I’m installing Windows 8.1, and after a reboot, it has a black screen.

Anonymous
2013-10-29T18:13:23+00:00

I’m installing Windows 8.1, and after a reboot, it has a black screen, with just a cursor. How do I solve this?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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Anonymous
2013-10-29T18:14:57+00:00

This may be an issue with your display drivers. Try entering Safe Mode and updating the drivers:

  1. When you boot your PC, try hitting the F8 key. This may take you to the Startup Settings that include Safe Mode.
  2. If hitting F8 doesn’t work, and you have media for Windows 8.1 (such as a DVD or USB), you can boot from media using the instructions here. Further instructions about Safe Mode can be found here.
  3. If you do not have media, use the power button to restart your computer during the boot process three times (do not let it get to the end of the boot process) . This should bring up the Windows Recovery Environment.
  4. Once you have started in Safe Mode with Networking, check for updated drivers:
  • Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.

(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

  • Tap or click Update and recovery and then tap or click Windows Update.
  • Tap or click View details, and tap or click Check for updates. (If you don't see View details, there aren't any optional updates available.)
  • Under Optional, tap or click the update that you want to install, then click Install.

If no updated drivers are available through Windows Update, check the website of the manufacturer of your video card to see if they have updated drivers available.

If this does not resolve your issue, post in this thread.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-01T21:36:16+00:00

    How do I find out who the manufacturer of my video card is?  (I'm a computer noob for some things)

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-01T08:05:37+00:00

    yea! what's up Microsoft. Congress sucks, you suck. what ever happened to finishing what you start. why is being a turd acceptable now? Microsoft doesn't give a good god damn about delivering a quality product does it? I have to fix this problem, ME! WHEN I've got a dozen other problems going on, all of them involve me being required to have access to a computer when i'm at home! I bought a piece of ****! my windows 7 computer, god rest its soul, was waaay better than this top of the line piece of trash I have to use! and now this... really... just keep digging that fricken hole Microsoft, just keep diggin' JESUS CHRIST. -Bill come down from your throne, get these monkey on line and weed out the incompetent and lazy! that your company has promoted!!!!!!!!!!!!

    fools in power!

    -I tried downloading that program that removes the sentinel stuff, but I couldn't get it to work. I need it explained barney style. - totally xucked my computer up by the way MICROSOFT!!! Y in the H-E double "L" hockey sticks! do I have to do this damn fix!!! WHERE IS MY XUCKIN UPDATE?!!

    this was the fix I couldn't correctly run. thought I followed the directions to the "T"

    opened the folder, copied the address, opened cmd prompt, wrote it like this[space]cd[space][folder address] enter. at that point the address re-copied and I input "haspdinst -remove" as well as a number of other combinations. I don't want to tool around with it anymore. not my couch not my problem... I can wait for Microsoft to un-**** this themselves

    http://superuser.com/questions/643052/windows-8-1-manual-removal-of-sentinel-runtime-drivers/662597

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-31T20:12:32+00:00

    it didn't work for me im having to buy a new disc from Microsoft!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-31T02:12:15+00:00

    I have a ASUS G75VW Laptop gaming computer. I have the exact same issue as above. I have no 8.1 boot cd or usb and know nobody who has 8.1 or is prepared to get 8.1 at this stage until all issues are resolved. All the above failed for me. any other suggestions? Can I use the windows 8 cd?

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