How to Fix the Black Screen of Death in Windows 10 – 8 Different Ways

The "Black Screen of Death" (BSoD) typically refers to a malfunction in a computer where the screen completely turns black and no display is produced, rendering the system non-functional. This term is an extension of the well-known "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD), which is a specific error screen encountered in Microsoft Windows operating systems. A black screen can be caused by various issues, including hardware failures (such as the monitor, graphics card, or RAM), driver problems, damaged operating system, virus infections, or software conflicts. Resolving a BSoD usually involves diagnosing the root cause and implementing a corresponding solution, such as updating drivers, repairing or reinstalling the operating system, checking and replacing hardware components, or removing malware.

Microsoft's most reliable operating system to date is Windows 10. Although the platform is well-built and practical, users worldwide have reported numerous bugs. For example, one of the most infamous ones is the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), and another well-known issue is the Black Screen of Death.

When users boot up their Windows 10, they may encounter a Black Screen of Death or a Windows 10 black screen with cursor. Unlike the Blue Screen of Death, your system doesn't crash but fails to start completely, making all hard drives inaccessible. You might receive a notification that the operating system is missing, or there's a minor issue with a file on the startup drive. A Windows black screen of death can occur while logging in, updating software, or even when performing tasks. So, what causes the Windows 10 black screen error? Read on!

Reasons for Black Screen of Death in Windows 10

There's no specific fix to try unless you know the possible cause of the Windows 10 black screen of death. The screen can turn black in Windows 10 for many reasons. Here are some common causes of a black screen in Windows:

• Incomplete Windows 10 installation.
• Windows updates.
• Software compatibility issues.
• Faulty drivers.
• Graphics card problems.
• Hardware failure.
• Overheating.
• Display issues.
• Virus or malware attacks.

All of these can cause a Windows computer to get stuck on a black screen. It can happen to any Windows 10 machine, whether it's a desktop or laptop.

#3 8 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Black Screen Issues When you encounter a black screen issue with your Windows 10 computer, it can be quite frustrating. Don't worry; here are eight effective steps to help you resolve the problem: 1. **Forced Restart**: - Press and hold the power button for a few seconds to force a shutdown. - Restart your computer and see if the issue persists. 2. **Safe Mode**: - While booting up, repeatedly press F8 to enter Advanced Boot Options. - Choose "Safe Mode" and see if your system starts normally. 3. **Check Monitor and Connections**: - Ensure the monitor is correctly connected to your computer, and power and signal cables are plugged in. - Try another monitor to rule out hardware issues. 4. **Update/Rollback Graphics Driver**: - In Safe Mode, open Device Manager and locate "Display adapters." - Update or roll back the graphics driver to see if that resolves the issue. 5. **System Restore**: - Boot into Safe Mode and use System Restore to revert to a previous state. - If no restore points are available, consider using the "Reset this PC" feature, but note that this will remove personal files and settings. 6. **Disable Startup Items**: - In Safe Mode, run the "msconfig" command to open System Configuration. - Disable all startup items, then restart your computer to check for improvements. 7. **Scan for Viruses**: - Run a full system scan with antivirus software in Safe Mode. - Remove any malware found and see if it's related to the black screen issue. 8. **Hardware Troubleshooting**: - If none of the above work, it could be due to faulty memory, hard drive, or other hardware components. - Run hardware diagnostic tests or take your computer to a professional repair shop for inspection. Try these steps one by one, as usually, one of them should fix the black screen issue. If the problem continues, seek professional technical support.

If you're dealing with a black screen issue, there's usually an easy fix. Here, we'll go over some common solutions to help you fix a black screen problem in Windows 10. Try these methods to find the right solution for you.

• Solution 1: Restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode
• Solution 2: Remove Faulty Windows Updates
• Solution 3: Update or Roll Back Drivers
• Solution 4: Reinstall Graphics Card Driver
• Solution 5: Check External Devices
• Solution 6: Fix Software Compatibility Issues
• Solution 7: Address Overheating
• Solution 8: Remove Viruses or Malware

Solution 1: Restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode In certain situations, restarting your computer in Safe Mode can be helpful to troubleshoot issues. Here's how to do it: 1. Press the power button and release it immediately to shut down your computer quickly. 2. Press the power button again to turn on your PC. While the Windows logo is appearing, press the F8 key repeatedly. This should open the "Advanced Boot Options" menu. 3. Use the arrow keys to select "Safe Mode," then press the Enter key. 4. Your computer will start in Safe Mode. Check if the issue still persists. Note: If your Windows 10 PC skips the F8 menu during startup, you can try the following method: - Hold down the Shift key while clicking the power icon, then choose "Restart." - On the "Choose an option" screen, select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart." - Your computer will restart and display the "Startup Settings" screen, where you can press F4 or F5 to enter Safe Mode.

Black screen crashes on Windows 10 are often caused by hardware or driver issues. One viable solution to fix the black screen crash is to repair it in Safe Mode, as Safe Mode only loads essential system files and drivers. Try to enter Safe Mode on your Windows 10 following the steps outlined in this article.

Step 1. Restart your Windows computer three times to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment.

Step 2: Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 3. Press F4, F5, or F6 as instructed on the screen to enter Safe Mode for different situations.

If the black screen or infinite restart issue doesn't occur in Safe Mode, it might be caused by a third-party program or driver.

Fix 2: Remove the problematic Windows update

During a Windows update, the installation might fail and lead to a black screen. To address black screen issues in Windows 10, you can consider removing problematic updates. To uninstall Windows updates, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update > Update history.

Step 3. Under Update History, click Uninstall updates.

Solution 3: Use Partition Master Tool

To solve the black screen issue, tools Partition Master has conducted in-depth research and launched the Bootable Media feature. It can fix most of the black screen-related errors. You can download it and follow the detailed instructions below to fix the current error.

Step 1. After connecting the external drive/USB to the computer, launch Partition Master and select “Bootable Media”. Click on “Create Bootable Media”.

Create tools Partition Master Bootable Disk

Step 2: Select a USB drive or CD/DVD that you have available, and click "Create." You can also burn the Windows ISO to your media.

Step 3. Connect the bootable drive to the new computer and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set the WinPE boot drive as the boot disk, then exit by pressing F10.

Step 4. Restart your computer and enter the WinPE interface. Then, open Partition Master and click “Boot Repair” under “Toolbox”.

Step 5: Select the system you want to repair and click on "Repair".

Click on "Repair your computer"

Step 6. Wait for the process to finish, and you'll see a message that the startup repair was successful. Click "OK" to finish the startup repair process.

Fix 4: Update or Roll Back Drivers

As mentioned earlier, faulty device drivers can prevent the system from booting up. In this case, updating the driver to the latest version or rolling back the driver can resolve the black screen issue.

Steps to update device drivers:

Step 1: Click the “Start” button, search for “Device Manager,” and click on it.

Step 2. Right-click on "Disk Drives" to expand the category, and then select "Update Driver Software."

Step 3: Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software,” then wait for your computer to search for and install the latest driver software.

Update device drivers

The other is to roll back the driver to a previous version. This option is only available if you have updated the driver before. To do this, select “Properties,” and you will see the option there.

Solution 5: Reinstall the graphics driver

To reinstall the graphics driver, you need to first boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode. You can follow the steps in Fix 1, and then try reinstalling the graphics driver.

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys and click Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand Display adapters.

Step 3: Right-click on the display adapter and select “Update driver.” If that doesn't work, click “Uninstall device.”

Step 4. Download and install the graphics driver.

Fix 6: Check External Devices

External devices connected to your computer can sometimes cause a black screen error in Windows 10. Try disconnecting all peripherals attached to your machine, including removable drives, hubs, SD cards, printers, and any other devices. Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue: 1. Shut down your computer and unplug the power cord. 2. Disconnect all external devices, such as USB devices, HDMI cables, monitors, keyboards, and mice. 3. Wait for one minute, then reconnect the power and turn on your computer. 4. Reconnect each device individually, checking for the black screen issue after each connection. If the black screen appears after connecting a specific device, that device might be the source of the problem. 5. If you identify the problematic device, try updating its driver or contact the manufacturer for support. 6. If no particular device seems to be causing the issue but the black screen persists, it might be a hardware issue (like faulty RAM or a graphics card) or require a system restore or reinstallation. By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the external device issue causing the Windows 10 black screen.

Step 1. Unplug all external devices, and then restart your computer.

Step 2. If the black screen is gone, proceed to connect external devices to determine which piece of hardware is causing the issue.

Fix 7: Address software compatibility issues

Running incompatible programs with Windows 10 can also lead to black screen freeze errors. In this case, you can try launching the program in Compatibility Mode using the Compatibility Troubleshooter. Follow these steps: 1. Right-click on the program's icon that you want to run and select "Properties." 2. In the Properties window that appears, navigate to the "Compatibility" tab. 3. Under Compatibility mode, check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for." 4. From the drop-down menu, choose an older operating system version that is compatible with your Windows 10. 5. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the settings. 6. Attempt to run the program again to see if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, you might need to search for updated drivers or contact the software developer for support.

Step 1: Right-click on the icon of the program you want to launch.

Step 2: Click on "Properties" > "Compatibility".

Step 3: Click on “Run Compatibility Troubleshooter.”

Fix 8: Solve Overheating Issues

All computers generate heat when they run, and this must be removed to keep the system functioning correctly. High temperatures can cause components to lock up and become damaged. If an overheating issue is causing your black screen error in Windows 10, shut down your computer, let it cool for a while, and then turn it back on.

Dust can also be a culprit, so if you're handy with a screwdriver, you can try opening up your laptop or desktop and cleaning out the dust.

Also, keep laptops and desktops on high, solid surfaces to allow air to circulate and keep the system cool.

Fix 9: Remove virus or malware

Occasionally, a computer virus or malware infection can cause your Windows PC to display a black screen. In such a case, download and install a reputable antivirus program. Perform a full disk scan to meticulously check for threats within your computer files and eliminate the virus. After removing the malware, applying all available updates and patches should resolve the black screen issue.

Additional Tip: How to Back Up Your Data for Windows 10 Computer Safely

When attempting to fix the Windows 10 black screen of death, you might end up losing your data in the process. So, how do you recover data from a Windows 10 black screen of death?

This is where you might realize that prevention is always better than cure. Hence, backing up your Windows computer with a third-party backup software is always considered a good practice. But which among the available backup tools should you choose? Well, Todo Backup might just be what you need.

Todo Backup Home is an all-in-one backup and recovery tool for Windows 11/10/8/7. It allows you to automatically back up files, systems, disks, and more to prevent data loss. Additionally, it lets you create a recovery partition and perform automatic, scheduled, full, differential, and incremental backups. It also enables you to install Windows on a new SSD without a USB. This backup utility offers you numerous features:

• Create a system image on USB in Windows 10/8/7.
• Clone a hard drive.
• Make a WinPE bootable media.
• Save backups to multiple locations, such as local drives, NAS, Safe Place, and cloud.
• Offer 250GB of free cloud storage space.
• Migrate Windows system to SSD.

Bottom line

That's all about how to fix black screen on Windows 10. As black screen is a common issue on Windows, you can use any of the tricks above to help you out. Therefore, keep these simple solutions in mind and back up your computer with tools Todo Backup to avoid the risk of data loss. tools Todo Backup is an excellent and reliable backup and recovery tool. Try it now!

Frequently Asked Questions

< strong > 1. Is the blackout permanent?

A black screen of death is usually caused by a software glitch or a Windows update, but it's usually fixable. A black screen that appears out of nowhere is likely the result of a serious hardware problem. This will require you to replace or repair a hardware component.

< strong > 2. What causes a black screen of death?

A black screen can be caused by various issues, typically stemming from problems with graphics drivers or incompatibility with new feature updates. It can also occur when an update to your computer introduces glitches or errors.