Black Screen at Bootup... Sometimes

[croy]

Normally, I shut my computer down between uses.

Occasionally, at bootup, I get a black screen, telling me
that I must do a repair install.

Many times, I've done the repair install, sometimes more
than once, to get Windows up and running again.

I have learned that when that happens, if I simply hit the
<enter> key (hot key for rebooting), the computer boots up
normally, and Windows seems to function normally.

This has been going on for several months. I'm beginning to
realize (I think...) that the black screen happens when I've
plugged in (or unplugged) a USB stick before booting--in
other words, made some change to the status of USB sticks on
the computer. I'm still not sure of this, and if it happens
when I make the change while Windows (7HP) is still running,
or only if the change happens when the computer is without
power.

I'm not about to leave this energy hog on 24-7, so that's
not an option. I only use it about 2 hours a day.

I know that a re-format and re-install would probably fix
it, and when I have a free week to re-learn the process, do
it, re-install all my software, and get all my settings
back, I'll do that. But it may not be for several more
months. In the mean-time....

Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this continues to
happen?

 

[VanguardLH]

Normally, I shut my computer down between uses.

Occasionally, at bootup, I get a black screen, telling me
that I must do a repair install.

Many times, I've done the repair install, sometimes more
than once, to get Windows up and running again.

I have learned that when that happens, if I simply hit the
<enter> key (hot key for rebooting), the computer boots up
normally, and Windows seems to function normally.

This has been going on for several months. I'm beginning to
realize (I think...) that the black screen happens when I've
plugged in (or unplugged) a USB stick before booting--in
other words, made some change to the status of USB sticks on
the computer. I'm still not sure of this, and if it happens
when I make the change while Windows (7HP) is still running,
or only if the change happens when the computer is without
power.

I'm not about to leave this energy hog on 24-7, so that's
not an option. I only use it about 2 hours a day.

I know that a re-format and re-install would probably fix
it, and when I have a free week to re-learn the process, do
it, re-install all my software, and get all my settings
back, I'll do that. But it may not be for several more
months. In the mean-time....

Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this continues to
happen?

When were you planning to run "chkdsk /r"? If and when that passes
okay, follow with an execute of the disk maker's diagnostic tool.

 

[Seth]

Normally, I shut my computer down between uses.

Occasionally, at bootup, I get a black screen, telling me
that I must do a repair install.

Many times, I've done the repair install, sometimes more
than once, to get Windows up and running again.

I have learned that when that happens, if I simply hit the
<enter> key (hot key for rebooting), the computer boots up
normally, and Windows seems to function normally.

This has been going on for several months. I'm beginning to
realize (I think...) that the black screen happens when I've
plugged in (or unplugged) a USB stick before booting--in
other words, made some change to the status of USB sticks on
the computer. I'm still not sure of this, and if it happens
when I make the change while Windows (7HP) is still running,
or only if the change happens when the computer is without
power.

I'm not about to leave this energy hog on 24-7, so that's
not an option. I only use it about 2 hours a day.

I know that a re-format and re-install would probably fix
it, and when I have a free week to re-learn the process, do
it, re-install all my software, and get all my settings
back, I'll do that. But it may not be for several more
months. In the mean-time....

Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this continues to
happen?

I've seen this happen when USB storage devices with specific formatting on
them are present at boot up time. Can you determine which one (or more) of
your USB sticks being present when this condition occurs could be causing
this? Then look at what it is with that specific stick. It may come down to
simply backing the data up off of that stick, wiping it clean and then
reloading the data that fixes the issue (other than the obvious not having
that stick present at boot time).

 

[croy]

When were you planning to run "chkdsk /r"?

That's been done several times.

If and when that passes
okay, follow with an execute of the disk maker's diagnostic tool.

Better yet, I'll run SpinRite.

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

Normally, I shut my computer down between uses.

Occasionally, at bootup, I get a black screen, telling me
that I must do a repair install.

Many times, I've done the repair install, sometimes more
than once, to get Windows up and running again.

I have learned that when that happens, if I simply hit the
<enter> key (hot key for rebooting), the computer boots up
normally, and Windows seems to function normally.

This has been going on for several months. I'm beginning to
realize (I think...) that the black screen happens when I've
plugged in (or unplugged) a USB stick before booting--in
other words, made some change to the status of USB sticks on
the computer. I'm still not sure of this, and if it happens
when I make the change while Windows (7HP) is still running,
or only if the change happens when the computer is without
power.

I'm not about to leave this energy hog on 24-7, so that's
not an option. I only use it about 2 hours a day.

I know that a re-format and re-install would probably fix
it, and when I have a free week to re-learn the process, do
it, re-install all my software, and get all my settings
back, I'll do that. But it may not be for several more
months. In the mean-time....

Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this continues to
happen?

I see this in a number of Windows OSes not just Windows7. The problem
when I've seen it is because in the BIOS, boot from USB has been enabled.

When it is enabled and before your normal boot hard drive or optical
drive, it can cause confusion, Since for security purposes, I keep
booting from LAN, USB, optical drive and floppy disabled on my machine I
don't have the problem personally.

If you want to leave boot from USB turned on, then you need to go into
your BIOS and set the order for your hard disk. The BIOS for purposes of
booting, will lump the USB drives connect under the heading of hard disk.

Sincerely,
C.Joseph Drayton, Ph.D. AS&T

CSD Computer Services

Web site: http://csdcs.site90.net/
E-mail: (e-mail address removed)90.net

 

[a]

Normally, I shut my computer down between uses.

Occasionally, at bootup, I get a black screen, telling me
that I must do a repair install.

Many times, I've done the repair install, sometimes more
than once, to get Windows up and running again.

I have learned that when that happens, if I simply hit the
<enter> key (hot key for rebooting), the computer boots up
normally, and Windows seems to function normally.

This has been going on for several months. I'm beginning to
realize (I think...) that the black screen happens when I've
plugged in (or unplugged) a USB stick before booting--in
other words, made some change to the status of USB sticks on
the computer. I'm still not sure of this, and if it happens
when I make the change while Windows (7HP) is still running,
or only if the change happens when the computer is without
power.

I'm not about to leave this energy hog on 24-7, so that's
not an option. I only use it about 2 hours a day.

I know that a re-format and re-install would probably fix
it, and when I have a free week to re-learn the process, do
it, re-install all my software, and get all my settings
back, I'll do that. But it may not be for several more
months. In the mean-time....

Does anyone here have any ideas as to why this continues to
happen?

Since this only seems to happen when a USB stick is plugged in, I
would check your computer's BIOS. Check the part which covers Boot Up
options and make sure that its set to boot up only the hard disk as
the first boot device and that all other booting device options are
disabled, especially the one for booting up from the USB stick.

 

[VanguardLH]

That's been done several times.

Heretofore not mentioned by you.

Better yet, I'll run SpinRite.

Doable if you have it or are willing to buy a copy. It's payware.
There's no functional trial version. For its cost ($89), you could buy
a large new hard disk. Of course, if you manage a computer lab or shop
than it's a valuable tool to add and keep in your software toolbox.
SpinRite is sometimes valuable but it won't, for example, compensate for
worn bearings or other physical damage or wear or a defective PCB.

I mentioned the disk maker's own diagnostic utility since it's free.
Might as well start with free and then decide if you move to payware.