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
    2013-11-14T01:21:46+00:00

    It seems that we share the shame frustrations my friend.

    Thank you for your help though ClarenceE, it was a valiant effort but I doubt anything would have worked in the end, I tried repairing everything but no joy.

    Your help was very much appreciated :0)

    Oh btw if you do manage to create an 8.1 iso on USB make sure you also save an iso to your pc and burn it to disc just in case.

    I say this because I initially created a 8.0 usb and my laptop would not detect it no matter how much I fiddled with bios settings etc.

    I hope all goes well with the 8.1 iso

    Once again, many thanks and GOOD LUCK ;0)

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-14T16:37:33+00:00

    The method you describe is not the same as creating a custom refresh image nor does.it have the same function. The HP product loan notebook I have does have a recovery partition. I had chose to go a different route bacause I did not want to disturb the recovery partition. We are in the product  loan cycle that involves turning our HP products over to Charities and not for profit organizations at the end of a year of use. I need that recovery image where it is supposed to be for the next owner.

     the usb thunbdrive recovery disk procedure is just a copy of the recovery partition. It you don't have a recovery partition on the hard disk, then it will be grayed out.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-18T14:24:41+00:00

    Same symptoms for me and the workaround (put computer in hibernate, then restart) works for me too. If I push the power switch to get the computer to hibernate, the black screen disappears for a brief moment and the logon screen is visible briefly before the computer switches off / hibernates.

    The real logon window does appear to be "hiding behind" the black screen. The cursor even changes shape when it is in the area where the password has to be entered, for instance. And if I enter the password "blindly", the logon is successful. Once the logon has gone through, I can also "blindly" click on the taks bar, for instance, and cause programs to start.

    I installed 8.1 on 5 machines in the family, 2 have this problem (the oldest two, an older Asus Desktop and an IBM T60 laptop), 3 have no problem. All five had Windows 8 and worked without a problem for months (in "desktop mode" without tiles etc)

    Fixes I tried without success: fixing the Master Boot Record, looking for newer video drivers (none found), reverting to older or generic video drivers : Problem persists. For the moment, I am making do with the "hibernate then wake up" workaround, but it is far from satisfactory.

    This appears to be a video problem, something has changed in the way Windows 8.1. addresses the video driver on startup.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-18T15:01:57+00:00

    Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Sanbonani; have you tried disconnecting the monitor and then reconnecting it after a second or two?  Like you I was able to blindly log in, but the black screen remained.  I knew, or had the feeling that the log in and installation was all right, but the darn video just wasn't right.  I disconnected my monitor and heard a couple of kupluncts, which is the sound of drivers loading or something like that, and I then plugged the monitor back in ant the screen was there, no longer black that is.

    Whatever, I hope the best for you.  I know the frustration you're feeling from all this.  Goodnes, so many machines in you home.  You're an IT guy.

    Clarence

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