problems again

mdaw

mdaw

mdaw

Associate
Joined
18 Apr 2013
Posts
603
Hi there,

I only bought a new motherboard and cpu the other day and installed it all. It was running perfectly for about a week until today I turn it on and now after the motherboard splash screen all I'm getting is the cursor flashing in the top left corner.

I did notice two days ago that this cursor had appeared but went past it where as before I didn't even notice it.

I'm not sure if this is any co-incidence but I tried installing some drivers from my MSI afterburner disc that failed twice. Computer restarted fine a few times after that. During this time my computer had also downloaded a few more Windows updates on 8.1. Last thing I remember doing was installing some of these updates where it had to restart half way through and then complete the update. It completed the update and all seemed fine. Can't remember if I restarted or just shut down after this but I left it one day until this morning and now it won't boot. I had an issue a bit like this before and never found a way round it so just did a fresh installation onto my new ssd and used the old one that wouldn't boot as a second drive as I could get stuff off it. By the way since installing the new motherboard and cpu I haven't connected the old hdd.
 
Last edited:
Yes I do. But I haven't got the hdd connected and haven't since installing the new parts.

I can't even boot to safe mode or boot from Windows disc. I've just tried the latter.

I have a feeling it was the Windows update that has caused this. When I originally updated to 8.1 on the old hdd it was fine until an update. Since using the ssd things have been ok until the old motherboard went and now replaced with new stuff. Then everything was fine until yet another update. Assuming fairly large update if it needs to restart about half way through to complete it.
Sorry I'm ranting now. I'm just so annoyed.
 
Black screen modes normally means a corrupted driver or system file.. I've not had any issues with windows updates causing black screens then i'm still using w7..

I was going to say try booting in safe mode but if that's not working then it's not going to be a driver problem.

Your next step is to either repair windows or do a fresh install.. remembering to install the the latest drivers from the manufactures website (chipset and video) .. but when you do, install windows with just the SSD connected.. which is why i asked above.. I have ran into few problems where the installer creates the EFi partition on the first drive it finds, regardless of boot order.. so this can be a different location...

edit.. re-reading you post again.. when you installed the motherboard.. did you re-install windows?
 
How would I go about repairing windows?

Other than trying to boot from the disc I have no idea. Again when I put the disc in it asks me to press any button to boot from disc but went straight to the same screen again with the flashing cursor. So I'm not sure how I can even go about a fresh install. Not that I want to do that as I would lose all the stuff on there.
 
I haven't set anything like that up. I simply mounted it, connected it and went. Then installed Windows etc. Never set up anything like that. Wouldnt even know how.
 
Just as process of elimination, just try disabling on screen graphics in the BIOS..

Ok, this is what i would do.. get a copy of trinity
http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.p...R_YOUR_COMPUTER&front_id=12&lang=en&locale=en

or BARTS PE builder

http://nu2.nu/pebuilder/download/

or any live linux distro such as puppy etc .. anything that will enable you to boot your machine from a CD or USB stick.

From their own version of explorer, copy your valuable data to another media, such as an external hard drive.

Once you are happy that you have your data is backed up and safe then disconnected your graphics card and any secondary hard drives leaving only the SSD connected.

Reset the BIOS.. better still if you can.. update it..

Connect your monitor to the motherboard screen connectors.

retest.

Is same problem persists then reinstall windows from the disk, formatting the hard drive as you go.

If that goes well.. install the latest chipset drivers then continue with updates.

If still ok, then power down the system, add back the graphics card, disable on board graphics in the BIOS, boot and install the latest drivers..

if that works, then hopefully you've resolved the issue.. Add back the second hard drive... Change folder properties so they are located on the secondary HDD, not the SSD. Then copy back your data.
 
Best bet would be to do what Huddy said and do a fresh install of the OS with just the SSD connected, then get the latest drivers off the manufacture website.

least if you do this and its still doing it its not the drivers/os being faulty/currupt.
 
One of my problems is that I can't even get the Windows disc to do anything, So I'm not sure if I tried the same thing with Linux it would be any different or am I missing something here.
 
That's the point.. you are eliminating windows altogther.. my suggestion to use a live CD/USB stick was to rescue your data before resetting the BIOS and removing any hard drives..etc

Are you actually getting past the POST screen? Can you get into the BIOS?

Have you tried plugging your monitor in to the motherboards display connectors? Try that .. You may have to set the BIOS to enable onboard display..
 
Yeah it gets just past bios. I can go into bios. I've tried setting it to boot from ssd and from CD drive. It comes up with the MSI logo and the press del for bios press f11 for boot menu. Tried f11 and got nothing. Then the very next thing is the black screen with the flashing cursor in the top left corner.

I might try downloading the Linux thing onto a usb and see what happens. I'll try downloading it from the Mrs net book as that's the only other computer in the house.

This maybe nothing but I actually installed this version of Windows from a Windows 8 uupgrader disc. I lost my last Windows disc and installed straight from the upgrade disc. So for some reason it doesn't accept my Windows varification pin. So from time to time it flashes up asking me to put this in and I just press the Windows key on my keyboard and it goes away for a few hours. Would this possibly have anything to do with a problem after an update?
 
Hi again. I have now realised I was being an idiot and I can get the Windows disc to boot. I have tried using the auto repair and that didn't work. Tried system restore but comes up saying something about specifying which Windows installation to restore. Not sure what that means. Is there a way I can restart in safe mode from the disc. I thought I could before but forgotten how.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
Black screen modes normally means a corrupted driver or system file.. I've not had any issues with windows updates causing black screens then i'm still using w7..
Click to expand...

Looks like you were right about the corrupt system file. I gave my computer to a local group of repairers and had a call today telling me they had found a corrupt windows boot file. The engineer said its something that doesn't happen very often with windows 8. Just seems Im a bit unlucky that these things happen to me. LOL.

I did ask how you go about fixing an issue like that and he was as you would expect fairly vague on the subject but did tell me he went through about 20 different things in the command prompt from the windows boot disc before finding the corrupt boot file.

Needless to say when it comes to stuff like this it is beyond what I am able to do with a computer. Unless someone is able to give me exact instructions on how to go through a process like that I'd have no chance. I'm sure some on here are capable of doing stuff like this and would be great if you have the time one day to share your knowledge of how to go through problems like this step by step in dummies format for those like me. Maybe that could be put in a sticky thread.

Thanks for everyones help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom