PC stuck at a blurry login screen

Anonymous

I recently updated my PC and now it is stuck at the login screen. It boots up normally to the lock screen, after pressing any button or using the mouse it goes to the next screen for the login but does not load the password box and the screen remains blurry. I can use the power, network and easy of access buttons but that is it.

Safe mode will not start, restarting 3 times does not take me to the repair screen, ctrl+alt+delete does nothing, I even tried using ctrl+F8 and nothing has worked. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix/bypass the login screen?

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Anonymous

***FIX***

Initial Steps (Enter Recovery Environment):

Enter Recovery Environment (If you are unable to get into the recovery environment via a menu, you can turn off your system during the initial boot when the Windows logo is on the screen and the dots are circling. Do this at least twice and you'll see the message "Starting Automatic Repair").
Once the recovery environment loads select "See advanced repair options", then "Troubleshoot", then "Advanced options".

Method #1 (Via Command prompt - assumes basic command prompt knowledge):

Click "Command Prompt".
Change directory to your boot drive if necessary (for example, type c: and press <ENTER>)
Type "CD %windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\caches <ENTER>
Type "DIR <ENTER>" and make sure you are in the right path. You should see one or more .db files -- usually just cversions.3.db. If there are no files in this directory see the addendum below.
Type "DEL *.* <ENTER>"
Reboot and test

Method #2 (Via Safe Mode and File Explorer - may require adjusting permissions):

Click "Start-up Settings" and "Restart" to reboot the system and get the option to enter Safe Mode.)
At the Startup Settings screen press "4" to boot in Safe Mode.
Log into your administrator-level account.
Open File Explorer and browse to**%windir%\system32\config** (example: c:\windows\system32\config)
Gain access to systemprofile (you may be able to just double-click it to gain access)
Drill down to**%windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\caches**
Delete all files inside caches
Reboot and test

Addendum

Some have reported that it is necessary to clear the caches folder of the local user account also or instead of the systemprofile account. If the above procedure does not work for you, delete the file(s) in the local user cache folder (located in %localappdata%\microsoft\windows\caches) using either Safe Mode or the recovery environment command prompt.

Good luck!

Special thanks to John_E_M for first suggesting the localappdata caches folder, and to Artaeos who also narrowed down the problem to the systemprofile caches folder at the same time I did. Great job guys!

**Edited 9/6/2019 to add command prompt method, local account provision, and acknowledgements**

-Forjo

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158 additional answers

Anonymous

2019-08-27T21:27:18+00:00
So far a clean install is the only thing that will help these Dell systems that were bugged by an update Aug 15th. It seems like a combination of some factory software/drivers from Dell in addition to a Windows update. Thankfully the problem DID NOT return after installing all windows updates on a clean install. Currently have Windows 10 1903 OS Build 18362.295 running fine.

How many of you with this problem had Windows 8 originally and did an upgrade to Win10 when they made it available? I have two more repairs coming in with the same complaint. Both Dell Inspirons; one a 15 and the other is another Inspiron 17R.

I've gone back and read over all the comments in the thread so far to save time for anyone just finding their way here.

There is some driver or service (that does not run when in safe mode) causing users to be unable to log into Windows in normal mode.

When you select a user or swipe up at the user select screen, you get the acrylic screen transition effect which blurs the background image. The password entry field doesn't appear and 10-15 seconds later you're returned to the user select screen.

For those of you that are unable to boot into safe mode, remember that F8 no longer brings you to safe mode in Windows 10 unless you have manually gone back into BCD edit and re-enabled it. To get into safe mode you need to force your system power off while windows is loading at least twice in a row to get the recovery environment to load.

** If you have important data BACK IT UP over the network in safe mode or to an external drive as soon as you are able.
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Solutions others have tried with no luck:

-Disabling the acrylic screen transition effect from the settings app OR editing the registry key.

-returning to a previous system restore point.

-uninstalling recent windows updates from recovery environment. (Some users reported they were unable to uninstall the latest feature update but latest quality update uninstalls without solving the problem)

-disabling all non-Microsoft startup items in selective startup

-setting login passwords to not be required AKA auto login

-disabling or enabling quick boot

-Running start-up repair from Windows recovery environment 

-At least one person paid Dell for over the phone tech support and they ended up just having to do a clean install after all their troubleshooting  

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Possible things to investigate:

-Disabling Windows biometric service has been mentioned by several users. Simply turning it off did not help me but this seems a possible suspect.

-Windows Hello login service (my patient does not use Hello)

-If anyone has an active service contract with Microsoft and would like to share their correspondence with them it would be helpful.
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Anonymous

2019-08-28T12:18:07+00:00

Same troubles here since Aug 19th after windows update completed restart.

Computer is a Dell Vostro 3668.

I've tried all the solutions you mentioned, but no success. at all.

I'll be waiting for a couple of more days and then shift to Windows reinstallation.

Very very unfair.
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Anonymous

2019-08-28T21:32:36+00:00

Very very unfair.

Ya think? Although I consider myself very computer savvy most of these fixes are over my head.

Im a little nervous about trying some of these suggestions on my own. Is it realistic to think there may be a patch?

Worst case is bringing my Dell back to either Best Buy or to my local IT guy & paying for it, which yes, is very unfair.
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Anonymous

2019-08-28T21:52:17+00:00

I think it really stinks that neither Dell or Microsoft has addressed this problem.

I had to reset my computer, and it dumped all my apps. kept my data but i had to reload microsoft word, excel, etc and pay for them when the older version i owned worked just fine. It happened to my computer after the last automatic update. I think it's Microsoft's way of getting us to pay for upgrades whether we want them or not. And thanks for nothing, Dell.

Starting to think really hard about getting a Mac.
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