black screen. is it a goner?

gmjohn · #1 July 20th, 2012, 01:30 AM

I am taking over at an office for a friend of mine, the last person that worked there "cleaned" up the computer. And when we tried to get on I turned the computer on and all I got was a black screen that said "strike f1 to try reboot, f2 to enter system utility". Neither key did anything. Control alt delete took me to another black screen that said to press 1 for normal or 2 for diskette. 1 did nothing and as i didn't have a disk i didn't press 2. Is this machine a goner or can it be fixed? Thanks in advance for any advice.

**Miz** · #2 July 22nd, 2012, 08:18 PM

It sounds like the last person did the ultimate "cleanup" by formatting the hard drive.

While that does remove everything, it leaves the disk without an operating system.

If that's the case, the only cure is a Windows installation disk or the computer manufacturer's restore/recovery disk.

gmjohn · #3 July 23rd, 2012, 02:15 AM

Ok, so I have the Windows XP ReInstallation disc. Is that all I need to fix it? And if so do I just press 2 at the command and insert the disk?

**Miz** · #4 July 23rd, 2012, 02:35 AM

Yes, the disc is all you need to reinstall the operating system.

Power up the compute and as soon as it will let you open the disc drive tray, do so. Insert the XP disc, close the tray and press F2 when prompted.

If that doesn't give you the option to boot to the CD, shut the computer down and when everything has stopped whirring, turn it back on. Hopefully it will boot to the CD where you can begin the XP installation.

gmjohn · #5 July 24th, 2012, 08:14 PM

That did not work, it just brought up the same black screen with the same f1 to try reboot, f2 to enter system utility.

**Miz** · #6 July 24th, 2012, 09:05 PM

I take it you do not get a screen early in the boot process telling you a key or key combination to enter "Setup" because if you do, hit that key when you see that screen.

You can try Ctrl/Alt/Del, then press F2 to see if that will access the CD drive, although I don't have a lot of hope that will work.

Otherwise it's probably the "System Utility" you need in order to get into Setup (also called BIOS) where you can set the boot order to CD drive first, hard drive second.

Make sure the keyboard is plugged into the back of the computer tower. If you have the same results after making sure the keyboard is plugged in securely, try another keyboard.