Windows 7 HELP! Can't Boot After Win 7 Install!

[asaf660]

Hello,

My situation is somewhat strange. Today I was installing Windows 7 on my brand new Acer AX1300 desktop as an upgrade to the preinstalled Windows Vista. The upgrade installation was going fine up until the very end. After the final restart of the installation, the computer froze on the 'Checking Video Settings for First Start Up' or something along those lines (don't remember the exact phrase but it was part of the installation process). I realized that the installation has been frozen because the light beam on the bottom of the screen was no loner moving, but I still figured I'd give it more time. After 20 minutes of waiting I was sure that the installation has frozen so I powered down the computer manually. Now, when I start the computer nothing appears on the screen -- its just black. I know the computer is running since all the lights are on and I hear the fan running, but I get nothing on the screen. I thought maybe the reason was because my computer was hooked up to my TV via HDMI and there was no driver for recognizing the HDMI port so I hooked it up to my computer monitor, but the problem is the same...

Please help as I'm completely puzzled as to what to do since I can't even boot the OS...

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're encountering an issue with your Windows 7 installation on your Acer desktop after upgrading from Windows Vista. The problem you're facing, where the screen remains black despite the computer appearing to be running, can be troubling but there are several troubleshooting steps we can take to try and resolve this issue. Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem: 1. Safe Mode Boot: - Try booting the computer into Safe Mode. To do this, restart the computer and continuously press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears. - In Safe Mode, you can try to uninstall any recent updates or drivers that might be causing the issue. 2. System Restore: - If you can access Safe Mode, you can also try using System Restore to roll back to a point before the upgrade installation. - System Restore can help revert your system configuration to a previous state where it was working correctly. 3. Check Hardware Connections: - Ensure that all cables (including the HDMI or VGA cable) are securely connected to both the computer and the monitor. - Try using a different cable or monitor to rule out any hardware issues. 4. BIOS Settings: - Access the BIOS settings of your computer and ensure that the correct display settings are configured. - You may need to set the primary display adapter to the appropriate setting (e.g., PCIe, integrated graphics). 5. Repair Installation: - If possible, you can try to repair the Windows 7 installation using the installation media (DVD or USB) by choosing the repair option. - The repair process can fix any corrupted system files that might be causing the black screen issue. 6. Driver Updates: - If you manage to boot into Safe Mode or access the installation, update your graphics drivers to the latest version. - Updating drivers can often resolve display-related issues. 7. Reinstall Windows 7: - As a last resort, consider reinstalling Windows 7 from scratch if none of the above steps work. - Ensure you have backed up any important data before proceeding with a fresh installation. Try these steps in sequence and see if any of them help resolve the black screen issue you're experiencing after the Windows 7 upgrade. If the problem persists, let me know, and we can explore further options to troubleshoot the issue.