Black screen with cursor after Windows 10 update

I had the exact same problem and looked into several options but was unable to fix it. I would recommend "resetting Windows" which basically means reinstalling without deleting your personal files (although depending on the programs you use, you may lose some personal data that's not stored in the typical locations). You can do this without any recovery drive. Just get to the login screen and hold shift while clicking restart (after clicking the power icon on the bottom right of the screen). This will bring up a special recovery screen from which you can choose "Reset my PC" (you might have to explore the menu a bit to find this). At some point you will be given the option of whether or not to keep your files, so make sure to choose Yes. Once everything finishes, you will have a basically clean installation of Windows, with one HTML file on your desktop that describes all the programs that were effectively uninstalled by the reset. At this point you can reinstall your programs, and in some cases they will automatically find the local data that was preserved.

This assumes that you have already attempted to use system restore, and that failed. You can get to that from the same menu after shift-clicking Restart. That's much less destructive, so try that first. In my case it didn't work.

After this experience I'm improving my backup situation. In the past I've tried both Acronis and Microsoft's built-in options -- both of which are buggy, can silently fail, and are generally awful. I'm now trying out Macrium Reflect and based on my experience so far it seems far superior to both of those.

Well, mervynnunley, that has to be my favorite solution (!), but so far it's not happening!

I don't know if this is any helpful information, but I have also had this error message come up, usually too fleeting to read, but it stayed once long enough to copy:

svchost.exe - Application Error

The exception unknown software exception (()xc000000d) occurred in the application at

location 0x00007FB399FB399EB290

Click OK to terminate the program.

I dont' know how to determine what that is.

I bought the laptop in late 2013.  I have a recovery thumbdrive from June 2015.  That may have been after the upgrade to Windows 10 but not sure.  I am not sure how to use it in my present circumstances.  Also, do I have the option to recover preserving programs and data, or does this operation wipe everything out?

Have tried everything other people have suggested but finally the problem just disappeared.

I have had the same problems since the last Windows 10 update done around 18 April.  I have been researching and trying possible solutions for a week now most days as time allows and/or until I get worn out.  My specifics: Login screen displays then after login, I get the black screen with movable cursor.  I am able to get to Task Manager and can stop AppReadiness, but it doesn't bring up the desktop or stay stopped if I restart and go to Task Manager again.  I have an HP Envy notebook upgraded from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 10, Intel CORE i7 processor.  I have also been using the HP forum, but it doesn't sound like this is strictly an HP issue. 

From Task Manager, I was also able to do File > Create New Task and click Browse.  As someone said, it's like Windows is running back there but can't get to it. That brought up an Explorer view window, but it was not very responsive.  I was able though to execute winver in the box and get my version/build info. 

I will continue to research and try options, but getting very weary.  I just wanted to at least for now add my system to the list that this update seems to have messed up.  Help please.

I tried everything from the web and got nowhere so finally did the sensible thing and went of microsoft support site and logged a telephone call (free).  They came back to me within the hour.  It was the best thing to do.  It took a couple of days of going through their questions and suggestions but eventually got a advanced technician who took control of my computer (his name is Syed - excellent ) and after his trying for 1.5 hours my machine is back to normal with no loss of programmes or data.

If only this didn't happen in the first place

Andre