Win7 black screen 'before' login.....help!!!!!

Banzai_Joe

Banzai_Joe

Banzai_Joe

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Hi all,

whilst recording some DV footage from camcorder to pc (see sig) the screen went all snowy/screwey. Tried using the other dvi port in my 4870 but it came up with no signal. So i had to reboot....(unplugged the camcorder)
....It went through the win7 load up screen, then just gave me a black screen with just a white cursor. The same happens when i boot into safe mode.
Graphics card i thought. But then i remembered the recent 'black screen of death'.
Now this black screen happens BEFORE i get chance to login, so i'm kind of bummered here. If i press win+u then it opens the mobility assistance screen thing, so to me that elminates a graphics card issues as it shows the window fine. I just can't see anything else to login.
I need to get some work completed by tomorrow, so i'm desparate, can anyone help please?
Ironically, i reformatted the whole rig 3 days ago and all was fine, until an hour ago.

Oh.....Happy New Year all!!! :D
 
Hey k.Jacko happy new year,

Good times to be had with PC problems, no? :D

The Black SOD was reported on by MS who said it wasn't their problem in the end, something to do with possible malware/security software.

Anyway, to repair the problem boot with the Windows 7 DVD in the drive and choose to run startup repair when given the list of options.

This is usually made easier if you created a Windows Startup Repair CD to begin with (it's part of Windows Backup and Restore in 7) as it streamlines the whole process.

I can send you a CD image f you'd like, can upload it so you'd need to burn it to CD using another PC.
 
Hi mrk,
i should have mentioned that i'd already tried the repair and restore option by booting from the win7 disk. But it couldn't find any errors, so couldn't repair anything.
Most people seem to get the black screen AFTER logging in, and from there they can apply the well documented fix.
My problem is that i don't get as far as logging in, so really not sure how to handle this.....and time is running out...:eek:

Thanks for any further advice anyone can offer.

Jacko
 
That is pretty strange, I would reckon it's not the same black screen issue then but perhaps something else - obviously Windows has loaded because WINKEY+U works.

Have you tried running System Restore from the bootup menu? (F8 before Windows boot logo) ?
 
I get this exact problem if i have any usb devices plugged in on boot. For example if i have my ipod or HTC Touch or camera memory card through usb plugged in on boot it will hang at balack screen with cursor....If i unplug them and reboot all is fine every time.....Had it since install....
 
Thanks guys,
tried system restore to last night prior to critical updates, still no joy.
Tried using the 'disable driver signing' option, in case there was an issue.
Tried using the 'set lo res 640x480 (or whatever it is)' option, same problem.
Unplugged ALL device cables except the essentials (video, kb, mouse etc), still no joy.
This is the first real problem i've had with win7 and its really pigging me off.
When i first tried the win7 disk repair, it found the boot info for my vista hdd and it added it to the bootstrap. So i may try booting into vista just to see if i can eliminate video card issues.
If you have any more ideas, please feel free, as i have to produce some match programmes for tomorrow and i'm in the poo if i don't.

Thanks again.
 
mouse is usb, kb is ps/2
Will try it...brb.

edit: ok, both mouse and kb are usb, unplugged them, rebooted, still same black screen (obviously no mouse cursor now)

I've also power cycled the pc too.

Boo hoo.
 
Last edited:
Would it be worth pulling the 4870 and running off o/b graphics just to confirm it;s not the card..
 
jeez.
sys restore to 2 days ago doesn't work.
Booting into vista gives me a logon error (with a black screen btw)
won't boot into safe mode, same black screen.
If its the vdieo card, then surely safe mode would work?
I've been reading about bios updates solving the issues, but how the hell can i do that when i can't even boot the frikkin thing up?
 
you could try unplugging your gfx card then boot the machine up (you say you don't have onboard graphics so just wait till you think it has booted), then power the machine off and plug your gfx card back in and boot up again. This may just force a reset of a corrupted display configuration or force a reinstall of windows standard drivers for your card which might help you see windows again.
 
Thanks dave, but without any gfx card it won't even post so i don't think it will affect windows either way.
However i will take it out, reboot and reseat, just because.....sometimes illogical things work i guess, lol. Although i won't hold my breath.
Will let ya know
Cheers.
 
Temi_D said:
seems like the graphics card is at fault
Click to expand...
Well, certainly seems to much of a coincidence seeing as the system broked when the 4870 starting going bonkers on me.
Thing is if it were software i'd expect it to boot into safe mode as it doesn't use gfx drivers, but it still black screens.
If it were hardware, why the black screen, yet brings up the Ease of Access window fine when i press win+U?

Really stumped with this.
I have read of reports of updating the bios on gfx card and mobo to eliminate black screen issues, but i cant really do that (well not for the mobo anyway).

Keep the suggestions coming if you have them guys, thanks :D
 
Ok, done a little digging around the card. There are 4 cressets (?) on the back and if any are lit up it indicates problems, HERE
3 out of the 4 are lit up; 2 that are lit designate each of the 6-pin power molex connectors not working correctly, the other says the temp of the card is over 105 degree (find that hard to believe since its only trying to boot up.
The only cresset that isn't lit up is the one that designates 'abnormal gpu' (??).
Its over a year old i think, so am i out of luck do you reckon?
 
it does sound like your gfx card may have died :( but could be a PSU problem, are there other available power connectors from the PSU you could try? When troubleshooting PSU issues I often grab another PC (if you've got access to one), open it up and without removing the PSU just plug the power connectors into your gfx card in your problem machine, then boot both up and see what happens. Another thought, as the card is warning you of overheating, do you know if the gfx card fan is working?
 
if the gfx card isnt over heating go into safe mode and remove gfx card drivers and reboot

this w7 prob is a update that is bad from MS i think u may have to format.
 
davethe11 said:
it does sound like your gfx card may have died :( but could be a PSU problem, are there other available power connectors from the PSU you could try? When troubleshooting PSU issues I often grab another PC (if you've got access to one), open it up and without removing the PSU just plug the power connectors into your gfx card in your problem machine, then boot both up and see what happens. Another thought, as the card is warning you of overheating, do you know if the gfx card fan is working?
Click to expand...

Fairly sure its not the psu, but the cresset lights stating problem with 6-pin power are lit, so i will test is as part of the routine i guess.
GPU fan does spin so that's not the cause of overheating, if indeed it is overheating.

Tried putting the gpu into the 2nd pcie-x16 slot, same problem.

Am going to rip a 3870 out of one of the other pc's to see if it works. If so, then i can be fairly sure its the 4870 thats the sole problem.

zovirax said:
if the gfx card isnt over heating go into safe mode and remove gfx card drivers and reboot

this w7 prob is a update that is bad from MS i think u may have to format.
Click to expand...
As already stated, safe mode still produces the black screen. I also don't think its MS. I am fairly sure now (bar the 3870 and psu test) thats its purley hardware fault.
Darn it! :mad:
 
I'm at a loss with this one I'm afraid, personally I would do a repair install and see if this fixes it, trying another gfx card is def worth a try though if you can hold of one.
 
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