Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

I have just had an auto update to my pc, & now I've only got a black screen. Cursor but nothing else.
It goes through the startup sequence with password etc but black screen & no icons.
I managed to manoeuvre to safe mode, but nothing goes in or out. No internet, no sound, can't down load or upload pics. Who knows what other problems I'm in for?

Does anyone out there know of a solution? Microsoft need shafting for their incompetence. Every update some thing goes wrong!!
Any one else have these frustrations??

ahudina Loc: Browns Point, WA

I am not IT expert but those in my office recommend delaying any upgrades from Microsoft for 45 days or so to give Microsoft time to work out any bugs that others may discover after the automatic updates are automatically installed. The auto updates essentially act like a beta test for Microsoft. Go into Settings, Update and Security and delay automatic updates. Just my two cents. Good luck.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you can get into safe mode, I presume you can see the display? Regarding internet access, did you choose safe mode with network access? It’s useful to get the internet access up so you can download drivers.

So you have several options. Option one, assuming you have restore points enabled, is you can go back to the last restore point before the “upgrade”. If not, then start with fixing network and the video so you can see what you’re doing and download any necessary drivers. You can do this through “settings” or “device manager” Right click on the start button in the lower left corner and choose settings (or device manager). Then fix the network, video, etc.

This is very general, but start there and come back with more specific questions.

BTW, any chance you are running multiple monitors? If so, everything you expect to be on monitor number 1 (program icons, etc) could be on the 2nd monitor (which isn’t working). I had this problem once, and it didn’t immediately occur to me what was wrong. Jumped through a zillion hoops trying to figure out why I had a black screen with a curser and nothing else, before the lights came on in my brain 🙀

JerryOSF Loc: Bristol, VA

I have delayed MS updates forever. I use Linux instead.

kd7eir Loc: Tucson, AZ

Boot into safe mode and run system restore: https://neosmart.net/wiki/no-system-restore-points/#System_Restore_via_Safe_More

Either you or your computer interrupted the update before it finished. NOTHING to do with Microsoft at all.

Chicopee Loc: NY State, USA

I basically had the same thing happened last month, except my screen was not black it was gray! It took forever to boot up at least 20 minutes, it kept buffering and buffering, and I’m assuming that this was after a very lengthy update. I could do nothing. I had no desktop, I had no icons I had no task bar, all I had was the pointer on my mouse and there was nothing there to point it at. I tried safe mode and nothing happened. I ended up taking it to a shop . I have read where the latest update had actually erased data so I was furious. However the shop told me what I needed was a solid-state drive as it would be able to handle the large updates that Microsoft would download. I bristled at the thought and cost but I did it. When I went to pick it up and he hit the power button, it probably booted up in five seconds. The basic layout was there . Though I did not have time to set it up as I did before looking completely like Windows 7. I got rid of all the little square boxes for windows 10 and downloaded an app called fences which helps to organize the desktop. But I am terrified to turn it back on because I don’t want to do another update. What is interesting is that I have marked in my settings that they are not to do an update unless I tell them. But I was told by the shop that Microsoft the bypasses this..... that even though it’s an option given it does what it likes to do anyway and the general consumer has been burned Many times because of these updates from windows 10. They are determined to continue being intrusive into our machines and information and there doesn’t appear to be really anything that we can do. I have considered a Mac

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Today I booted up, & went through the startup sequence until the blank black screen.
I used my tablet for some email traffic, when out of the blue, it cranked up. Everything I tried worked. Inwards & out,
i-net, then an ITunes update appeared so thought I'd do that. No worries. Then a restart was required.
Bloody thing went back to blank screen. Maybe tomorrow will bring happiness??

Thanks for your comments ppl. Merry Christmas.

HardwareGuy

Enable System Restore, as another has mentioned. I have two PC's that both suffered from the notorious October update that "killed" them both. I learned the hard way that since Windows 10, System Restore is not enabled by default as it was with prior versions.
Of course, the real solution is for Microsoft to get their act together on all the updates.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Win10 updates scare me. On one computer, I lost Windows. When it restarted, it wanted a serial number, but I didn't have one because I had downloaded and installed it when Win10 was free. I eventually bought a key on eBay for $15 and reinstalled Windows.

HardwareGuy

Good link. I will vehemently disagree that update problems have nothing to do with Microsoft, however. They have become renown for their update problems.
I have suffered from them, and I am the "IT guy" both at work and home.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I had the same problem and ended up calling Toshiba tech service where my PC was once covered and using safe mode was able to give them access and 45 minutes and $127.00 later it was fixed. They said that some files were either missing or destroyed in the down load process.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

I did the October 1809 updated and it installed without a hitch.

AlColter Loc: Michigan

I had similar issues I called MS 866-425-8809 and the fixed all my windows issues.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

I keep saying it over and over GET A MAC !

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

It can be maddening. Sometimes hard shut off and another restart and this may take several times. This has happened several times with my laptop and eventually the regular screen came up although I am on the beta testing.