- Accessing the Advanced Boot Options Menu
- Research Blue Screens or Auto Restarting
- Fix 'No Video' Problems
- Revert to the 'Last Known Good' Configuration / Go Back in Time with System Restore
- Detect and Fix Drive Errors with Check Disk / Run Startup Repair to Enable Booting
- Perform a System File Check (SFC) / Scan for Viruses and Infections
- Upgrade the BIOS / Run Memory and Hard Drive Diagnostics
Fix 'No Video' Problems
If your computer seems to boot normally, but the screen never displays Windows and is just completely black, your monitor may actually be fine. The problem may be your video card or its driver. Many times this sort of trouble can be fixed just by reinstalling the driver for the video card.
To get into Windows, bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu and select Safe Mode. Open the Device Manager and then open the properties dialog for the Display Adapter. On the Driver tab, click Update Driver and manually select your current driver in the list. If this technique doesn't work, try to download new drivers from a working computer.
Diagnose Beep Codes
If your computer sounds more than one short beep after you turn it on, this power-on self-test (POST) beep code may be trying to tell you what the issue is. You can look up these codes to see possible causes for the specific beep code you're hearing.