Black screen with cursor

Living in Fear: Updated to Ten (Gateway SX-2800), it worked for a month.
After an update came black screen with cursor. TenForum solution (3
shutdowns before full start) and restart fixed. Updated video and other
drivers. Another update event, happened again, this time auto fix did not
fix. Advanced to system restore. Worked once. I was on a special project,
feared same problem, so I left computer on for 2 weeks, no problem. Then
was forced to restart with update. (BTW -sorry didn't mention I GET THE SIGN ON
SCREEN EACH TIME , AND ENTER PASSWORD) then black screen - and now no fixes
work, no restore points. Current status - active cursor, notifications and windows pop up
over a black screen, addressing second monitor with blind keystrokes on and
off works (evidenced by cursor), task manager opens (ctrl alt del) and
seems fully functional. Lots of functions in task manager show stopped.
Seems like desktop is there but screen is black. Any possible fix through
task manager or by keystrokes?? tried all fixes found here. Help!!

NevRon said:

Tried all options from previous "black screen" posts. Still black with cursor and notifications pop up and ctr alt del opens manager window and it is functional. Anything I can do from there? One last possible resort, when using auto fix with 3 incomplete starts - in advanced option it says restore to earlier build. Is this a Windows 10 build, or does it mean restore to previous windows 7 OS? ?? Guess I need to try it as a last resort. Will hang in one more day before that. Thanks. Ron <><

Hi NevRon and welcome to Tenforums.

It would be helpful if you could give us a quick rundown of everything you've tried so far, and also fill in your system specs completely.

Are you able to boot into safe mode?
Do you have Fast Startup turned off?

This is a good one!
I think we have to get you into your OS somehow, to disable Fast Startup.
When you are at your black desktop, and seem to be logged in, can you try this please?

Press WindowsKey+P, down arrow twice, and enter

When you boot into windows and get the black screen with cursor, see if this will enable you to get in

At the black screen, press the Ctrl key once on an attached physical keyboard. (You won’t see any visible change, but pressing the Ctrl key will place the cursor in the password box that you’re currently not able to see.)

Now type the password of the user that just signed out and press Enter.This will sign you back into Windows and the desktop will appear.

If you failed to sign in because you mistyped the password, press Enter once more. Then retype the password and press Enter." ...

If you can get in and see, see if this helps

NevRon said:

I did blind keyboard entry as above. It changed the monitor setup as evidenced by the visible cursor (one screen or both screens) but nothing else changed.
Is there a file showing for Fast Startup in Task Manager, which opens and functions with ctrl alt del, and shows files which are functioning and can be, started, stopped, etc.

No, unfortunately not. It's a registry setting.

In Task Manager, have you tried ending the process explorer.exe and then running it again?

Here's another try:

Press the Win Key + P
You won't see this, but here is a screenshot of what comes up:



The first time you press the TAB key, you will be selecting #1. We want to press the TAB key 4 times, which will select the "second screen only". Watch your second screen as you press the tab key, to see if the desktop shows during any of the other selections. Once you've pressed it 4 times, and you're on second screen only, hit enter. If you can see your desktop on the second screen at this point, then we can at least get in and uninstall that update , whatever it is.

Here are tutorials to uninstall WUs and how to hide them so they don't install again.

Windows Update - Uninstall in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Windows Updates - Hide or Show in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

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