Somewhat hasty reply needed if it helps, but I lost my password, but while ATTEMPTING to factory wipe everything off my Windows 8(??) My monitor just went black and everything disconnected.

Regal D 0 Reputation points
2026-06-10T03:58:20.0333333+00:00

I had just lost my password and had no other login methods so I obviously tried to factory reset my PC, but while doing so one of my displays seemingly began to glitch awfully bad and then my keyboard (maybe), my touchscreen drawing tablet display, and my monitor randomly all disconnected and went black with no signal, is something wrong? I think I need help!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Recovery and backup
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  1. Lychee-Ng 28,300 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-11T08:49:35.7833333+00:00

    Hi Regal D,

    I can understand why this feels alarming, especially with everything suddenly going black mid‑reset. From your description, this can happen, but we need to determine if it’s still resetting or if something actually failed.

    I saw the AI answer already covered the general behavior, so let’s focus on what you should do right now. Before trying anything: Did this happen recently (within ~15–30 minutes)? If yes, there’s still a good chance the reset is continuing in the background.

    Even if everything seems not reacting, during reset, Windows can temporarily stop sending output. Wait at least 30–60 minutes total from when it went black, do not force shut down right away. Look/listen for fans spinning/LED/anything.

    1. If there’s still no activity at all, the reset may have crashed.
    2. Hold the power button for ~10 seconds to turn it off
    3. Wait a few seconds > turn it back on normally
    4. Windows may:
      1. Resume the reset automatically
      2. Boot into Recovery (blue screen)
    5. If you see recovery > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

    It’s also worth noting that Windows 8 is no longer supported, so recovery features may not fully work. The most reliable fix is to reinstall Windows using a USB installer, however, for previous Windows version, you might need a third-party source. Ideally, install a newer supported version (like Windows 10) if your PC allows it.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-10T03:58:45.0666667+00:00

    The behavior described (screen going black, displays losing signal, peripherals disconnecting) can occur during a PC reset and does not by itself prove hardware failure.

    During a Windows reset/factory restore, the system may:

    • Restart multiple times.
    • Show a black screen for an extended period.
    • Temporarily stop sending video output while Windows is reinstalling.

    Interrupting power or forcing a manual restart during this process can cause the reset to fail and may leave Windows unbootable. If that happened, the next step is to complete the reset or reinstall Windows using the built-in recovery tools.

    To reset or reinstall Windows when it is not working properly:

    1. If Windows still boots:
      • Open Settings → Update & Security → Recovery (or System → Recovery, depending on version).
      • Under Reset this PC, choose Get started.
      • Select Keep my files or Remove everything.
      • Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall and follow on-screen instructions.
    2. If Windows does not boot normally, use Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE):
      • Access Windows RE (for example, by interrupting startup a few times or using recovery media).
      • In Windows RE, select Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.
      • Choose the reset option that fits the situation and follow the prompts.

    On Surface devices, similar reset steps are available via Start → Settings → Update & Security → Recovery, or from the sign-in screen by holding Shift while selecting Power → Restart, then choosing Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.

    If the reset feature fails or cannot be used, a USB recovery drive can be created and used to reinstall Windows. This returns the device to factory condition and removes personal files, settings, and installed apps.

    If the device is encrypted with BitLocker, the BitLocker recovery key is required to complete a reset or reinstall. Without that key, data cannot be recovered and the only option is to reinstall using a recovery image, which results in data loss.

    Avoid manually powering off or restarting the PC while a reset is in progress, even if the screen is black for a long time, because that can cause the reset to fail.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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