windows 7 - Win 7 laptop boots to black screen with blinking cursor

06
2014-01
  • ssvarc

    When powering up the Toshiba Satellite (C655-S5225) laptop, which is running Win 7 Home Premium, one sees the BIOS screen and then, almost immediately, you get a black screen with a cursor blinking on the upper left hand side.

    The BIOS options (Setup and Boot Device Selection) work and the settings seem to be OK (HD recognized in BIOS, HD selected for boot, SATA mode OK, etc.).

    I've run multiple test scripts (HD, RAM, system board, etc.) from Ultra X's QuickTech and the hardware seems to be fine. Based on this Superuser question I've booted the laptop with and without [only AC power] the battery, with no difference. As well, following this disassembly guide the CMOS battery was removed, and after a short wait replaced (in an attempt to clear the motherboard). Upon a reboot the BIOS remarked on the battery removal, but the boot to the blinking cursor behavior continued. All of this leads me to suspect a software issue (but see Q2).

    1. Is there a specific hardware issue I should be looking for?

    2. In terms of software issues, it seems it's not booting into Windows at all, but immediately after the BIOS boots it hangs to the cursor. What should be looked at from the software angle that could cause this?

    3. I was wondering if it was safe to delete the Hiberfil.sys file (e.g. using a LiveCD), or if deleting it without first turning off Hibernation in Windows (a step that can't be done as long as it doesn't boot into Windows) can actually cause a boot issue of its own?

    Thanks!

    • Answers
  • TvF

    I had a similar problem with an MSI all-in-one PC. After a few weeks of working fine, it stopped booting. No OS boot, instead blinking cursor. Tested the HDD in an external drive, checked everything I could. Booted from CD, ran memory and HDD checks.

    Turned out the pre-installed S-ATA cable that was installed was faulty. I exchanged the cable and the computer hasn't hung on boot in 2 months now.


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  • Shawn Mclean

    My laptop was working fine last night, I hibernated it and went to sleep. Got up, pressed the power button. The power light comes on for 4 seconds and the hdd light blinked a few times, then it turned off for a second then repeats the process. The only way to stop this process/power down is to remove the AC and take out the battery.

    It does not even reach a boot screen, nothing shows up on the screen, fan does not start. People on this forum has the same problem but they suggest to put the laptop in a oven and heat it (reflow). What could be the problem? Is there another solution other than a reflow? I dont feel like putting my motherboard in the oven.


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  • Linker3000

    A suggested fix for some Acer laptop power-up problems is to do the following:

    1. Remove the battery and external power
    2. Hold down the power switch for 30-40 seconds
    3. Plug in the external power cord
    4. Power up the laptop
    5. Reinsert the battery