Your Windows 7 computer boots to a black screen with cursor, and you have no idea what you have done to cause this problem. This is frustrating. But don’t worry. It’s a common black screen issues and you can fix it.
Why does the black screen with cursor happen in my Windows 7 computer? Usually you’ll have the black screen issue because of your graphics card problem. Meanwhile the hardware conflicts can cause your computer to black screen.
Try these fixes:
Here are the solutions to try. You don’t have to try them all; just work your way down the list until everything’s working again.
- Remove external devices
- Boot into Last Known Good Configuration
- Update available drivers
- Run System File Checker
- Check for virus and malware
- Perform a system restore
Fix 1: Remove external devices
If your computer starts with a black screen and a cursor, it’s likely to be result in the hardware conflicts. So you should disconnect the external devices in your computer.
- Turn off your computer.
- Disconnect the external devices, including the USB drive, Headset, and Microphone.
- Remove your laptop battery and charger cable if you’re using a laptop.
- Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds and release. Your computer will boot up and turn off during this time period.
- Put your battery back and plug the charger if it’s a laptop.
- Press the power button as normal to turn on your computer/laptop.
Hopefully it fixes your black screen with cursor and starts your computer properly.
Fix 2: Boot into Last Known Good Configuration
The Last Known Good Configuration feature enables you to start your Windows 7 computer when your computer has serious problems, and it loads your system that has worked properly the last time you started.
Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure your computer is off. Then press the power button to turn it on.
- Press the F8 key after you see the computer logo screen and before the Windows logo.
- Then the Advanced Boot Options menu will show up. Press the arrow key to select Last Known Good Configuration, then press Enter.
- Wait for a while for Windows 7 to starts.
This will save your Windows 7 computer and fixes your black screen with cursor in Windows 7.
If this method doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. There is something else to try.
Fix 3: Update available drivers
A missing or outdated device driver in your computer can cause your computer to the black screen. To rule it out as the cause for the black screen with a cursor, try updating the available device drivers to the latest version.
There are two ways to update your device drivers: manually and automatically.
Manual driver update – You can go to the manufacturer’s website, find your hardware device driver and download the latest version. Then manually install it in your computer. Be sure to download the one that is compatible with your Windows OS. This requires time and computer skills.
Automatic driver update – If you don’t have the time or patience, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version. But with the Pro version it takes only 2 clicks (and you’ll get full support and 30-day money back guarantee):
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Open Driver Easy and click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan the problem drivers in your computer.
- Click the Update button next to the flagged device to automatically download the correct version of their driver (you can do this with the FREE version). Then install it in your computer.
Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
- Restart your computer to take effect.
Fix 4: Run System File Checker
If your system files are corrupted, you may experience the black screen issue or black screen with cursor, so you can run System File Check (SFC) and fix any corrupted system files.
- Boot your computer into Safe Mode.
- On your desktop, type cmd in the search box, right click cmd, and select Run as administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter.
sfc /scannow
- Then the tool will scan your system files and fix any corrupted files for you. Wait for it to complete.
- Type exit and press Enter to exit Command Prompt.
- Restart your computer as normal.
See if your black screen with cursor issue has been resolved.
Fix 5: Check for virus and malware
As you know, if your computer is infected with viruses or malware, your computer will be malfunctioning and sometimes can’t start normally. So you should run a full system scan to make sure there are no viruses or malware.
- Boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking.
- Open your antivirus program. Windows Defender may not detect it, so it’s worth trying another antivirus application such as Avira and Panda.
- If any malware has been detected, follow the instructions provided to fix it.
- Restart your computer as normal.
Hopefully your Windows 7 black screen with cursor should be fixed.
If not, don’t give up hope. There’s one more thing to try.
Fix 6: Perform a system restore
You can restore Windows 7 by reverting it to a previous state. To do so:
Note: There should be a system restore point created on your Windows system before you can try this fix.
- Boot your Windows 7 computer into Safe Mode.
- Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen and type “recovery“. Then click Recovery in the list of results.
- Click Open System Restore to open the System Restore wizard.
- Follow the instructions of the System Restore wizard to restore your system from a system restore point.
After restoring your system, restart your computer and see if it fixes your problem.
So there you have it – the five methods to fix the black screen with cursor in Windows 7. If you have any question or suggestion, feel free to leave us a comment below.