W7 won't boot, blinking cursor

[stick1977]

Doing remote support for this woman, nothing worked so she's shipping me the laptop overnight. W7 won't boot. The BIOS accepts her hard drive password but Windows doesn't load, just shows a black screen with a blinking cursor in top left corner.

She had a repair disk so we tried Startup Repair and all the bootrec commands like fixmbr, fixboot and rebuildBCD but no luck.

Anyone seen this blinking cursor before? I've exhausted all Google searches.

Thanks
Stick

 

[NYJimbo]

Anyone seen this blinking cursor before? I've exhausted all Google searches.

I think you should have the laptop in front of you before you say that.

 

[YOCS]

It might be a hibernation issue. Can you pull the battery and disconnect the power for 5 min?

 

[mrtechnology]

Stick1977 I'm faced with the exact same issue on a HP windows 7. I have the box with me and I've spent several hours combing through google and fourms as well. Hp blames in on the hard drive and the WDC blames it on the motherboard. I working on it as we speak to determine if it is a hardware or software issue) Once I get a solid fix I'll come back and let you know and if you get one before me I let me know.

 

[Rob_NNCC]

Well, eliminate the possibilities. Run drive fitness test or GsmartControl. Run Memtest86+.

Most of the time that this happens to me, it is drive corruption or a bad drive. Do some tests. Put in a known good HDD and see if you can install Windows and have it run on that...

Eliminate all possibilities.

 

[mr m]

I have seen external, USB HDD's and USB thumb drives do this when left plugged in when the system is restarted.

I always check the simple stuff first.

 

[PCX]

As already mentioned, its usually a corrupted hard drive or a failing hard drive. Always test the hard drive and memory first (if able) before trying to troubleshoot software issues. Remember, failing hardware can cause software issues.

 

[stick1977]

Thanks for all the replies.

Mrtechnology, as you're having the same issue I'll let you know how it goes with the Lenovo technician today. The laptop in question is under warranty. Lenovo had me boot to a diag disc which tested memory and hard drive, both passed so they think it's a motherboard issue. I'll repost after the technician installs the new MB, he's supposed to be out before 5:00 PM EST today.

Other notes about this issue; yes I made sure all USB peripherals were disconnected,

YOCS, I just tried pulling the battery to in essence reboot the MB and it didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion I should've had the user do that first cause I've seen that fix issues before, especially with USB problems. Anywho, I'll remember that for next time. Thanks.

 

[PCX]

Thanks for all the replies.

Mrtechnology, as you're having the same issue I'll let you know how it goes with the Lenovo technician today. The laptop in question is under warranty. Lenovo had me boot to a diag disc which tested memory and hard drive, both passed so they think it's a motherboard issue. I'll repost after the technician installs the new MB, he's supposed to be out before 5:00 PM EST today.

Other notes about this issue; yes I made sure all USB peripherals were disconnected,

YOCS, I just tried pulling the battery to in essence reboot the MB and it didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion I should've had the user do that first cause I've seen that fix issues before, especially with USB problems. Anywho, I'll remember that for next time. Thanks.

Just a piece of advice, those manufacture diagnostic disks are usually crap, I would get a second opinion and test the hard drive with gsmartcontrol and the memory with memtest86+

 

[stick1977]

MB replacement didn't resolve the problem, still won't boot. This is an FDE drive and the data is backed up on Carbonite. I already have sent a new build out to the user and am downloading their data so no more testing for me. I'm just going to get this HDD shredded and will attempt to build out a new OS with a new HDD. If I can build out new then was most likely a hard drive problem. If I can't then Lenovo can send me a new laptop.

 

[compnet]

MB replacement didn't resolve the problem, still won't boot. This is an FDE drive and the data is backed up on Carbonite. I already have sent a new build out to the user and am downloading their data so no more testing for me. I'm just going to get this HDD shredded and will attempt to build out a new OS with a new HDD. If I can build out new then was most likely a hard drive problem. If I can't then Lenovo can send me a new laptop.

wow..

chkdsk?
virus scans?
system restores?
backup and reinstall?
bios settings/flash new bios?
did rebuildbcd see a windows installation??


Just because a hard drive installs on a new hard drive doesn't mean the old one was bad, unless the install was failing on the original. Like has been mentioned, you need to do an actual hard drive test on it, although I'm betting in this case its good.

I actually see blinking cursors a lot, and its rarely the motherboard, less than half the time its the hard drive, most of the time its just windows getting hosed either by itself or by a virus.

I realize its under warranty, but you kind of pulled a geek squad throwing out a good motherboard and hard drive with minimal testing and attempts at fixing the software. Also, is lenovo covering the hard drive even though it passes their diagnostic, you haven't done any other diagnostics, and they already replaced the motherboard??

 

[ljtechservices]

wow..

chkdsk?
virus scans?
system restores?
backup and reinstall?
bios settings/flash new bios?
did rebuildbcd see a windows installation??


Just because a hard drive installs on a new hard drive doesn't mean the old one was bad, unless the install was failing on the original. Like has been mentioned, you need to do an actual hard drive test on it, although I'm betting in this case its good.

I actually see blinking cursors a lot, and its rarely the motherboard, less than half the time its the hard drive, most of the time its just windows getting hosed either by itself or by a virus.

I realize its under warranty, but you kind of pulled a geek squad throwing out a good motherboard and hard drive with minimal testing and attempts at fixing the software. Also, is lenovo covering the hard drive even though it passes their diagnostic, you haven't done any other diagnostics, and they already replaced the motherboard??

Maybe you haven't done much corporate support but sometimes turn around is better than accuracy.
He may have an SLA to adhere to and is going with the most expedient method to get the user back in business.
Note that he said he already sent another build out to her (PC loaded with everything the customer needs) and is getting her data back to her.

Don't assume someone is incompetent because they do something different.
I have a few clients where I just re-image and go. I worry about the actual problem later when I have downtime. The laptop being under warranty gives him more options and time to work with Lenovo support when he can get to it. Note that Lenovo opted to replace the MB. Not Him.

 

[compnet]

Maybe you haven't done much corporate support but sometimes turn around is better than accuracy.
He may have an SLA to adhere to and is going with the most expedient method to get the user back in business.
Note that he said he already sent another build out to her (PC loaded with everything the customer needs) and is getting her data back to her.

Ya august 13th til today is a great turn around for what is now definitely either a hard drive or software issue. Most of my corporate clients like speedy turn arounds, but they also don't like having to go back in set the computer on the domain and set up email and whatever other software they have.

Don't assume someone is incompetent because they do something different.
I have a few clients where I just re-image and go. I worry about the actual problem later when I have downtime. The laptop being under warranty gives him more options and time to work with Lenovo support when he can get to it. Note that Lenovo opted to replace the MB. Not Him.

I'm not assuming they are incompetent.. I'm was pointing out they wasted time on the whole MB issue, and now about to throw away a hard drive without testing it properly and it passing lenovo diag. I'm sure he has an SLA that says go ask on the internet and do whatever they tell you.

Everyone can do things different, and maybe we don't have the whole story, but running startup repair and some bootrec commands, then throwing out the mobo and hard drive is the wrong way. Warranty/out of warranty, corporate/residential.. It doesn't matter.

 

[Rob_NNCC]

I agree that this could be handled better. In this case, I would have:
gsmartcontrolled the drive
checkdisk
memtest
if I am feeling lazy, windows startup repair off of a windows install disk (rebuild BCD and what not, let it do it automagicaly)
do an 'upgrade' of windows
back everything up and N&P, then restore as a last resort.

Again, this is just what I would do if the previous step did not give a solution. If I had time to kill, I might even do some more things before I did a upgrade or a N&P.

Replacing costly hardware (even if it is under warranty-this kind of stuff makes it harder for us when a legitimate hardware failure occurs) and just taking stabs in the dark makes you, me and everyone else in our line of work look bad. Mainly you though. Perhaps you need to sit down and think things through every so often to prevent your repairs from being so knee jerk.

Taking 5 min to sit down and think things through is a heck of a lot faster than waiting 12 hours for someone to show up to swap the mobo. My standard turn around time is under 24 hours. Turn around time is NO excuse for not doing proper diagnostics. If you do not understand the problem, how can you be sure you have fixed it for good?

I don't mean to be inflammatory, buy you need to do proper diagnostics!

 

[xxsilk109xx]

im working with the same issue, after testing hardware, I slaved the drive and turns out its a rootkit virus. Slave the drive and scan, should help.

 

[tf76]

im working with the same issue, after testing hardware, I slaved the drive and turns out its a rootkit virus. Slave the drive and scan, should help.

Can you let us know what software you used for the slave drive scan?
Kaspersky is quite good. Just wondering.

Regards,

 

[BCS Head Tech]

Doing remote support for this woman, nothing worked so she's shipping me the laptop overnight. W7 won't boot. The BIOS accepts her hard drive password but Windows doesn't load, just shows a black screen with a blinking cursor in top left corner.

She had a repair disk so we tried Startup Repair and all the bootrec commands like fixmbr, fixboot and rebuildBCD but no luck.

Anyone seen this blinking cursor before? I've exhausted all Google searches.

Thanks
Stick

hello, when you get it.. pull the drive to see if it posts. If it posts you should get an error that states "no boot-able device" or something along those lines which varies from machine to machine. If you do see this it is a software or hard drive issue not a Board issue. Now I will say this there a lot of bad WD drives out there and there new ones have failed from over heating.

Hope this helps.

 

[stick1977]

Maybe you haven't done much corporate support but sometimes turn around is better than accuracy.
He may have an SLA to adhere to and is going with the most expedient method to get the user back in business.
Note that he said he already sent another build out to her (PC loaded with everything the customer needs) and is getting her data back to her.

Don't assume someone is incompetent because they do something different.
I have a few clients where I just re-image and go. I worry about the actual problem later when I have downtime. The laptop being under warranty gives him more options and time to work with Lenovo support when he can get to it. Note that Lenovo opted to replace the MB. Not Him.

Yes, this client requires me to destroy the hard drive instead of reuse it. I'd prefer to do low-level formats and reuse but my instructions are to shred the drive in situations like this. And I'm not sure what he meant about throwing away a motherboard. Lenovo heard my problem and suggested an MB replacement.

As it turns out, the six new FDE drives I bought from eCOST (crappy supplier but all I was able to find at the time) are either incompatible or defective. Once I got a good hard drive into this laptop I was able to load Windows.

 

[stick1977]

hello, when you get it.. pull the drive to see if it posts. If it posts you should get an error that states "no boot-able device" or something along those lines which varies from machine to machine. If you do see this it is a software or hard drive issue not a Board issue. Now I will say this there a lot of bad WD drives out there and there new ones have failed from over heating.

Hope this helps.

Can you expand on this "pull the drive to see if it posts". I'm a little unclear on what peice of hardware is responsible for what during the startup/post process.

 

[NYJimbo]

I'm a little unclear on what peice of hardware is responsible for what during the startup/post process.

Hmmmm....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

There are tons of references out there..