UltraUxThemePatcher - Recover From Black/Grey Screen - Windows 8 / 10

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  1. Posts : 260
    Win 10 Pro X64
       #21

    Indeed a very helpful and informative guide but if you're going to modify files that can affect your system why not take an image first using the ever reliable Macrium Reflect. Takes me approx. 7 minutes to take and about the same to put back rather than relying on sys restore or hours of typing commands.One needs some extra insurance at times
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  2. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.48
    Thread Starter
       #22

    BallpointPen said:
    Everything on here I tried, and it didn't work. After doing a lot of research, I found a solution.
    1. Boot into Recovery Mode.
    2. Go to Troubleshooting > Advanced Settings > Command prompt
    3. Type in- sfc /scannow / offbootdir=(systemdrive):\ /offwindir=(systemdrive):\windows
    Note- Replace (systemdrive) with the letter you found for your system drive earlier.
    4. Wait for your system to find the corrupt files and get rid of it.
    5. Boot into safe mode.
    Ah yes i remember that bit. Thanks for the post. That is a worthy addition of possible solutions, illt add it to the OP.
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  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.48
    Thread Starter
       #23

    shimshom said:
    Indeed a very helpful and informative guide but if you're going to modify files that can affect your system why not take an image first using the ever reliable Macrium Reflect. Takes me approx. 7 minutes to take and about the same to put back rather than relying on sys restore or hours of typing commands.One needs some extra insurance at times
    Sorry for such a late reply.

    The intent of this post was to help someone who did NOT make such a backup.

    So, in short, most people who find themselves here are here on their phones or on another computer because their main PC is exhibiting a black/grey screen at windows boot. At this point, a backup is pointless, except to save data, but not to salvage a stable system that is capable of booting.

    This guide helps them salvage their system without the need to reformat and reinstall windows.

    Thanks for making a good point though.

    Backups are indeed important! And even more important, a manual backup system is most effective. Automatic backups can save a system state that is unstable and prone to failure. I fear that if I try to incorporate a better "backup routine" section in my tutorial, the OP will be WAY TOO LOOOOONG. That's why I left it out. You can make a post as long as my OP just describing ways to backup Windows profiles and settings. Maybe I'll do one of those in the future.
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  4. Posts : 69
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home (x64) Build 1803
       #24

    thank you for the post, it was useful for me!

    I had this problem a while ago after a little Windows upgrade but I soon solved by downgrading the version.

    This time it was different because there was no update.
    anyway I solved using the very first method: first I wanted to delete the theme from my Debian but I stopped doing that when i read that mounting the Windows disks with ntfs-3g (necessary to have write access) would cause problem with chkdsk windows integrated feature (even if I don't use since years and years).
    So I followed your steps and I delete the .theme file replacing it with the default one. but only the login windows worked and trying to login always brought me back to login itself. So I decided to try something new: I also delete the theme folder and replace that with aero one too. And this time worked flawless!

    Again thanks a lot, just wanted to report my experience, maybe could useful for someone..
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.48
    Thread Starter
       #25

    brainvision said:
    thank you for the post, it was useful for me!

    I had this problem a while ago after a little Windows upgrade but I soon solved by downgrading the version.

    This time it was different because there was no update.
    anyway I solved using the very first method: first I wanted to delete the theme from my Debian but I stopped doing that when i read that mounting the Windows disks with ntfs-3g (necessary to have write access) would cause problem with chkdsk windows integrated feature (even if I don't use since years and years).
    So I followed your steps and I delete the .theme file replacing it with the default one. but only the login windows worked and trying to login always brought me back to login itself. So I decided to try something new: I also delete the theme folder and replace that with aero one too. And this time worked flawless!

    Again thanks a lot, just wanted to report my experience, maybe could useful for someone..
    Very cool! Thanks for your reply.

    Funny thing, I actually had it in my instructions to remove the folder when i first wrote it, but I removed it. I removed it because I wasn't sure it was necessary, and it seemed to be confusing a lot of people (trying to navigate the command line).

    I haven't yet come across a situation when i needed to delete the folder yet, but I'm not surprised it happened that way either.

    I'll add that back into the OP and give you credit. Thanks for the reply!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #26

    Hi, so I followed the first 2 steps, successfully deleted and replaced the corrupted .theme file with aero.theme, and deleted the file associated with the corrupted theme. I started in safe mode and disabled fast startup, and managed to start it successfully. But when I tried to access the theme settings it prompted me this message:
    The system detected an overrun of a stack-based buffer in this application. This overrun could potentially allow a malicious user to gain control of this application.

    Is there any way to overcome this problem?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.48
    Thread Starter
       #27

    LKX7ADHD said:
    Hi, so I followed the first 2 steps, successfully deleted and replaced the corrupted .theme file with aero.theme, and deleted the file associated with the corrupted theme. I started in safe mode and disabled fast startup, and managed to start it successfully. But when I tried to access the theme settings it prompted me this message:
    The system detected an overrun of a stack-based buffer in this application. This overrun could potentially allow a malicious user to gain control of this application.

    Is there any way to overcome this problem?
    Hey man, sorry for the long delay.

    That sounds like 2 possibilities. That's either another application giving you that message, or you have UAC (User Account Control) enabled. You will probably have to disable that in order to continue.

    In the meantime just google "disable UAC". It's pretty straight forward. If you are able to let me know how it went please do.

    EDIT: I've done some searching on this, and it seems more likely to be another program or a hardware issue, not necessarily Windows specific. Some users have reported this in connection with upgrading from Win7 to Win10 as well. Worst case scenario it could be probably malware. Apparently, users who play the game called "Rune Scape" have experienced quite a few of these issues as well.

    Basically, none of this seems to be theme related. I'm afraid the theme you are trying to use or recover from is not likely to be the cause of this issue. If you find info that suggests it's related to the theme please let me know what evidence supports that idea so I can investigate.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 25
    Windows 10 x64 1909
       #28

    I had a Windows 10 Pro x64 VPS. I had UltraUXThemePatcher 3.8.2 installed with no issues.

    I noticed the new version 4.0.0 today and decided to upgrade. Boy am I sorry.

    I uninstalled 3.8.2 and rebooted, expecting to install 4.0.0 when the system came back up.

    I can connect to the VPS as I get prompted for a login, but at "Preparing Windows," it immediately disconnects and I can no longer connect to the VPS.

    When I uninstalled, it did say that it was changing the Windows theme back to default. But I guess that wasn't enough.

    I read the OP and there's a TON of info and it just looks to me like I have lost this VPS and will have to start over.

    Would disabling fast startup be enough to get this VPS back? I'm not sure if an admin at the hosting provider can do anything at this point.

    - - - Updated - - -

    The admins at my VPS host were able to start the VPS in safe mode and edit the registry.

    So to disable fast boot, the following registry key needs added:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power]
    "HiberbootEnabled"=dword:00000000

    Once that was done, the system came back up and allowed logins again.

    That was scary! Hopefully now that "fast" boot is disabled that won't happen again!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.48
    Thread Starter
       #29

    Ceelix said:
    So to disable fast boot, the following registry key needs added:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power]
    "HiberbootEnabled"=dword:00000000
    Yah, I have a link in the OP on how to disable FastBoot (elsewhere in this forum), and that is the exact key in question. I'm afraid it is a bit buried amidst lots of other info, but it is all pertinent.

    Glad you found your fix.

    Thanks for sharing your solution. Any success stories will make this thread better
    Last edited by TheArkive; 18 May 2021 at 14:35.
      My Computer


 

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