Black screen after update

  • Hi there and welcome to PC Help Forum (PCHF), a more effective way to get the Tech Support you need!
    We have Experts in all areas of Tech, including Malware Removal, Crash Fixing and BSOD's , Microsoft Windows, Computer DIY and PC Hardware, Networking, Gaming, Tablets and iPads, General and Specific Software Support and so much more.

    Why not Click Here To Sign Up and start enjoying great FREE Tech Support.

    This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

pcpaul

PCHF Member
Sep 27, 2016
70
5
63
Hi,
I'm doing this for a friend because he has no other means to do it.
He has an HP desktop which originally had 8.1 Pro but he took the Windows 10 free upgrade some time ago and all was working fine. He recently came back to the PC and found it was doing an update so left it to run. After about 5 hours he had just a black screen although the PC was still powered so he forced a shut down.

Now when its turned on we see the windows screen with the dots doing a circle then the screen goes black and stays that way. After checking on Google I saw that re-starting in safe mode and changing graphic settings in device manager might be the fix, so I used a Windows 10 recovery usb drive and re-started. I do NOT see an option to restart in safe mode, If I select Troubleshoot>Advanced options I see "System Restore" (Says it cant do it), "System Image Recovery" (Havent made one), "Startup Repair" (Unable to repair this PC), "Command Prompt", UEFI Firmware Settings" and "Go back to previous build" (We ran into a problem and wont be able to take you back to the previous build. Try resetting your current build - when I try resetting I get "The drive where windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again).

In desperation we even tried putting in the windows 8.1 recovery dvd but when I see all the partitions (where I choose which partition to install to) whichever one I choose says something like windows cannot be installed on this partition.

So we're pretty much stuck and in desperate need of some expert help

Thanks
Paul
 
Hi there paul and welcome :)

To get to Safe Mode, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Settings > Startup Settings > Safe Mode

To actually repair the PC, you'll need your Windows 8/8.1 disc since it hasn't successfully upgraded. Then you can run Startup Repair. :)
 
"Startup Settings" isn't an option available and he says he upgraded to Win 10 and has been using it prior to this update (I assumed the update to be the Anniversary edition but can't confirm it)
 
Do you happen to have an on board graphics? If so, plug your monitor into the motherboard's video port and see if you see video.
 
I had that very same problem after an update.. I removed the video card and plugged into the generic windows one. it worked. I had a picture. I the went back and reinstalled the video card and still had a picture.
 
A black screen with nothing showing (no cursor, no POST, just pure black) is a telltale sign of a hardware failure, most probably the graphics card. Do you happen to have a spare video card you can try?

Also, the Anniversary Update (AU) made sure that some devices would not work with it, and that includes some graphics cards. :( But if you're not seeing anything at all, that's a red flag that something is failing.
 
I find it hard to believe there is no port to plug in your monitor in. Its the one with marked with a blue ring.
img_20131011_103511.jpg
 
jmarket, if it was a faulty graphic card would I see the repair console and the windows logo?

Pancake, I know what a vga connector looks like and there isn't one.
 
" if it was a faulty graphic card would I see the repair console and the windows logo? "

That should be a no. If it is totally died..
 
pcpaul said:
In desperation we even tried putting in the windows 8.1 recovery dvd but when I see all the partitions (where I choose which partition to install to) whichever one I choose says something like windows cannot be installed on this partition.
Click to expand...
most of the time I have to delete all the partitions before you can downgrade to a lower OS.

Is this a homemade or manufactured system?

What is the make and model?
 
Sorry I didn't get a notification of your other reply.
Its a manufactured system from HP, Z820 Workstation
 
If you boot off a windows dvd or off any bootable cd/dvd is the picture staying on? if so, I'd boot off windows cd and do a system restore to before it crashed.....

A friend has similar problem, he left it on and forgot about it and 2 days later went back to it and it was on lol
 
WindX previously installed as Win8 upgrade. System functioned properly.
Unattended Windows Update resulted in black screen.
Power on shows Windows boot process to black screen.
No onboard video port on this platform -
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/workstations/z820.html

Yes - you can have a failed video configuration or card and still see the POST screen and initial Windows boot screen (spinning dots).
A successful boot from any linux live CD would prove hardware.

User reports a non-standard set of recovery options are presented from boot media. This is not consistent with Windows 10 design specs and implies a communication failure between tech support and end-user.
Please confirm:
Boot from install media.
Choose repair
Navigate to this screen (sorry, but I do not have a collection of the images or a walkthrough) -
3.png


Please confirm that the options pictured above are (or are not) available.
I can only assume that these options will be available.
Select Windows Startup Settings. This will reboot Windows to the recovery partition where you will have the option to select Safe Mode.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Madmatt2006
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom