Blank Screen Blinking Underscore

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Eric
  • Start date Start date
M

Michael Eric

Blank screen w/ blinking underscore (upper left hand
scrn), Setup (Bios), and manufactures'start screen are the
only three options I seem to have w/ a harddrive that I am
trying to do a full system reinstall on after a virus took
apart my XP OS. I have little experience in this area and
would be thankful for any help.

Syst Info:
XP Home ed packaged w/ hardware, 2 Restore Disks, 20GB
HD,512MB RAM, Intel Celeron. (RAM and Optical Drv hardware
upgrade modifications made- changes to orig hdwe config).
Background- Lost an agonizing struggle w/ virus
during which time I took some extreme measures including:
a)trying to use Win XP System Restore utility at 6
different restore points, (after restore "complete"
confirm, and restart, always got new message window
stating "Unable to Restore" to the date I had chosen and
eventually no restore dates were avail).
b)purging several Programs files incl email client in
effort to isolate infection.
c)using Reg backup app to restore to earlier point
(possible some reg entries were changed).
To get online, I took HD from 7 year old computer that had
Win 98 on drive.
Problems- Cant' activate Restore CD. Earlier,
before HD/OS switch, got restore disk (Semantec Ghost)to
begin restore but would stop about 2 min in because "Could
Not Open" File "GhostErr.txt". Have borrowed XP Home
retail CD (I'm legit-have own s/n registered w/
Microsoft), to see if that would install, but can't
getpast blank screen and blinking cursor in upper left.
One additional factor- during earlier attempts to use
restore disc, found that I needed to install old CD unit
because although Windows could read the new CDROM, the
Restore CD's could not, so that can be ruled out. Also
related to the CDROM drive- Intall CD fires up for 5-10
secs and than sputters as if it was attempting to connect
to function.
 
Trying to condense/clasrify OP. Have restore CD packaged
w/ computer and have access to XP Retail CD if necessary.
Need to totally restore HD because of virus problem and
subsequent attempts at fix. Restore process (from restore
CD) partially installed but did not finish, and now, am
unable to activate restore disc. After boot, get Mnfr's
screen ID followed by blank screen w/ blinking cursor, but
no Windows or Command Prompt. Ctrl > Delete briefly brings
up screen that usually comes up near beginning of MS DOS
prompt start-up sequence, but it immediately switches to
Start-Up/BIOS Settings Utility and all adjustments I have
made there (following HD settings instructions) have had
no effect in getting the Restore disc to operate or in
opening in MS DOS. 1) Should I just go out and purchase a
new hard drive? 2) Is this a CD ROM driver installation
problem? 3) Should I go back and try readjusting BIOS
again? Have tried setting Primary/Master to both AUTO and
CDROM w/o results. 4)Is this a booting order problem? Have
been w/ temporary and very limited OS for over 2 weeks now
and am getting desperate to get my XP back.
 
Back
Top