Can't fix Black Screens. Do I need a new Hard Drive?

Hello, I doubt this is a "Black Screen of Death" problem with a windows 7 update. I can't even get to windows. Closest I have gotten was the log-in and it blacked out b4 I could even type the password if it even boots at all. I have looked through several forums and tried the following

-I have tried serveral power/battery tricks than involve taking out the battery and holding down the power button..etc

-I have tried all safe modes and the same result...It starts up to the log-in then blacks out

-I have tried the boot-up repair

-I have tried putting the windows 7 disk and booting it from there to try and re-format or re-install everything. I press "any" key to boot from the disc, It starts to load up the screen and then it black screens.

Basically It blacks screens within 30 secs no matter what I am doing. No error messages either. Is my Hard Drive just done for or what? If anyone can help that would be great. Thank you

 

First we need too know what your running Do you know what the Specs are is it a Laptop or Desktop

 

Since the PC initially turns on and the screen quickly blacks out with no error messages, I suspect a bad fan that's causing overheating.

If it's a notebook PC, check the operation of the fan(s) by using a flashlight or putting your ear up to them immediately at startup. If one or more fans are not spinning it's likely your video card/chip is heating up rapidly and causing a high-temp warning shutdown.

If this is the case, you may be able to use the PC temporarily by doing the following:

* Turn it on and immediately hit the key for BIOS setup (normally "F2" or "DEL").

* Play with the on-board video settings if the BIOS allows it. If the PC has an onboard video card (NVIDIA, ATI), some units will allow you to bypass the video card by using the "System Video" setting.

* If the screen blacks out in BIOS, move on to the next step.

If this works, you'll have basic video (albeit lousy quality).

If not, you'll have to replace the cooling fan(s) (if so, check eBay - you'll save a lot versus buying new OEM fans).

Even after replacing the fans, it's a 50/50 shot on if things will go back to normal. I spent almost two hours doing a fan replacement today on an older Toshiba, only to discover the on-board ATI video chip had cooked itself to the point the PC would stay on no longer than two minutes (even with working fans).

Good luck on solving the problem. Hope this info. helps.

 

Agree with what sort of PC (laptop or Desk)??

Gman has some solid advice!

The comment about battery/power tends towards a desktop?!? and assessing the CMOS Battery, etc.

Can you enter the BIOS via Gman's tip of tapping the DEL key?

If so go immediately to the "Hardware monitoring" section and look at the system indicators of Fan RPM, CPU Temps, etc.

It does sound like a hardware "self preservation" feature of shutting off before something becomes fried!

 

To add another question to the list: does the PC shutdown, reboot or just keep 'running' after the black screen?