How to fix black screen with cursor after logging in

When your PC or laptop boots up and stays in black screen with visible cursorThe feeling of complete freeze is absolute: there's no desktop, no menus, and it seems impossible to continue. This error can appear at startup, during use, or upon shutdown, and often doesn't display any error message, which complicates diagnosis.

The good news is that, barring serious hardware failures, there are many solutions Within reach of any user. In this guide, you'll find a step-by-step guide, from quick checks to advanced techniques, to recover your system and, if necessary, save your data before a reinstallation.

Why does the black screen with the cursor appear?

This symptom can have multiple causes, from a graphics driver failure to a peripheral conflict, problematic updates, or a physical problem with the monitor/cabling. They can also intervene damaged system files, an outdated BIOS or incorrect boot configuration.

Generally speaking, think of five fronts: Windows itself (services and settings), the GPU and its drivers, the screen and connections, the latest updates and possible software incompatibilitiesLater, we'll see how to handle each of them without skipping any important steps.

Hardware and peripheral checks

Before we get into the system, rule out the basics: turn off the computer, disconnect all external devices (USB, headphones, microphones, disks, etc.) and leave only the keyboard, mouse, monitor and power. Hold down the power button for a few 30 seconds to clear states and turn it back on.

If you are using a desktop PC with dedicated graphics and integrated video card, connect the monitor to the motherboard output to test the integrated GPU. If you see an image, the problem is with the graphics card. If there is no signal with the integrated one and the computer doesn't even beep when starting up, the problem is with the motherboard.

Check the monitor wiring: tighten the connections well HDMI/DVI/VGA both on the computer and the screen. For VGA, use the screws to avoid looseness. If possible, test the monitor with another device (another PC, a decoder or player) to rule out that the monitor itself screen is failing.

On laptops or desktops with recent movement, a loose HDMI connection can leave the screen black and can be resolved with a simple full resetAlthough it may seem obvious, forcing a shutdown with the power button and restarting is a quick test that saves time.

Shortcuts and restarts that reactivate the video

Windows may momentarily lose connection to the display. Try the combination Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the video driver. You should hear a beep and a flashing sound; if there's life, the screen try to reconnect.

Another useful trick is Windows + P: Opens the Project menu. Press P and Enter to toggle between display modes (duplicate, extend, computer screen only, etc.). Repeat this sequence four times to cycle through all the options without seeing the interface.

If the system responds to the keyboard, press Alt + F4 and then press Enter to attempt an orderly shutdown. If that doesn't work, hold the power button for about 10 seconds for a forced shutdown and starts again.

These maneuvers are especially effective when the black screen appears after exit suspension or due to a temporary crash of the graphics driver and can save you from having to enter advanced menus.

Safe Mode: Basic Actions and Startup Cleanup

If the problem persists, go to Safe Mode (with or without networking). At startup, force Automatic Repair by shutting down at startup and repeating this process three times until you see Advanced. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart and choose F4 or F5.

Within Safe Mode, open the Device administrator (Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc and Enter), expand Display Adapters, right-click on your GPU and choose Update driver or Uninstall device. Restart afterward for Windows to reinstall the driver of the gráfica.

Deactivate the service «Application preparation» in case it interferes with startup: Windows + R, type services.msc, locate "Application Preparation", double click and set the Startup Type to Disabled, apply and accept. If it fixes the startup, you can later return it to Manual.

Reduce the start: open the Task Manager, Startup tab, and disable apps you don't need. To rule out software conflicts, perform a clean boot: Run msconfig, under Services, select "Hide all Microsoft services" and click "Disable all." Restart and check.

Repairs from the recovery environment (WinRE)

If you can't get into the desktop, force Win with the sequence of three interrupted starts (turn off during the logo and turn on again). In Automatic Repair choose Advanced options and go to Troubleshoot to see all the available tools.

Start with "Startup repair»: Windows will attempt to locate boot problems and automatically fix them. If the problem is caused by corrupted boot files, it is often sufficient to recover the system.

If it doesn't work, go to "Symbol of the system» and runs checks. First, the System File Checker to repair protected Windows files that are corrupt or missing and causing the black screen.

Additionally, in WinRE you can «Uninstall updates»: Remove the latest quality or feature updates if you suspect the problem started after a recent patchIt's a simple fix that often brings things back to normal.

Key commands in the command prompt

Open the terminal with administrator privileges and run these commands to repair the system and boot. They are safe and can resolve errors. in a few minutes:

sfc /scannow
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

If CFS doesn't correct everything, supplement with DISM from the system (or WinRE with networking) to restore the Windows image to a healthy state before another SFC pass:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Graphics drivers and advanced GPU settings

Many cases of black screen with cursor start from a faulty video driver. In Safe Mode, uninstall the driver and reinstall it from the manufacturer's official website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) or the computer manufacturer's website after identifying brand and model (Windows + R, msinfo32, Enter).

If you experience occasional hangs while using the GPU, you can adjust the amount of time Windows waits before restarting the system. graphics controller (TDR). Edit the registry very carefully and only if you know what you're doing.

Run regedit and navigate to the key Graphics Drivers. If the value does not exist, create it as a 32-bit DWORD and assign a value like 8 seconds to give the system a recovery time. video driver.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
Nombre: TdrDelay (DWORD 32 bits)
Valor: 8

After changing the registry, reboot. If the instability stops, you've contained the problem. Still, it's best to combine this tweak with updated drivers and check system temperature and stability.

BIOS/UEFI: Reset and Update

An Outdated BIOS/UEFI or misconfigured can also cause black screens. First try resetting to factory settings: power off, power on, and press the BIOS access key repeatedly until you enter the main menu and choose "Load Defaults" or equivalent, save and restart.

Common keys to enter: F2 (Acer, Asus, Dell, Samsung, Sony), F10 (HP, Compaq), Del/Del (Acer and Asus A-series desktops), Esc (some HP, Asus, Toshiba), F1 (Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba), F12 (Toshiba), and on certain Lenovo laptops Fn + F2. Consult the manual if you cannot access it.

Updating the BIOS may be advisable if your version is very old and the manufacturer has corrected compatibility problems. Enter Safe Mode with Networking, open msinfo32 to note the version, date and manufacturer, download from the official website the latest BIOS for your model and follow the wizard with the equipment connected to power.

Important: Do not turn off or unplug your computer during the update. An interruption can damage the motherboard. If in doubt, consider resetting the motherboard first. default configuration and check if that is enough.

Conflicting software, customization, and security

Avoid having two antivirus residing at the same time: they generate conflicts and unexpected crashes. Uninstall the extra one and perform a full system scan (including boot and memory) with your trusted solution or with Windows Defender in exhaustive mode.

Uninstall suspicious software (especially downloaders) Torrent or programs obtained from unreliable websites). Many installations include unwanted components that modify the system and end up triggering black screens.

Deep customization tools (taskbar, Start menu, Explorer.exe) alter critical processes and the registry. If you use them, try remove them temporarily. In older or unsupported versions, they are a frequent source of subtle bugs in the Login.

Check that your Windows is activated. Working with the system without activating it imposes limitations and, in some cases, may coincide with strange behavior. If it was deactivated for some reason, enter your password again. product key.

Temperature and hardware health

Overheating of the GPU or CPU This can cause video signal interruptions. Monitor the working temperatures with a tool like AIDA64 or another one of your choice. If they are high, check thermal paste, heatsink, fans and energy profiles.

Do not force overclocking if you are diagnosing a stability issue. Re-check stock values, clean dust, and ensure proper ventilation. Reducing a few degrees can mean the difference between a blockage and a system failure. stable.

Restore, uninstall updates, or reset your PC

If all else fails, try a "System Restore» to a previous point (Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore). It does not affect your personal files, but it will roll back drivers and recent changes.

Another way is to uninstall the latest windows updates from WinRE, both in terms of quality and features, if the problem started after a patch. Sometimes, going back a step solves instantly.

As a last resort, you can «Reset this PC» from Settings > Update & security > Recovery. Choose to keep your files if possible, knowing that Windows will be reinstalled and you'll have to reinstall apps.

If you prefer absolute cleanliness, create an installation media and perform a installation from scratch. Before, save your data because formatting deletes all content from the system drive and there is no turn back.

If your case is the classic "black screen with cursor" in Windows, run through hardware checks, video shortcuts, and Safe Mode; then use WinRE (Startup Repair, SFC/DISM, and uninstall updates), check drivers and BIOS, remove conflicting software, and monitor temperatures. These techniques cover the most common causes, and if there's no physical damage, the computer should normally be working. come back to life.