No Log in Screen; unable to proceed further

C

cimage

New Member
Messages
7
Hi

Recently I upgraded my Toshiba Portege R500 laptop from Windows 7 to windows 8 pro. Everything worked fine for almost a month and since last few days I am not able to see login screen, its just blank. Since I am unable to login I cannot access the apps/programs neither I can shut the laptop from Windows 8 via Charm menu or Cntrl+Alt+Del.

I am stuck as I cannot reinstall the OS as when I use power down button on the laptop the machine goes to sleep and on power up I cannot access boot priority screen to change to optical drive.

I am struggling since last few days. I would appreciate suggestion help.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Are you plugged into another monitor through VGA or HDMI?
If so, unplug them and reboot.
When I'm plugged into an external monitor, the login screen tends to be displayed on them instead of the laptop screen, even though everything leading up to the login screen was displayed on the laptop screen.

Such an event has caused great frustration for me in the past. Now I know better! Unplug external screens when booting.

If not, check BIOS to see if it has a preferred primary display adapter. It's a bit of a long shot but check anyway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Pack x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    JohnOfE Special
    Other Info
    Too many systems and combinations!
Change your control panel power options. Make the power button turn off or restart, rather than sleep like its set now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo
Something like this happens to me from time-to-time also. System boots, but the monitor is blank instead of showing the log-in screen.

For some reason the monitor goes to sleep and will not awake from keyboard or monitor controls. What I have to do is press the computers power switch to put it in sleep mode. Then press it again to bring it out of sleep mode. Monitor also wakes up and all is good.

Might work for you also.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center, Windows RT
JohnOfE said:
Are you plugged into another monitor through VGA or HDMI?
If so, unplug them and reboot.
When I'm plugged into an external monitor, the login screen tends to be displayed on them instead of the laptop screen, even though everything leading up to the login screen was displayed on the laptop screen.

Such an event has caused great frustration for me in the past. Now I know better! Unplug external screens when booting.

If not, check BIOS to see if it has a preferred primary display adapter. It's a bit of a long shot but check anyway.
Click to expand...

JohnOfE
I am not using external monitor. Everything was working great till yesterday. Even now lock screen is display only when I hit any key log in screen doesn't load instead I just see default blue background.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
rmeigs said:
Something like this happens to me from time-to-time also. System boots, but the monitor is blank instead of showing the log-in screen.

For some reason the monitor goes to sleep and will not awake from keyboard or monitor controls. What I have to do is press the computers power switch to put it in sleep mode. Then press it again to bring it out of sleep mode. Monitor also wakes up and all is good.

Might work for you also.
Click to expand...

rmeigs

Monitor doesn't go in sleep mode as far as I can tell as the default blue color default background is displayed and with activity for couple minutes the lock screen comes back. This is normal, what is not normal is none display of log in.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I'm at a loss on a fix other than reinstllation.
I understand you're having trouble accessing the boot menu.


When you're face with your empty login scren, remove the bettery and pull the plug, this should cause a complete reboot so that when you plug it in, you will be able to access the BIOS or boot menu. I recommend changing the BIOS to favour the DVD drive.


Then Run your windows 8 upgrade DVD to repair.
Im not sure how to initiate repair without a DVD.


If repair doesn't work, then go for full reinstall.


My Toshiba laptop uses F2 to access BIOS.


If you have enabled Quick Boot in the past, you may have great trouble accessing the BIOS because POST time is so minimal, and in my case non-existant thus I cannot access BIOS or Boot Menu with Fast Boot enabled.


Worst case, if you cannot access teh boot menu, remove the hard drive from your laptop, insert the DVD and restart the computer. It will be FORCED to read the DVD as the hard drive isn't there. Alternatively it will prompt you to access the BIOS to change settings, or if it's lame it will just ask you to CTRL+ALT+DEL like mine.


If it manages to load the DVD with the hard drive removed, hopefully shoving it back in the moment the DVD starts to boot will cause it to be visibe by the time it's finished loading.


I hope you have install DVDs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Pack x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    JohnOfE Special
    Other Info
    Too many systems and combinations!
JohnOfE said:
I'm at a loss on a fix other than reinstllation.
I understand you're having trouble accessing the boot menu.


When you're face with your empty login scren, remove the bettery and pull the plug, this should cause a complete reboot so that when you plug it in, you will be able to access the BIOS or boot menu. I recommend changing the BIOS to favour the DVD drive.


Then Run your windows 8 upgrade DVD to repair.
Im not sure how to initiate repair without a DVD.


If repair doesn't work, then go for full reinstall.


My Toshiba laptop uses F2 to access BIOS.


If you have enabled Quick Boot in the past, you may have great trouble accessing the BIOS because POST time is so minimal, and in my case non-existant thus I cannot access BIOS or Boot Menu with Fast Boot enabled.


Worst case, if you cannot access teh boot menu, remove the hard drive from your laptop, insert the DVD and restart the computer. It will be FORCED to read the DVD as the hard drive isn't there. Alternatively it will prompt you to access the BIOS to change settings, or if it's lame it will just ask you to CTRL+ALT+DEL like mine.


If it manages to load the DVD with the hard drive removed, hopefully shoving it back in the moment the DVD starts to boot will cause it to be visibe by the time it's finished loading.


I hope you have install DVDs.
Click to expand...

Bunch of good suggestions, here is my take.

Off the bat, that was my intention to reinstall Windows 8, as I have the install disk. Since F12 and "c" was not displaying the boot priority screen. I removed the battery and and then next boot did display boot priority screen, however none of the keys work arrow keys or "C".

Removing HDD seems like promising suggestion to force to boot from install DVD. But without HDD I cannot install OS, I guess my option will be to get to BIOS and change the settings. This is possible as long as BIOS is residing on ROM and not hard disk. I am pretty much non tech guy.

I will update the progress, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
cimage said:
I upgraded my Toshiba Portege R500 laptop from Windows 7 to windows 8 pro. Everything fine for almost a month and since last few days I am not able to see login screen, its just blank. Since I am unable to login I cannot access the apps/programs neither I can shut the laptop from Windows 8 via Charm menu or Cntrl+Alt+Del.

I am stuck as I cannot reinstall the OS as when I use power down button on the laptop the machine goes to sleep and on power up I cannot access boot priority screen to change to optical drive.

I am struggling since last few days. I would appreciate suggestion help.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Do you have an install DVD/flash drive or a system repair disc? Ah, posting at same time. Startup to DVD/run automatic repair.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
znod said:
cimage said:
I upgraded my Toshiba Portege R500 laptop from Windows 7 to windows 8 pro. Everything fine for almost a month and since last few days I am not able to see login screen, its just blank. Since I am unable to login I cannot access the apps/programs neither I can shut the laptop from Windows 8 via Charm menu or Cntrl+Alt+Del.

I am stuck as I cannot reinstall the OS as when I use power down button on the laptop the machine goes to sleep and on power up I cannot access boot priority screen to change to optical drive.

I am struggling since last few days. I would appreciate suggestion help.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Do you have an install DVD/flash drive or a system repair disc? Ah, posting at same time. Startup to DVD/run automatic repair.
Click to expand...

I do own Windows 8 install DVD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Yep, posting at same time. C rest of my post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
znod said:
Yep, posting at same time. C rest of my post.
Click to expand...

Well I have been struggling to reinstall the OS. Earlier I could not see boot sequence screen. Now I can but key strokes don't work, the only way is to get to BIOS and change the system to boot from DVD. For which I have no choice but to remove hard disk.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
cimage said:
znod said:
Yep, posting at same time. C rest of my post.
Click to expand...

Well I have been struggling to reinstall the OS. Earlier I could not see boot sequence screen. Now I can but key strokes don't work, the only way is to get to BIOS and change the system to boot from DVD. For which I have no choice but to remove hard disk.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that if you quickly slot the hard drive back into it's connection the moment the DVD starts to load (AFTER you push any key to boot DVD), the hard drive will be visible to the repair software by the time it has loaded. It's a gamble really.

I can almost guarantee the drive won't be visible if you slot it in after the repair is loaded up, I have not tried it myself.

You could also try other methods of forcing the machine to ask you to enter the BIOS, like stopping the CPU fan from spinning up during POST, that should flag an error. Or other things like that, to purposely upset the motherboard. I have not been successful at bringing up a keyboard error at post however.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Pack x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    JohnOfE Special
    Other Info
    Too many systems and combinations!
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top