Fix: Windows Black Screen With Cursor After Login

The below methods can be tried out to resolve the issue wherein users experience a Windows black screen with a cursor after login:

1. Hard Reset and Startup Repair
2. Update Graphics Drivers
3. Disable App Readiness
4. Disable Fast Startup
5. Reduce Monitor Resolution
6. RUN SFC and DISM

1] Hard Reset and Startup Repair

Both options can reset the system’s hardware devices to default, resolving potential conflicts. They can also detect, diagnose, and resolve issues that may obstruct Windows’s correct loading, which might be a likely cause in this case.

To perform a hard reset:

• Turn off the system entirely and remove all attached devices except the keyboard and mouse, including the battery and charger cable ( for laptops). If the PC has an external graphics card attached, we can remove it before restarting the system.
• Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds and release.
• Restart the system now after connecting the battery and the charger cables (for laptops).

To run the Automatic Repair for Windows:

• Insert the Windows USB bootable drive or CD/DVD installation and restart the system.
• Press the relevant key to enter the BIOS. Then, choose the USB or CD/DVD as the first boot device to boot the PC.
• In the setup screen, click on Repair Your Computer at the bottom left to start the Automatic Repair.

2] Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers may fail to function correctly with newer OS updates or applications, leading to display errors. Installing the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website can ensure the system can communicate effectively with the display hardware to resolve the black screen error.

3] Disable AppReadiness

App Readiness is a Windows service that prepares applications for use when a user logs on to the system for the first time or when a new application is installed. App readiness can also affect system stability; disabling this feature can help eliminate the error. To disable the feature,

• On the blank screen, press CTRL+ALT+ESC to bring up the Task Manager.
• Click on File > New Task in the Task Manager window to open the Run dialogue box.
• Type services.msc in the Run Window and click on OK.
• In the services window, look for the service named AppReadiness and then double-click on it to open its Properties window.
• Click on the drop-down menu beside the startup type and choose the Disable option.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
• Return to the Task Manager window and click File > New Task.
• Enter the command shutdown /r /f and click on OK to restart the system and check whether the error has been resolved.

The /r indicates restarting the system, while the /f switch forces the restart even if other users are logged on to it.

4] Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a tool provided by Microsoft that can help shorten the time it takes for the system to start or shut down. However, compatibility problems can sometimes lead to the said situation. Hence, disabling Fast Startup to avoid any such compatibility issues can help resolve the problem. To do so,

• Open the Settings App and click on Power Options -> System Settings
• Under System Settings, click on Choose what the power buttons do -> Change currently unavailable Settings.

• Uncheck the option that reads, Turn On Fast Startup (recommended) and then click on Save Changes.

5] Reduce Monitor Resolution

Lower display resolutions require less processing power from the display adapter, which may sometimes prevent the system freeze or crashing. Hence, reducing the display resolution to check if the error persists can also be tried out as a resolution as a workaround. To reduce the display resolution:

• Right-click on the blank area of the desktop and click on Display Settings.
• In the Display Settings page, click on the drop-down menu under Screen Resolution and choose a lower option than the current one.

6] RUN SFC and DISM

Since possible corruption of the system files may also be a probable cause of this issue, repairing the corrupt files can help the OS load smoothly. To run SFC and DISM:

To do so, open the Windows Terminal as an Administrator and:

• Type sfc/scannow, and press enter to run the scan and fix any errors.
• If SFC cannot fix the problem, type the below-mentioned commander on the Terminal Prompt to restore the damaged files.

dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

• Restart the system and check if the error has been resolved or not