Following a hard reset, my computer now just goes completely black after the OEM splash screen, and following that nothing works. Can't press F8, nothing.

 

Tried using my installation CD to run some diagnostics, but according to the results there were no problems booting the OS. So I slap in my boot CD, and lo and behold, Windows starts up.

 

So I do a system restore, shut the computer down properly this time, and set my BIOS settings back to boot from the HD... nothing, again. So I set it back to boot from the CD and now here I am.

 

 

Specs:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64x

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q9400 2.67 GHz

RAM: 8 GB

HD: Hitachi HDT721010SLA360

 

 

...I was thinking about just replacing the boot files in my Windows folder with the ones from the CD, then again that's entirely a guess and probably not a good idea... :mellow:

You say that when you turn on your computer, your screen simply goes black?

I get the normal beep, the Dell splash screen appears, and then after that nothing.

 

Since I successfully started the system with a boot CD, I'm assuming this is a problem with the boot loader.

It could be the same problem my Alienware had. I had to call tech support; but the issue with mine was this.

 

I would boot up my computer normally, it would show the 'Starting Windows' screen, and then black screen itself. It turns out that somehow, my computer's settings were changed as if I had two monitors, but I only had one. I called tech support, they took control of my computer and fixed it. I don't remember exactly what they did, but that could in fact be the same issue you're having. I'm sorry I can't offer a solution, and only an explanation. :(

No worries, I just fixed it actually. Finally found something on the net that worked.

 

Rather than just leave it at that like some jerkasses I've seen on various forums when googling a problem, here's the solution for reference:

 

1. Boot from the installation disk, and go to repair computer.

 

2. Open the command prompt from the list of recovery tools.

 

3. Enter the following commands: "bootrec /fixmbr" and then "bootrec /FixBoot"

 

...still a bit preplexed why a hard reset would corrupt the boot loader of all things. :blink:

No worries, I just fixed it actually. Finally found something on the net that worked.

 

Rather than just leave it at that like some jerkasses I've seen on various forums when googling a problem, here's the solution for reference:

 

1. Boot from the installation disk, and go to repair computer.

 

2. Open the command prompt from the list of recovery tools.

 

3. Enter the following commands: "bootrec /fixmbr" and then "bootrec /FixBoot"

 

...still a bit preplexed why a hard reset would corrupt the boot loader of all things. :blink:

 

My thoughts exactly. :rolleyes:

Ok, I think it might have been a virus that corrupted the boot loader and not the hard reset. After I fixed that problem I was assaulted by two different rogue antispyware trojans, and after scanning with superantispyware and spybot s&d in safe mode along with some manual removal, it seemed to have stopped but today windows defender found another trojan.

 

So I heard malware bytes was another good scanner, and it found a trojan downloader. Hoping this is the end of it, I don't want to be forced into a reformat.

 

I don't know how this crap got on my computer, but I'm guessing it has something to do with some of the javascript [cabbage] I've encountered on the internet. Seriously, they should really forbid things like "r u shur u wanna navigate away form this page lol"... which initiate a download when you choose yes. :rolleyes: Firefox isn't as good as it used to be it would seem.