Windows 7 Black Screen solution found, needs to be verified.

Hi all,

I've seem to have found a way to get Windows 7 64Bit working and more or less avoid the black screen that bugs the **** out of iMac 27" owners.



This method will probably work on any version of Windows 7 32 and 64-Bit.

This is tested with an Windows 7 64-Bit Ultimate OEM DVD with authentic license.



*1. Installation of Windows 7 with information found in support article TS3173.*

Follow instructions from Apple's support article TS3173

Found here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3173



NOTE! Apple states that if it remains black after several minutes you need to power it off, don't.

You need to wait until the machine goes into sleep mode, around 15-20Min!

Eg. don't touch mouse or keyboard in this periode.

Yeah I know you just could enter repair mode from installation Windows 7 DVD and delete ATI drivers manually, but this method saves you the hassle.



Ofcource you need to check if the USB device etc, is correctly configured.



--SNIP FROM TS3173--

If the screen remains black after several minutes, power it off (hold the power button for several seconds), then go back to step 6. Ensure that your USB device or SD card is formatted as Master Boot Record, FAT, and that AutoUnattend.xml and Drivers are on the root level of the directory.

--SNIP FROM TS3173--



*2. Resume installation of Windows 7.*

20 Mins have now passed, touch the keyboard and the black screen should light up and show you the dialogue where you enter a username and computername.

2.1 Enter you product/serial key for Windows 7.

2.2 On dialogue for Windows update: Select the recommended settings for Windows update, top choice.



*NOTE! DO NOT! I REPEAT, DO NOT! INSTALL BOOT CAMP 3.0 or 3.1!*

I will however do some research how to get BOOT Camp 3.1 service running.



*3. After successful installation of Windows 7.*

Windows now install 2 updates security in the back ground, if you have put on recommended settings for Windows update as stated in 2.2.



*3.1 Changing the power save settings for Windows 7.*

The reason you need to do this is, that after the reboot/restart you soon are going to do will give you the black screen again, eg. you would wait around 20min or so again for the iMac to enter sleep mode so you In turn could get the screen to lit up again. As in step 1.



Now change the power save settings in the following way,



Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change Plan settings (Next to Balanced (Recommended)).

Turn off display: 1min

Put Computer to sleep: 3min

Click >> Save Changes.

Close all open Windows.

Reboot/Restart.



*3.2 Startup times after power save changes.*

Now the iMac 27" screen should only stay black for around 5 min after restarts/reboots.

Eg. its the same as in Step 1. Don't touch keyboard and mouse wait for it to enter sleep mode, then touch keyboard and screen should light up.



*4. Install sound card drivers.*

This section will explain how to install and get the sound card working properly with microphone and all.



*4.1 Download latest driver from Cirrus Logic.*



Found here: http://www.cirrus.com/en/support/lic/lic3.html?uri=/en/pubs/software/CS4207WinVista_Win7_32-64-bit6-6001-1-21.zip



Extract drivers to eg. C:\Drivers\Sound



*4.2 Install the drivers.*

Press (Start) The MS Windows Logo down to the left.

Right click, Computer and select, Manage.

Select, *Device Manager* under System Tools

Select, *Sound, Video and game controllers*

Select the top card in list, *High Definition Audio Device*

Right click and select, *Update driver software*.

Now select, Browse my computer for driver software.

Click, Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

Click, Have Disk...

Now Browse to where you extracted your driver and select cs420x and click Open.

Then Cirrus Logic CS4206A (AB 81) Should show up in the list under Model.

Select card in list and press Next.

Close all windows.

Reboot/Restart.



*5. Its not perfect yet...*

Your startup time of Windows 7 should now be reduced to around 5. Min.

Eg. Follow step 3.2 each time you boot Windows 7.



*6. Install all Windows 7 updates , including the optional one for the Atheros Wireless card.*

NOTE! I will improve this step later.


Press (Start) The MS Windows Logo down to the left.

In search field, type Windows Update and Click on Windows Update that show on the top of the start menu.

Click Check for updates.

Now Install all Important updates and the optional one for the Atheros wireless card. Should be around 24 updates in total.

Reboot/Restart.


*7. Now Windows 7 should now boot properly each time without the 5 min wait.*

Now step 3.2 may apply again, but it shouldn't!

NOTE! You may need to reboot a second time after installation of Windows updates to get rid of step 3.2 waiting times.



I have now tested 4 times, rebooting/restarting Windows 7 and the screen light up every time immediately after boot, also after a session in OS X.



I will also see if there is a way to install Boot Camp 3.1 services without getting the black screen issue.



If people with an iMac 27" have the time install Windows 7, please verify if this works for you or not.

I will do more reboots and tests to see if it holds and I can change power save settings back to normal. But atm, its so far so good.