black screen but back lit laptop

[MomTeachAng]

Hello. There have been several times my Toshiba laptop (2 yrs old running Windows 8.1) has started up only to show a black back lit screen with a cursor (arrow). It goes no further. Fan is working. Usually it will start back up on if I force the shut down and restart it. One time it didn't start back up for probably 5 different tries. One time it also started up and stopped with a blue screen. I have checked the RAM, powercord/box, and have run a diagnostic test which shows no problems. I have not seen any wavy screens or error codes or anything like that. Any ideas?

 

[C12Friedman]

Sounds offhand like a corrupted driver, does your loading time seem excessively long when it does start up properly?
Have any programs been installed recently or any hardware (external drives etc.)?

 

[MomTeachAng]

Nothing new added. I'm not sure what to say about startup... it isn't fast, but I can't recall it being slower than it had been say a month or so ago. If I would have to reinstall a driver what all would I need to do and how would I tell if that is the problem? Any other thoughts? I have to depend on jobs with my computer being up, so it is important that I get this figured out and not lose my computer. Thanks!

 

[tman1]

When you turn it on, do you get a boot menu with startup repair at the top of the list?

 

[C12Friedman]

I think the first place to go would be this article https/www.winhelp.us/repair-your-computer-in-windows-8.html see where you get. I'd personally start down at the area titled "Options to try before using Recovery Environment in Windows 8 and 8.1", it's a little ways down on the page. Actually the entire article is worth a read IMO. If you come across something you don't understand, ask here and we'll attempt to clarify

 

[MomTeachAng]

When you turn it on, do you get a boot menu with startup repair at the top of the list?

 

[MomTeachAng]

No, nothing different other than the black screen.

 

[tman1]

No, nothing different other than the black screen.

From being powered off, then turned on, NO laptop just simply goes to a black screen with a cursor without first having the OEM screen during POST. It usually then occurs after the Windows splash screen, sometimes before, but ultimately you should have seen the Toshiba screen first.

 

[MomTeachAng]

I think the first place to go would be this article https/www.winhelp.us/repair-your-computer-in-windows-8.html see where you get. I'd personally start down at the area titled "Options to try before using Recovery Environment in Windows 8 and 8.1", it's a little ways down on the page. Actually the entire article is worth a read IMO. If you come across something you don't understand, ask here and we'll attempt to clarify

 

[MomTeachAng]

I will check out the article. Thank you - I am new at "fixing" a computer other than some basic stuff, so please bare with me. Thanks.