Windows 7 - Black Screen

I might be completely off since I haven't installed Windows for a while, but if this is after you reboot, this is most definitely because that partition is not your active partition.

Hi,

I know the problem you are having, had it myself.

Two ways to fix:

Apples solution: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3173

Second solution:

Solution 2 (step by step from the beginning):

1. Run Boot Camp Assistant from Mac OS X Snow Leopard (Applications -> Utilities)
2. Create a partition for the Windows installation using Boot Camp Assistant
3. Plugin your install disc and install Windows 7
4. The system will reboot a couple of times during the installation
5. *The problem:* The second time the system reboots, you the see the Windows red-green-blue-yellow animated logo, and then the screen goes black and hangs infinitely.
6. Press and hold the power button on your iMac until it shuts down.
7. Start the iMac again holding “alt” key, so you can select and load Max OS X Snow Leopard again.
8. Run any application that let you work with NTFS partitions (e.g. Paragon NTFS for Mac OS X or MacFuse)
9. Find the file “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ATIKMDAG.SYS” on your BOOTCAMP partition, and simply delete it.
10. Restart you iMac, and boot up Windows 7
11. Now Windows 7 should boot normally
12. Run update windows utility and install Boot Camp drivers from the Mac OS X install disc

I am having the same problem with an iMac 21 inch that I just bought last week. After the second reboot it hangs on completing installation. Then it reboots one more time says starting windows and stays black indefinitely. Does apple support a method for repairing this w/o having to buy or install some 3rd party software?

I am having the same problem with an iMac 21 inch that I just bought last week. After the second reboot it hangs on completing installation. Then it reboots one more time says starting windows and stays black indefinitely. Does apple support a method for repairing this w/o having to buy or install some 3rd party software?

I run into the same issue. Albeit a little different in the end. I used the Apple solution, because I have not found a way yet how to use MacFuse to kill the ATIKMDAG.SYS file. I use bootcamp to partition the HD, I allocate 90Gb for Windows (I will use Windows 7 limited). Have plugged in the USB stick with the files "Drivers" and "AutoUnattend.xml" in the root section. Started the procedure with Bootcamp. Windows starts to expand files, which takes forever. Nevertheless, after a while I do see the screen is chaanging to a different resolution. I interpret that the USB stick was used to get the Apple drivers on board with Windows. However, Windows messag that it will finish installation after reboot. It does so, but it sstarts all over again from the very beginning. So it is running around in circles. Any familiar to you?

iChristo is right!!!

Brand New iMac 3.06 i3, attempting Windows 7 install, failed with black screen.
I had attempted two installs using Apple method and the screen would remain black for over 20 minuets, with the USB key that had the drivers on it hooked up. The second time I removed the Boot Camp Partition completely to install again. Black after windows installed.
I then found this article and iChristo's suggestions. His instructions are clear and easy to follow. It worked the first time I attempted it. Paragon has a free 10 day trial, so you can use it the once and never have to pay for it. So no complaining about having to pay for his fix!

For Rolfvg: Try removing the Windows 7 Install Disc after it installs and goes black, by booting into Option Boot Mode or into OS X. This helped on one of the other iMac's I was doing a Windows 7 install on.

Thank You iChristo for the fix, I hope everyone who needs this finds your answer.

9. Find the file “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ATIKMDAG.SYS” on your BOOTCAMP partition, and simply delete it.

Are you saying that a Safe Boot won't let you?
How about anyone tried using Driver Sweeper to get rid of ATI driver and program left behind?

after several attemps in applying the Apple method I gave up and switched off power. 2 days later a new attempt with new hope. And now the process is successful for whatever reason. No clue what hindered the first couple of attemps. Does not matter anymore. Thanks for all your input.

same problem here, brand new imac i3 processor inside, upon installation win7 64bit
all good until the first reboot , black screen. this way you can t finish the installation of windows. the above method of ichristo does work indeed.
You can also download a trail version of parallels dekstop 6, and load your bootcamp partition, this way i finished the installation of windows.
I reboot the system, press tab and choose for the now completed windows 7, but to no avail, still a black screen, went back to parallels and deleted ATIKMDAG.SYS
Rebooted and windows boots at last with a standard screendriver, load your bootcamp drivers from the dvd and all works great, it must have been indeed this screwed up ati driver who caused the mayhem. Thanks ichristo for the tip !

4 partitions isn't supported.

Windows and MBR has limitation, and those small 200MB GPT and 128MB EFI along with an HFS partition all get counted toward Window's limit.

Boot Camp Assistant only supports working with a drive with one HFS volume and then activating the MBR (there is always one present, just not active and part of GPT specification), and adding a FAT (bootcamp) partition at the end out of free space.