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
    2014-09-18T21:15:06+00:00

    Sadly, in some black screens with cursor, pressing a key doesn't do anything. 

    My (Dell) system has intermittent black (blank) screens.  I have rebooted, reset, restarted, restored and re-installed Windows 8 several times, but the result is always the same:  An otherwise perfectly fine system that shows a black screen after Windows Update (sometimes), upgrading from Win8 to Win8.1 using the store (always), or going in safe mode (always).  

    I'm still not sure what exactly causes the black screens, but I have the latest graphics drivers, tried other cables, checked for dual monitor issues, disabled Anti-Malware, scanned the hard drive for corrupt files.

    Everything seems OK, except the black screens still occur every 10 to 20 days, depending on how many Windows updates I have to install.

    One peculiar thing I have noticed is that during a black screen my system does not accept user input, but it does try to connect to the internet.  I suspect that either Dell or Microsoft screwed up and something related to the UEFI firmware secure boot software signature checking is interfering with the normal boot sequence.

    For me the best way out of a black screen is:   

    • Disable internet access
    • While black screen do:
    •      Wait several minutes
    •      Press power button briefly
    •      Wait several more minutes
    •      Reboot 
    • End while
    • Enable internet access until the next black screen

    This very annoying Windows 8 'fast' 'secure' boot 'experience' **** big time, but what **** most is that Microsoft and Dell seem to be totally unable to fix this.  In fact, the more 'patches' Microsoft gives me, the more Windows 8 'fast' 'secure' boot 'experience' I get.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-24T12:27:41+00:00

    Just curious if anyone in here has looked to see if App Readiness is checked in msconfig and services?

    Go to search, type msconfig, enter, then click Services Tab and look for App Readiness.  If it is checked, uncheck it and see if your boot works normally - like 5-10 seconds.  This has solved so-called black screens for many users. 

    Note:  If  you are trying to install Windows Updates which require a restart, you will need to go back and check App Readiness before rebooting or the update will not complete properly. It will again take a long time to boot (so-called black screen) but it should eventually boot up.   Then, after the updates are complete, remember to uncheck App Readiness again for everyday activity.

     This isn't easy to remember, and I'm looking for  workaround for it, but in the  scheme of things, it's better than black screens on bootup daily. 

    This is just a suggestion which has worked for me and others - as always be sure and backup your System before making changes.  Hope this helps some of  you!  Good luck.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-15T23:57:51+00:00

    Hi i press the f8 and it did work as you said  then what i did was re install a window 8(without using safe mode). When laptop restart there is black screen again ... This time when i press f8 it doesn't works ... Help if you can plz...

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-11-16T01:05:19+00:00

                 when i press f8 it doesn't works ...       

    Supposedly it only works after at least 3 tries.  We are not supposed to need to do that.

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