Black screen white cursor

My computer(HP) won't load...when you turn the computer on all you get is a black screen with a white blinking line in the corner. even if you press f8 while you're booting, it still does the same thing. I can only go to my BIOS F1 no other button will work, green light is on, fan is going and BIOS reads harddrive. I dwnloaded hotkey program and turn my pc off and restarted it.and got this black screen. Any suggestions much appreciated!!
p.s I have tried (f2,f10,f12,f8 will not accept comand) f1reload defults, unpluged and ctrl+alt+del.and i do not have recov disk. again please help any suggestions are much appreciated!!

 

(Open Still looking for help.

 

G'DAy'natisha22',

Don't despair, there are still a few other nuts running w2k ( I trust yours was at SP4)

Do you have a BartCD or other Repair Utility Boot CD that we can use to perform a check with to run [ scandisk C: ] or [ chkdsk C: /f /r ] or that has this utility, or the like, from the CD.

A bootable Windows 98se system Floppy Disk disk with scandisk.exe will do the trick - if the w2k was installed on a FAT32 file format - if not, we need a bootable CD with this type of Utility.

Your problem is not un-common and mine does this for whatever reason from time to time, about once a year and running the " chkdsk C: /f /r " fixes the problem.

Obviously you must have another PC to be able to post messages on this forum, tell me what it is as we might be able to make up the CD or FDD that can be used to fix the w2k PC

pcbugfixer

 

No, I wish I had a cd or disk. I have a(HP Pav 300ser)(system#df249a)desktop- hp pavilion 374n-mic windows xp which was upgraded when I worked at a service depo a year ago, I believe all as follows is the same: processor 2.0ghz, hd 60gb, 256mb ddr sdram mem,64mb ddr sdram vid mem,cd-rw drive max speed,dvd-rom max speed just replaced with new also the window may be window 7 because the desktop sreen is differnt the org it is green grass it icons that roll when prop for firefox internet etc. I hope this info is helpful I dnt know what all was needed. Any help will be greatly appreciated! oh and yes I have a labtop to comunicate back and forth.


Question re:HDD
how do i know if BIOS can see the harddrive I went back in BIOS and looked at Primary Master in main menu it states WDC WD2000 then i clicked on it, it read IDE HDD auto-detection [press enter] so i did it stated detecting hdd also primary master reads numbers dwn the list for capacity, cylinder,head etc. So does that mean the BIOS sees the hdd and thats not the prob?

 

G'DAy "natisha22 ",

If the BIOS can see the HDD's then it should be OK, however you said you installed a new DVD-RW ?!

If you did, did you check the jumper settings as to being a Master or Slave connection for the IDE cable position and if it is a Master, did you connect it to the end of the cable (if Slave it should be connected to the middle cable connector) If this is wrong, then the HP system will not boot and give you the flashing cursor - as it cannot read the parameters of the devices correctly.

E.G. If you have 2 devices connected to the one IDE cable and both jumper settings are set to Master, then you will wait till dooms day, same if both are set to Slave. (we do not use Cable Select and I do not recommend it) Be precice and make the selection and correct position connector according to Universal Standards. Yes the position of the cable connection is important, Master at end of Cable Slave in middle of cable !!

Also check the jumper setting for the HDD if on the same cable you have the DVD connected, as some older HDD's have specific jumber setting when a CD or DVD drive is attached on the same cable. i.e. may have setting with words like, "HDD with CD attached" do not mix this up with the very old "Master with non ATA compatible slave" as the new DVD's or CD drivees are compatible !!

As a standard connection for IDE cables, HDD are Master position and connected at end of the IDE cable with CD or DVD's set to Slave and connected to middle of cable! If 2 of either are connected to the same cable (channel) then one is set to Master and the other to Slave. The Primary Boot HDD must be on the 1st IDE channel and be set on Master.

With HP Computer, if only one IDE device is attached to a IDE cable, then it must me set to the master position !

pcbugfixer

 

Sorry for the miss understanding but I tried to download a hot key program and turned off my pc, and then when I tried to restart it i got a black screen and cursor with a noise, when trying to boot. I wouldnt no where to began to installed a new DVD-RW I had questions about the hdd to eleminate prob with hardware to find solutions.

RE STATEMENT: "hp pavilion 374n-mic windows xp which was upgraded when I worked at a service depo a year ago, "(dvd-rom max speed just replaced with new)= because my pc was an older model the tech replaced everthing with newer hardware a year ago. Nothing been replaced or repaired since.

 

pcbugfixer, I read that the system is Win XP and the Desktop display Theme is the green Home Edition. The problem will be to get a CD with XP HE on to use repair facility. It sounds to me that the system was updated by the Techo who has not supplied natisha with a system CD. Neil.

 

G'DAy "natisha22" and "retiredlearner ",

I am confused as to which system had the new DVD installed and which system has the boot problem.

Are there 2 HP Systems ? 1 with the boot problem and another with no problem ?

Also who is going to deal with this ?

Can you please clear up the issue. - Thanks

Getting a copy of an installation CD is not a problem - However you must have the Original Keys that came with the Operating System !

If the PC System in question is not a Windows 2000 OS, then we are in the wrong OS forum !

pcbugfixer

 

I just read Post #4 by natisha and it does say Win XP on an HP PC. Please clarify natisha and pcbugfixer will no doubt sort it out for you. Neil.

 

G'Day 'retiredlearner',

Thanks for the vote of confidence suggested in your post.

Yup, but this is in the w 2000 OS section - and the other explanation confuse the issues

Another reason why Membership should have compulsory System Information posted for all members - I think.

pcbugfixer

 

Ok i am sorry for all the confusion! I am new to all of this and needed some help and found this posting pageSo allow me to start here:

Post 480115 pcbugfixer ask me about a BartCD or other Repair Utility Boot CD and if not what type of Computer do I have! Ok so I read the cpu and gave details but I wanted pcbugfixer to know that a tech gutted it and replaced the cpu with all new parts he upgraded it, there for i am not sure how that works and if any parts i gave in detail were change so that part was an fYI just incase. And i noticed when I got my desktop back the sceen was differnt(Green) and the tech said he gave me windows 7? wich at that time it was new and not even out yet in store. so i throught that maybe inportant as well expecially when it came to getting the rite CD.

Post 480356 and480373 Neil-Yes you r correct but I am new to all of this so i am not sure if the tech did that window 7 thing cuz the only thing that i could see differnt was Desktop display Theme is the green with grass and the icons roll for easy access to trash, time internet,firewall etc.

 

G'Day once again 'natisha22'

That you are relatively new to Forums or not all together Computer Savvy is not a problem and we can sort this out for you - I trust.

Let's see if I understand the Status Quo.

1. We have one broken down HP Machine which we are not clear on as to it's Operating System, if it is Windows 2000, XP or Vista or possibly Windows 7 which the previous Tech suggested
- is this correct ?

2. You are obviously communicating on this Forum through another PC which is active ! - and is also a HP Computer ?
- is this correct ?

3. I do not want to insult your intelligence or PC knowledge, however I need you to understand the following;
- The desktop Display and picture Image is only that a picture Image and is not related in determining the Operating System that is installed on a PC. The Same Picture for the Desktop can and is available on Most Operating System Installation.
- You would however Notice the Windows Boot Screen variations when you first start the computer and get the , what we call, the "Splash Screens" which vary.
- The Original XP Home had a Windows Logo Screen with a scroll bar with a green row of, lets say cubes, running from left to right.
- Windows XP Professional, had almost the same Windows Logo Screen except the the cubes were "Blue "
- With the progress of SP's (Service Packs updated) this was changed and both XP Home and Pro now have Blue cubes running from left to right.
- Windows Vista and Windows 7 also have a Splash Screen, however without the Traditional Logo and only a Scroll Bar showing a Goldy-Green row of cubes scrolling from left to right and it is only when you get to the Logon Screens (if you have Multi Users) that you find out from the display at the bottom of the Logon Displayed Screens what the Operating System is, it still show as part of the boot sequence even if the system only has one user and is set to Logon automatically.
- In some Manufacturers PC's like HP, they obviously mix in their own versions of the screens however the Windows screens should be the same as the ones I have described.

4. Please observe this on the PC that is working, and make some notes of what it is, so that we can clearly establish the OS's (Operating Systems) in use.

5. Is it possible to contact the previous Tech Guy, to determine what was Installed, or do you have any documentation, like a receipt, that may describe the work that was done ?

6. Do you have Skype or Yahoo Messenger ?
- and also what is your Location and Regional Time - please - I am in Australia with the current time at 12:13 hours (12:13PM) Sunday 18 Oct. 2009

7. How much confidence do you have in lifting the cover off the PC case (housing that contains the Motherboard, CPU, HDD's, DVD drives, Memory Modules, etc.) that is not working, to do some minor maintenance work ? - or do you have a friend that can do this for you with instructions ?

Ok enough to start with - please answer all questions to the best of your ability - Thanks

Moderators please note!
We should keep this post under Windows 2000, until we get a clear indication as to which Operating system we are dealing with and then move it if required !

pcbugfixer

 

1) YES Desktop window unknown
2) YES labtop window Vista
3) when i turn on desktop a blue screen that states in white hp pavilion apears.then it goes to black/white cursor prior 2 problem I am not sure how os use to start because i mainly use my labtop and they do not load with the same screens
4)window vista currently working on
5)No i tried to locate him it was done at work for free
6)yahoo messager -pattersonnatisha@yahoo.com to chat (usa centrial time)
7)Comfortable
and FYI i may not know alot about computers but I know what a pc,os,cpu,hdd,motherboard etc. I worked at a computer service depo ordering parts for various pc's I am just not to sure what this tech did to mine. You r correct on the posting I should of posted prob in xp or win 7 because i am leening tords believing it one or the other because prior to upgrades it was wind xp home edition so sorry for the trouble.

 

pcbugfixer, Your suggestion re system info would be very difficult to enforce as not all computer users have the ability to go into the OS other than utilize the software and use the PC as a work station. I know if I asked my wife to give me the details of her computer, she would walk off in disgust. She has been using a computer in her work for 20 years but the IT Tech looks after problems. I'm interested in following this Post if you don't mind as my username indicates. Neil.

 

G'Day natisha22,

Ok - we have 2 HP machines - 1 broken Desktop and 1 Working Laptop.

So lets now concentrate on the Desktop that needs fixing.

Just a couple of points, don't be in a hurry to answer questions please read them carefully please and answer every part - Thanks (helps to avoid making mistakes)

1. Did we have any documentation that might indicate the work that was done seeing that the Tech cannot be contacted ?

2. Does not matter at this time that you may have posted in the wrong OS section, this can be corrected later.

3. Do you recall any Boot Screen information on the HP Desktop PC when it was working ?

4. Have you or anyone else attempted any Hardware fixes, i.e. altered the Case content in any way, or is it as per the Setup by the old Tech that worked on it ?

5. Do you have access to any other Desktop PC that works ? - with at least Windows 98se loaded on it or higher XP would be better ?
- If this was available, in some instances the HP's HDD might have a minor problem, and attaching it to another Windows System as a Secondary Master or Slave, and then booting, will cause the PC to which the drive is attached as a Secondary Master or Slave, to check it and can make the corrections to any file system structure errors and then running a " chkdsk (?drive letter) /f /r " while it is attached to this other PC, will then test the HDD from the failed HP system. Once done, the disk in 96% of cases will then boot correctly in the original HP computer. In some instances the Active Partition may need to be reset, for which we would need a Windows 98 or other windows boot Disk with the "FDisk" parameters on it to correct this.

6. You are at -5 GMT and I am at +10, (15 hour time difference) meaning it is approx 9:50 pm Saturday evening 17th Oct. where you are and 1:50 Pm (afternoon) Sunday 18th where I am !
- obviously late for you ? and Sunday for me - I Try to relax on Sundays.

pcbugfixer

 

No problem "retiredlearner ",

The issue of posting the System Information could be overcome for Novice Users with some very simple instruction, like - Right mouse click on the "My Computer" icon and click on "Properties" etc. and yes , I agree, some PC users only type letters and do nothing else on the PC, not even turn it off in some cases and no maintenance at all.

pcbugfixer

 

Ok
1) pc was upgraded for free I did not get any paper work from tech!
3)Do not recall boot screen prior to I did not use pc that much but for my kids school projects and storing documents
4) NOTHING has been repaired since tech upgraded pc
5)No other desktop avail
6) Time is no problem I just need help I have stored a lot of important info on my desktop but go ahead and relax and enjoy your Sunday i hope we will be intouch soon
I hope I did not answer you to fast but I am trying to give you clear answers and these questions have already been answered in other post except(Q5)

Q if the harddrive shows/reads in BIOS f1 does that mean the harddrive is working?

 

OK "natisha22 ",

After the mixed info it is always good to reestablish the facts.

No need to apologize, and clear answers are good,

BIOS recognizing the HDD means that it should be accessible as the BIOS can identify it, however it does not mean that the data integrity is in tact, nor does it mean that all the boot and other sectors / clusters are accessible or readable, hence the boot up problem.

Will see how I go for time - don't want to keep you up too late anyway.

pcbugfixer

 

Sound good do you have anymore question? where do we go from here?

 

To-Day "natisha22" - no more.

I need to complete my Week-end maintenance schedule on my 6 workstations and take a break.

Will think about our options ! ?? in the mean time.

Do you have or can you get a USB2.0 to IDE and SATA Adapter Kit for Large Capacity Drive - With Power Supply like this one - http://www.overclockersonline.net/?page=articles&num=712&pnum=1
Should cost no more than USD$25 to $30.00

Which would allow us to connect the HP HDD to your Laptop via a USB port and run some tests on it and perhaps fix it seeing that we do not have access to another PC.

Also if the HP HDD works, we can get the files you want of it.

pcbugfixer