Re-installation: Black screen and white mouse cursor? How to fix?

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

What happened: I had a lot of viruses on my laptop so I thought I should re-install Vista. During the process, I deleted and formatted my laptop's HDD and now it's empty but after Vista completes all the install it brings me to this black screen and a movable white cursor.

I tried re-installing 3 times now and same black screen appears with the white mouse cursor. I tried looking on forums for the solution, and even tried hitting the CTRL+ALT+DELETE or CTRL+ALT+ESC but no task manager...

Any one can help me out here? I'm really stuck...

Other details after black screen:

I hold power button and powered off. Went to safe mode and it doesn't load just freezes there for few hours.
I tried repairing from last night 11pm and went to sleep wake up 10am and still on repair menu (frozen I guess).

My laptop details:

I have a 4GB ram, 64bit vista disc, 3ghz or 2.7ghz processor, 300gb HDD and brand is Dell. My laptop isn't connected to internet -- well it can wirelessly but I'd need to perform the set ups but I can't as I can't see my desktop...

Thanks in advance.

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

Welcome
Then be sure you follow these instructions
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums (for Vista Too)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

Thanks a lot, I'll give that a go. I assume I have to start with the 'optimise PC reinstallation' before clean install of Windows Vista right?

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

Yes, first optimize and then install. If it does not work, I have to assume some sort of hardware problem. Thanks for the rep, very nice of you. Hope you still feel the same after you try my suggestion.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

Your welcome. I've a question. I'm on stage four on the first method and I'm not sure if I've done it correctly (SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums)

I typed in 'clean all' (excluding the quotes) but the tutorial said blinking cursor, all that's blinking is the dash and not the cursor. Is it right?

How long do you think I have to wait, I have a 300GB HDD. Thanks.

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

I have asked for help from the author of the great tutorial. He should be here shortly. We at the forum want to insure that you are given the best possible help.

Bare Foot Kid · Feb 28, 2011

Hello mate.

You are correct, just the dash and it takes about an hour per 300GB, more or less, you'll get a "completed" message when it finishes.

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

TY Ted Rep given for your quick and valuable help.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

OK. Thanks for the replies and support. It's still cleaning. But will keep this thread updated (if a problem occur) when I move on to the next step.

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

Take your time, post any new questions.

Bare Foot Kid · Feb 28, 2011

Running this "clean all" then using the outline in Step Two #2 to create/format and mark Active a single 100GB partition using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional partitions after the installation completes if you choose.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

Bare Foot Kid said:
Running this "clean all" then using the outline in Step Two #2 to create/format and mark Active a single 100GB partition using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional partitions after the installation completes if you choose.

Unfortunately, I'm still cleaning. It's been two hours I think and still cleaning the 300GB HDD (but will leave it on for few more hours just to make sure).

Not 100% sure on what you suggested (bit novice on repairing computers). Once it's cleaned, I'll begin the next step (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html) and I'm planning to create a one big HDD without partition (not sure if I'm doing it right, but I just want all my data saved onto one memory).

Also, I have a OEM disc from Dell, it's Windows Vista 64-bit Home edition. Is that the reason for the black screen?

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

Is your computer the one that had the OEM installed originally? You can only use the OEM on one computer and not one computer at a time.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

richc46 said:
Is your computer the one that had the OEM installed originally? You can only use the OEM on one computer and not one computer at a time.

Yep, I know that part. Don't worry, I've read the conditions on the booklet. Both of my laptops have their own OEM discs, they were included in the deal. If I remembered correctly, I can use the OEM disc as many time as I want to but only for the registered computer/laptop.

Just as I was talking about the cleaning of the laptop, it's just finished cleaning. Took longer than expected but glad it wasn't what I thought it was, which are frozen...

Erm, I'll go ahead now and follow that guide.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

I think I may have found my problem that created the black screen. Not quite sure but it maybe the reason behind it.

Before I just deleted and formatted the HDD but it didn't say 'Primary' and it doesn't have any partitions to the HDD, but now it does (1 partition) after I've adjusted and set my partition to 305245MB. Maybe that what caused the problem?

Just a guess as it's installing ATM, so won't know if it repaired or not.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

Unfortunately after following the tutorials. I still end up with the black screen and movable cursor. Any other suggestions? Tried pressing the CTRL+ALT+DEL this time but still no task manager. I'm stumped...

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

Just an educated guess, but may be a hardware problem.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

I thought of that, but I've ran Windows Memory Diagnostic tools and said no errors. Screen is working but just leads to black screen after installation so couldn't be graphic card. HDD is working as I can go to Command prompt and find my local drives and see all the files it contains but just couldn't get to my desktop to access it. Audio is fine. Keyboard is fine.

I've been searching and narrowed it down to internal problem, maybe registry or something corrupted but not sure what is the source of the problem.

richc46 · Feb 28, 2011

If you are installing from a good DVD (your sure the DVD is not corrupt), and every time you try to install there is a problem, its the computer.

master18 · Feb 28, 2011

The CD maybe corrupted but I think it's unlikely. As it finishes all the installation but the black screen just halts me. Basically it installs everything, the only thing that's missing is the final stage (I think it's final stage), it's where the computer asks me to create my username and password for my account. That's the part I can't access but I think the black screen is preventing me from accessing it.

If shift five times or CTRL+ALT+DEL works then I'd have a chance of knowing how to fix it...

Re-installation: Black screen and white mouse cursor? How to fix?

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