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
    2013-11-19T19:32:07+00:00

    Can I reply to you later, I work the night shift as a CNA and I'm about to go to bed but I really would like some help. I'll reply again with all the info you asked for. Thank you so much.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T19:23:26+00:00

    Please offer more information about your machine.  Is it a laptop?  How many hard drives does it have?  Is the OS on an SSD?  What is the OS - win 8 or 8.1? That sort of thing.  If it has to do with switching accounts, then there surely is potential to get it back and out of that black screen.  What was used to reboot the machine, a recovery disk or what?

    Clarence

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T19:04:45+00:00

    my computer got stuck on a black screen when I tried to switch to a guest account. but I paid someone to reboot it for me. I'm now locked out of my c drive and so far no money can fix that. any suggestions on what I can do?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T09:34:21+00:00

    Thanks for the suggestion, Clarence. Unfortunately, on a laptop, the screen cannot be unplugged. But as I said, I tried uninstalling the screen and its driver in Device Manager, reinstalled drivers, both generic and from the manufacturer. Looked for updated drivers through Windows Update and directly. But the problem persisted.

    What puzzles me is that everything was okay in Windows 8, and the problem was caused by an update to 8.1, effectively by what used to be called a Service Pack. What has changed between 8 and 8.1?

    Yeah, I'm the IT guy in the family ....

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