New install on clean hardware, 64bit, endless black screen on reboot

Win 10 installs and opens the first time. Once it gets reset (it automatically starts downloading updates and requires a reset), it boots back to a black screen where nothing happens. I tried repair, etc. from the Win10 installation DVD, but it gives me an error. I have deleted all content on the HD and done a clean install at least 10 times. I have tried DDU (driver display uninstaller), and that was able to boot once, but required another reboot, during which it said "Unable to install updates, removing updates" (windows updates, not DDU updates) or something like that. Then it booted to a black screen again.

This is a brand new build with SSD, HDD, ODD, and GTX 970. I have downloaded the latest 970 driver from Nvidia web site, tried installing from Nvidia CD, tried DDU then GEforce Experience, etc. All ultimately end in black screen on reboot.

I can boot into safe mode if I go into msconfig on first initial boot at the completion of installation. If I don't do safe mode, I get black screen on next normal mode reboot no matter what I do.

Thanks in advance!

It's probably the graphics driver. Boot into safe mode and see what it is in Device Manager (search for it). If it is Microsoft, it means that Windows Update decided the nVidia driver is old or incompatible with Windows 10 and replaced with a Microsoft driver instead. Try to run the setup or manually install the nVidia driver. While in Control Panel, expand the display adapters list by clicking on the +. Then choose your graphics card, right click and select Properties. Now click on the Driver tab. Driver provider should be nVidia not Microsoft. To manually install the nVidia drivers, click the Update driver button. Always select last option until you see a "Have disk" button. Press that button and browse to the folder where the driver files are extracted (usually in This Computer, C:, nVidia folder). Then you should be presented with the model that is most compatible to your hardware. Click on it and proceed with the installation. Reboot and you should be OK.

Another cause of your problem is probably that the chosen display settings (resolution and color depth) are incompatibile with your monitor, hence you see a black screen instead of the desktop. This happens rarely and it is because Windows didn't identify the monitor correctly, so it tries to set an unsupported resolution. To see if this is your case, reboot some times until you see the troubleshoot screen. Choose advance boot options and then the one that says "Low Resolution" or similar. This will start Windows in 800x600 mode and then you can adjust the resolution to match your display. To adjust it right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings. Scroll down and select Advanced Display Settings. Change the resolution to the native one of your monitor. If unsure, change it and see if you get a picture. If you do reply yes in the relevant question and try the next resolution. When you set your monitor to the native resolution you will realize that the desktop is very sharp while other resolutions may blur a little.

spapakons said:

It's probably the graphics driver. Boot into safe mode and see what it is in Device Manager (search for it). If it is Microsoft, it means that Windows Update decided the nVidia driver is old or incompatible with Windows 10 and replaced with a Microsoft driver instead. Try to run the setup or manually install the nVidia driver. While in Control Panel, expand the display adapters list by clicking on the +. Then choose your graphics card, right click and select Properties. Now click on the Driver tab. Driver provider should be nVidia not Microsoft. To manually install the nVidia drivers, click the Update driver button. Always select last option until you see a "Have disk" button. Press that button and browse to the folder where the driver files are extracted (usually in This Computer, C:, nVidia folder). Then you should be presented with the model that is most compatible to your hardware. Click on it and proceed with the installation. Reboot and you should be OK.

Another cause of your problem is probably that the chosen display settings (resolution and color depth) are incompatibile with your monitor, hence you see a black screen instead of the desktop. This happens rarely and it is because Windows didn't identify the monitor correctly, so it tries to set an unsupported resolution. To see if this is your case, reboot some times until you see the troubleshoot screen. Choose advance boot options and then the one that says "Low Resolution" or similar. This will start Windows in 800x600 mode and then you can adjust the resolution to match your display. To adjust it right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings. Scroll down and select Advanced Display Settings. Change the resolution to the native one of your monitor. If unsure, change it and see if you get a picture. If you do reply yes in the relevant question and try the next resolution. When you set your monitor to the native resolution you will realize that the desktop is very sharp while other resolutions may blur a little.

Thanks for the reply. Your second paragraph gave me an idea, and it turned out to be a two fold problem.

1) The 970 driver was being automatically updated by Windows to a not-up-to-date version that would not let it boot correctly.

2) The display settings were off somehow and it was apparently booting OK but displaying on a secondary device that was turned off and setting the computer monitor as secondary. This resulted in a black screen on my computer monitor. I was able to fix it by pushing Windows key + P and changing the default display settings.

Thanks again.

Technical issues like these can drive you crazy... Happy who know the cause of things, Romans said.