Black Screen with Flashing White Cursor on Startup

[ecloud13]

Hi
I'm sure this same problem has occurred multiple times to multiple people, but I've been trying everything I know to solve it.

Every time I turn on my computer I get the MSI screen but then the screen goes black with one white flashing cursor in the upper left corner.

I CAN get into BIOS but that hasn't proved helpful as of yet. I've unplugged every external device except the monitor but it still occurred. I tried unplugging my extra harddrive and DVD drive but to no avail. Every post I've read has told me that it's probably a problem with my main hard drive, but that has 120 GB of precious data that I would be loathe to give up.

To make the problem worse I CAN'T get into safe mode and I DON'T have the original XP CD. Never have.

[JJ 3000]

Does the hard drive show up in BIOS?

[ecloud13]

Yes. I've checked BIOS and my Hard Drives and my DVD drive all show up as does my processor.

[JJ 3000]

Have you tried loading the default settings in BIOS?

[ecloud13]

Yes. When I tried that instead of going to the black screen the screen turned a multitude of distorted colors but after restarting it went back to the same black screen with the flashing cursor.

[JJ 3000]

Can you boot to a CD?

[ecloud13]

I have no CD to boot to.

[truenorth]

See if there is something here that you have NOT tried yet.
http://tips4pc.com/computer-problems/my-computer-boots-up-to-a-black-screen-with-a-flashing-cursor.htm
truenorth

[truenorth]

What in the world is that all about? truenorth

[ecloud13]

What in the world is WHAT all about?

And I've already been to that website. As far as I can tell it only gives me 3 options none of which have worked or are possible for me to do. I've tried unplugging unnecessary devices andresetting my boot options. The third option only pertains to vista and 7 (or so it says) and even then I can't do it because I don't have the XP CD.

[JJ 3000]

Is the time and date right in BIOS?

[ecloud13]

Yes. Both are.

[JJ 3000]

Run the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostics.

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

[ecloud13]

Ok well my main hard drive is a Western Digital but I'm unsure which link to use under the Western Digital part.

[jason2074]

but that has 120 GB of precious data that I would be loathe to give up.

Seek first on slaving or connecting the drive to another computer to first recover or copy your files. Depending if its a SATA or IDE, you will need an adapter or enclosure to hook the HD on a working PC.

[truenorth]

ecloud, I can understand your question "What in the world is WHAT all about?" There was a post directly above mine (the one where i asked the question "What in the world is that all about? truenorth") that had absolutely nothing to do with your post. It appeared to be an attempt by the poster to get people to go to some kind of commercial site that i assume had nothing to do with your question. I didn't link to it because of concerns as to what it might do to my computer. I gather a Moderator must have removed it before you returned thus you only see my question and NOT the basis for it. truenorth

[Gary2]

I had the same thing and it was the hard drive, I changed the hard drive and and used recovery discs and it works fine.
Change the hard drive and see if a computer repair shop can recover your data, and from now on get an external hard drive and back all your stuff up