this[/url] or [url=http://rufus.akeo.ie/]this[/url] for Windows. Yes those backup discs should work as well for Windows.[/QUOTE] Okay so just to make sure, I should get the HDD, get Linux on a disc, use the Linux disk to copy everything to the HDD, restore the old hard drive using the back up discs, then bring my stuff over to the fresh install? Sorry. I've never used Linux before so I don't know what to expect with this when I start it. [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] Could Windows be installed onto the HDD for this instead? Then I can boot into it and do everything without the disk? [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] As I said. I haven't really looked much into how this stuff works.
If I were you I'd: - Put some distribution of Linux on a USB-drive using what Chryseus suggested, LiLi. I recommend some very beginner-friendly distribution, such as Ubuntu. - Connect the HDD you want to use as backup - Boot from previously mentioned USB-drive A little while after you've booted from the drive, a screen like this will appear: [IMG]http://assets.ubuntu.com/sites/ubuntu/latest/u/img/download/desktop/install-ubuntu-desktop/image-installdesktoplongtermsupport-1.jpg[/IMG] Click "Try Ubuntu" - Copy whatever you want to save from the HDD with your Windows installation onto the backup HDD - Download Windows via the link Chryseus provided - Put the .iso onto a USB-drive with at least 4GB capacity by running this: [URL]http://wudt.codeplex.com/[/URL] - Boot from that USB-drive, and reinstall Windows - When Windows has been installed, copy what you saved from the backup drive into your new installation, done For extra safety, disconnect the backup drive after you're finished with Linux, and reconnect if after Windows has been installed, so that you don't accidentally format it.
[QUOTE=Rixxz2;45825100]If I were you I'd: - Put some distribution of Linux on a USB-drive using what Chryseus suggested, LiLi. I recommend some very beginner-friendly distribution, such as Ubuntu. - Connect the HDD you want to use as backup - Boot from previously mentioned USB-drive A little while after you've booted from the drive, a screen like this will appear: [IMG]http://assets.ubuntu.com/sites/ubuntu/latest/u/img/download/desktop/install-ubuntu-desktop/image-installdesktoplongtermsupport-1.jpg[/IMG] Click "Try Ubuntu" - Copy whatever you want to save from the HDD with your Windows installation onto the backup HDD - Download Windows via the link Chryseus provided - Put the .iso onto a USB-drive with at least 4GB capacity by running this: [URL]http://wudt.codeplex.com/[/URL] - Boot from that USB-drive, and reinstall Windows - When Windows has been installed, copy what you saved from the backup drive into your new installation, done For extra safety, disconnect the backup drive after you're finished with Linux, and reconnect if after Windows has been installed, so that you don't accidentally format it.[/QUOTE] Thank you both so much for these well laid out instructions. I'm heading straight to my friends house to borrow the HDD now. Could I not just use my back up discs instead of reinstalling windows? The discs date back to a while ago anyway so I'll atleast have the most essential stuff I had when I made the back ups if I use them. I could use the reinstalling windows part as a final plan if all else fails, even the back up CDs. Oh yeah and I'd even unplug the HDD no matter what if I'm doing something like this.
[QUOTE=Tom083;45825002] Sorry. I've never used Linux before so I don't know what to expect with this when I start it. [/QUOTE] Ubuntu is extremely straight-forward, just click this: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/nhC1YvC.png[/thumb] And you'll find a tool which basically works in the same way as the Windows Explorer Or you can disregard my MSpaint arrow, and click "Places", and then "Computer".
[QUOTE=Rixxz2;45825289]Ubuntu is extremely straight-forward, just click this: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/nhC1YvC.png[/thumb] And you'll find a tool which basically works in the same way as the Windows Explorer Or you can disregard my MSpaint arrow, and click "Places", and then "Computer".[/QUOTE] Fantastic. Thanks a lot!
Also, if you have any trouble creating a bootable windows usb flashdrive, theres a program out there called winsetupfromusb, which ive used a multitude of times. However the one time i tried rufus, it ended up making the XP i put on it unbootable.
Rufus/Yumi breaks the windows functionality every other update. Microsoft also has one of their own. I've used for vista, 7, 8, and server 2012r2
[QUOTE=ricky23;45828054]Also, if you have any trouble creating a bootable windows usb flashdrive, theres a program out there called winsetupfromusb, which ive used a multitude of times. However the one time i tried rufus, it ended up making the XP i put on it unbootable.[/QUOTE] Its fine, I'm actually using Ubuntu right now as we speak, copying the files straight over. Thanks anyway! I got a 1 TB hard drive from the shop a few hours ago so now I can keep all the stuff I need and still have some nice extra space. Once I've moved everything I'll then use the back up disks. Ubuntu seems really nice, I'm going to experiment with it when my PC is working again and have it installed alongside Windows, I like it so far.
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