Newly upgraded Windows 10 workstation - black background, first login


  1. SRD
    Posts : 5
    7 & 10
       #1

    Newly upgraded Windows 10 workstation - black background, first login


    I have a workstation (desktop) PC newly upgraded from Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 10.

    I am using a dedicated AMD graphics card with dual port DVI. The on-board graphics is VGA.

    The power went off during the first attempt to upgrade, when power turned back on, the Windows 10 setup rolled back to Windows 7.

    The 2nd attempt at the upgrade is where I am now.

    I get the login screen displaying in full colour, and I can login okay. However, the loading animation never disappears. If I press ctrl+alt+del, I can start Task Manager, and I see that nothing much is happening in terms of CPU.

    I left the PC like this overnight, and the PC might have crashed overnight - it crashes every 4 hours or so.

    If I boot into Safe Mode, there is no Quick Start to disable in Power Management.

    If I try to run the graphics driver installer during Safe Mode, it completes with errors, and nothing changes.

    If I try to run the graphics driver during normal boot by going through Task Manager, and choosing File > Run new task, nothing happens.

    If I press [windows] + P, nothing appears.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #2

    First try to boot in Low Resolution mode. In case you can see your desktop, proceed to update your graphics drivers. If you cannot see the desktop, then try Safe Mode again. When in Safe Mode, click on search and type Device. Click Device Manager to open it. Expand Display Adapters and right-click on your graphics card. Select Update drivers and then the last option every time, until you see a list of drivers. At this point you may click on Have Disk and browse to the folder where the AMD driver is extracted, but it may not work in Safe Mode. Alternatively, you can uncheck the Show compatible devices box to see all graphics drivers. From Standard display adapters select Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. This will force Windows to boot with basic graphics so you can see your desktop and then install the AMD driver.
      My Computer


  3. SRD
    Posts : 5
    7 & 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for your reply Spapakons.

    I have rebooted into low resolution mode, and the problem remains: after entering my password, the loading icon never disappears, and I am stuck at the login screen. Perhaps in 10 minutes the screen will go black.

    I can access Task Manager, and no processes are running.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #4

    Then try booting into Safe Mode and follow my instructions to manually replace the faulty AMD driver with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. This will allow the computer to boot with basic graphics and then let you install new AMD driver.
      My Computer


  5. SRD
    Posts : 5
    7 & 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I opened up Control Panel from Task Manager, then Computer Management, and Event Viewer shows there are scores of error events where services are terminating unexpectedly.
      My Computer


  6. SRD
    Posts : 5
    7 & 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I was able to install the AMD graphics driver okay last night, by running the installer as administrator, so I believe my graphics driver are okay,
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #7

    Yes, I forgot to mention that since I thought you already knew it! When you want to install a driver or application in Windows 8 and 10, it is safer to run the installer as Administrator. This way it will have full access to required resources and won't fail. Some installers run automatically with Administrator rights, but this is not true for all of them. I always right-click and Run as Administrator when I need to install something.
      My Computer


  8. SRD
    Posts : 5
    7 & 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I booted back into Safe Mode to revert back to basic Microsoft graphics driver, but when I am in Safe Mode, explorer is constantly crashing - every 0.5 seconds, so the screen is blinking black every 0.5 seconds.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #9

    From the symptoms it looks like your Windows 10 installation is pretty screwed. Even if you manage to make graphics work you may have other issues as well. I recommend taking a backup of all important data and then format your disk and reinstall Windows 10. I know, it doesn't sound very good, but you may eventually be forced to do that if you have many compatibility problems.

    Last things to try before the format: Update the chipset drivers as well, not only the graphics drivers. If that doesn't stop the problems, don't hesitate. The sooner you decide it the better. I am a computer technician and have spend countless hours to try saving a faulty Windows installation. If I was taking a backup and format most of the times it would have been faster... I speak of experience.
      My Computer


 

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