New and inexperienced comp. user. Have old computer, windows7, run a DOS -based program that froze. Now have black screen, white flashing cursor. What do I do? Researched familiar topics, but didn't understand lingo, BIOS, etc.
Have deadline. How do I get back into my work w/out freezing?Please list detailed computer specs ( Computer Make/Model (or) if its a CUSTOM built the specs ), also what OS was running on this computer before it crashed with blinking cursor? And is this a failed upgrade to Windows 7? What program where you trying to run that messed up the system? And lastly do you have the system recovery set that goes with this computer or the Windows 7 installation Disc to boot from?Please also confirm if you were running the dos based program while Windows 7 was running. If so then just close the dos window.

Or were you were running an MSdos based program in actual MSdos?

Your description is not very clear...Ok, sorry. I was running the dos based program, The Therapist, a practice management program. I load it in Windows, then use it without cursor, as it is very old, but has worked well for our purposes for years. So Windows 7 was running while I was using the dos program. I could not close the dos program, it opens to the opening screen, then I cannot go any further, nor can I close or reboot. I have to turn off the computer. Even then, when I turned it back on it was frozen in the same place. I messed with some function key (F1?) while turning computer on and now I just have the black screen with flashing cursor. The computer is COMPAQ Presario 5170. I cannot find a recovery set or disc for windows 7. I only use this old computer for this function and planned to upgrade to whole new system after this summer so that I could use my laptop and an updated system. However, I still need this data in order to follow-up on outstanding bills and generate income reports for taxes, etc. Thanks for any help you can give and for your follow-up!Boot up the PC...tap F8 repeatedly to bring up Safemode...choose the last item on the list...Win7 Startup Repair.
Do NOT interrupt it ...even if it seems to hang...be patient.P.S. If this method is unsuccesful your other alternative for retrieving the data is to pull the HDD and hook it up to a working PC as a slave drive...
Slave Drive Tutorial...Quote from: Debbie C on July 31, 2013, 02:10:55 PM

I was running the dos based program, The Therapist, a practice management program. I load it in Windows, then use it without cursor, as it is very old, but has worked well for our purposes for years. So Windows 7 was running while I was using the dos program. I could not close the dos program, it opens to the opening screen, then I cannot go any further, nor can I close or reboot. I have to turn off the computer. Even then, when I turned it back on it was frozen in the same place.