windows xp - Black screen with cursor after BIOS screen

06
2014-01
  • Radio

    Here is a weird one,

    Got computer with Windows XP. It's getting stuck on a black screen with cursor blinking.

    What did I do: - Boot from installation CD (recovery option - command line):

      chkdsk C: /R
  copy D:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
  copy D:\i386\ntldr c:\
  fixmbr
  fixboot

    Chkdsk showed 0 bad sectors and no problems during scan. dir on C:\ shows all directories and files in place (Windows, Program Files, Documents and Settings). BIOS shows correct boot drive.

    Still does not boot. Not sure what to think of.

    Please help.

    • Answers
  • Radio

    Got it finally fixed, here are steps:

    • Backup "Windows, Program Files, Documents and Settings" folders using True Image.
    • Start new Windows installation with deleting all partitions and creating new ones.
    • After first reboot during installation, boot from any Live CD and delete newly created folders by setup ("Windows, Program Files, Documents and Settings"), leave other files in place (don't delete them).
    • Restore original folders from True Image.

    That's it.

  • Dave M

    Is there a USB drive attached? Disconnect any HD or USB storage devices if so.


    • Related Question

    boot - Windows XP stuck on loading screen
  • Julien N

    Since yesterday my Windows XP install is stuck on the loading screen (XP logo and "progress bar" constantly moving). I waited more than one hour but nothing more happened.

    Before this problem occured I didn't install anything new (no driver, no update...), just read some blogs.

    What I did :

    • restored to a previous restore point (successfully). No change. I don't know why but I had only one restore point.
    • tried to boot with "last known good configuration". Problem remains.
    • the computer boots in safe mode, so I did that and used msconfig to try different boot modes. Each time I restarted, the problem remained. I even tried the "load almost nothing" option :).
    • edited BIOS config to reset to default values.
    • back in safe mode : installed Ccleaner and Spybot, ran both. Nothing important detected.
    • ran a full system virus scan (antivir)
    • performed chkdsk with all option checked on all my hard drives.

    Nothing on that worked so I went one step further :

    • used windows XP install CD to load the Recovery Console.
    • Performed another chkdsk /R
    • performed a fixboot
    • performed a fixmbr (I know it has nothing to do with it as windows started to load, but I was desperate ^^)

    Since I did the "fixboot", the safe mode is also stuck (after the list of drivers loaded, it displays a black screen with only a "underscore" blinking and... nothing more happens).

    Now I'm there : can't boot in normal mode, can't boot in Safe mode anymore. Any suggestion is welcome.

    Moreover, if someone knows if it's possible to read the windows event log under the recovery console, I'm also interested.


    • Related Answers
  • Resorath

    If windows hangs at the loading screen it is probably hung on a custom driver. If you can get in safe mode, great, run msconfig and under "BOOT.INI" select the option "/NOGUIBOOT" under boot options and restart. You should see a list of drivers being loaded instead of the normal Windows logo. When it freezes, take note of what driver is trying to be loaded, then use google to look it up. It most likely corresponds to a third party program that you should uninstall.

  • harrymc

    It seems that having done too much, you are almost out of options.
    You can try using a trouble-shooting boot cd, such as the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows.
    You can try to use your boot cd to roll Windows back to a previous restore point.

    If you can't find a solution, you might have to do a repair installation as described by Ivo, and if this doesn't work (horror) then a full installation.

  • Dave Webb

    Before you try a repair I'd recommend booting to the Last Known Good configuration.

    From the linked article:

    The Last Known Good Configuration feature restores registry information and driver settings that were in effect the last time the computer started successfully.

    This is less drastic than a Repair and you can always try a repair afterwards.

  • Ivo Flipse

    Susprisingly Yahoo! Answers had a suggestion that seems valid.

    It makes you "reset" Windows but leaves your programs and settings be. Probably your best bet.

    XP REPAIR INSTALL - print this for easier use. Use of an OEM disk will probable fail. You need an authentic Windows XP Home or Pro disk for this repair.

    1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

    2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below. This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

    3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you do not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".

    4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.

    5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

    6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

    7. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install using an Original pre service pack 1 or 2 XP CD used as the install media will remove SP1/SP2 respectively and service packs plus updates isssued after the service packs will need to be reapplied.

    Source(s): Windows XP repair site on the Internet and personal experience with repairing Windows XP

  • ssollinger

    Another thing you can try is to disconnect all peripherals during boot. It's a very slim chance but worth trying - I have seen this work before when XP showed the symptoms you describe.

    Does it always stop at the same point? If not the problem might be something else. I had one PC (with XP) that got stuck occasionally on the loading screen, the problem then got more frequent and it finally started to stop at different points immediately after turning on at the BIOS screen. In this case the motherboard died, a new motherboard sorted the problem in this case.

  • Jan Doggen

    Could be a damaged sector early on the disk. Try SpinRite http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm