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General discussion

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

Feb 27, 2011 10:55PM PST

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 (UK). 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.

Discussion is locked

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deleted and formatted my laptop's HDD and now it's empty
Feb 28, 2011 1:06AM PST

No it's not. You have a HDD prepared outside of Windows setup so you can have a bum boot record. Next time just remove all the partitions and let Windows setup do the partitioning and formatting (I use the quick format.)
Bob

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What?
Feb 28, 2011 1:17AM PST

Sorry, I don't quite understand you (sorry novice at fixing computers). What do you mean by removing all the partitions?

Can you explain more thoroughly so I follow it and repair it? Thanks.

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Sorry
Feb 28, 2011 2:44AM PST

But you look like you know enough to format a drive. This means you can use google on how to remove a partition. Once removed you can boot your Vista DVD and it will ask you where to install.

Bottom line. You probably tripped up the Windows installer by formatting before the install.
Bob

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I see.
Feb 28, 2011 3:34AM PST

I reinstalled it 3 times, and trying different option each time. First time I just reinstalled it but black screen. Second time I clicked on format and delete to see if that'd fix it, but still haven't. Thirdly, I repeated stage 2 and still black screen, hence asking for the solution on here.

If you've read my post I said I tried the solutions provided from some sites but it didn't work, that's why I'm asking on the forum.

If you don't want to help then don't, no need to be so aggressive about it.

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That's why I wrote to remove the partition.
Feb 28, 2011 6:53AM PST

Then try it. I had suggested you do a little work on your own and that seems to have upset you. Sorry but these are all volunteer forums so for the easy stuff we hope you can do a little work.

So one more time. Delete the partitions on the HDD, then boot that Vista DVD so you can be sure the Windows installer will create a fresh boot record and whatever else it wants.
Bob

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Unnecessary.
Feb 28, 2011 9:45AM PST

I did do my research (a lot in fact, half a day), and I've fixed it. I had to change the SATA ADCI to ATA.

I thought you had some decency when you changed your previous post's title to 'Sorry' from 'What?'. I apologise for not knowing as much IT related solutions than you, but all I'm asking for is some friendly advice. Adding unnecessary criticism isn't helping me at all. I do do my research, but it's not my fault I'm semi-novice about repairing PC's.

Anyhow, I thank you for your efforts.

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Nice to read.
Feb 28, 2011 10:19AM PST

But Vista has the code to run SATA in either mode. However if the boot area was from an old install on ATA I see how that could have forced you to change the BIOS.

There are some discussions about how the BIOS IDE/ATA emulation eats a little performance but that's up to you to decide if you want to try again.
Bob