If this doesn’t work, then perhaps the issue is related to another service causing trouble at startup. Once you’ve done this, reboot into normal mode and see what happens. At either of these command prompts type the following: Once in the Recovery Console, there will be an option to use an Administrative Command Prompt to repair your machine. Those typically have the Recovery Console listed on the Safe Mode menu. Some OEM systems do not come with a straight up Vista CD. If not, you can boot into the Windows Recovery Console from the original Vista CD.

If it works, it will boot into a simple command prompt window. On the Safe Mode menu, choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt. If you see the windows logo, you missed it. On boot up, after the initial BIOS splash screen, press F8 until the Safe Mode menu displays. The easiest way I’ve found to fix this is to boot into safe mode with command prompt, if safe mode works at all, or boot into the Windows Recovery Console. Sounds pretty stupid, but it’s been the case for lots of folks. Potential Cause and Solution: From what I’ve been able to determine, the most likely culprint is a corrupted or bad event log in the event viewer. Also, you reboot into safe mode and still get the KSOD. Symptoms: You get the KSOD on Vista SP1 or later and try CTRL-ALT-DEL or CTRL-SHIFT-ESC to bring up the task manager and nothing happens. I’ll start with the most specific cause of this issue. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, however, I’m hoping it will provide enough guidance for the majority of folks to resolve their issues or at least point them in the right direction. I’m going to consolidate some of the solutions here so that perhaps it may help someone locate the cause of their woes sooner. From what I can tell, this problem typically stems from a problem with a service at boot up. One where you can force the desktop to open manually from the black screen or boot into safe mode and get to your desktop and one where you can do nothing at the black screen except move the mouse cursor, not even in safe mode. Nothing. There seem to be two levels of this particular issue, too. If you’ve never heard of or experienced this symptom before, it is when you are brought to a black screen with a mouse cursor and nothing else after your Vista system boots and you login. This is especially true since it has multiple causes and therefore multiple solutions. Did you ever notice that just about every disease known to man start’s off with Flu-like symptoms? Well, the KSOD seems to be Flu-like for Vista issues. Unfortunately, this has become one of the more elusive problems with Vista. I was working on a friend’s laptop yesterday, trying to fix the KSOD, i.e.

Doom black screen on startup