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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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-21T01:22:24+00:00

    The hyper for the YouTube doesn't work. :)

    K.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T22:16:47+00:00

    Thank you for that great information eric.o.carter.  I have gone through this on my desktop a few times, but each time it is an uncertainty for me because I as yet not had an opportunity to see something in writing from the almighty MS.  In other words, even though I have had success through my isolated, hit and miss episodes, it is still a scary thing for me.

    When you get all set to do an install, gather drivers, do the in advance backups, then take you machine out of the net and you no longer have an operating system, especially scary when there is work to be done that's delayed by this; then you install the OS using your best, pristine installer USB or DVD and you wind up with a black screen, even after only five or ten minutes, the idea of having to do it all again is creepy.

    You gave some good information that I have noted down about the video and the driver install and such.  I'll feel better about what to do if and when I encounter this situation again.

    Thanks,

    Clarence

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T22:03:34+00:00

    There are some great contributions here, I just wanted to add a bit of advice when you are working through this problem. 

    As ClarenceE suggested, unplugging and replugging the monitor can sometimes trigger a refresh of the screen.   However, just as our earlier poster regrettably replied that he had a laptop...I thought I'd remind you that that laptop also has at least one video output. ;-)

    I had a problem where the latest video card drivers for my laptop threw me into a black screen mode like this on reboot, right down to the flickering cursor.  I grabbed a spare monitor and was able to see the screen that way.  I rolled back the drivers and waited a few months before trying an update again.

    For a laptop, if it still doesn't show on the screen you connected, then you may be able to get it to by toggling through the video key you'll see on your keyboard.  Laptop users, you have a "Fn" key that, when held down, causes the Function Keys on your keyboard to do the function that's drawn on them in a different color.   For example, most Dell laptops let you do Fn + F8 to flip through various video modes.  That may also help.

    On a desktop, if unplugging/replugging the monitor doesn't work, try using a different video out port if you have more than one.  Give it up to a minute to respond, too.

    I also had a black screen after a Windows 8 install and learned to ignore it for a bit.  If you install and haven't reached the "Hi" animation that usually plays on a new install, give it 10 minutes or even more, just in case.

    I hope that helps, and I definitely hope you all are able to get resolution on this issue.

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