


my win pc shows a black screen with only a cursor before login
Jul 31, 2025 am 08:07 AMFirst try to start explorer.exe through the Task Manager; if it is invalid, run sfc /scannow and DISM to repair the system files; 1. Restart and enter safe mode; 2. Uninstall the graphics card driver in safe mode; 3. Disable all startup items and perform full-disk antivirus; 4. Check and repair Windows updates; 5. If the user configuration file is corrupted, create a new administrator account to migrate data; finally consider using the media creation tool for repair and installation. This problem is usually a software or driver failure, and in most cases it can avoid data loss.
If your Windows PC shows only a black screen with a cursor before login, it usually means the system has booted far enough to start the login process, but something is preventing the login interface or desktop from loading properly. This can be frustrating, but it's often fixed. Here are the most common causes and solutions:

1. Explorer or Shell Process Isn't Loading
Sometimes Windows starts, but the shell (explorer.exe) fails to launch, leaving you with just a cursor.
Try this:

- Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click File > Run new task .
- Type
explorer.exe
and press Enter. - If the desktop appears, the issue is temporary or related to explorer not starting.
If this works, it may come back after reboot. To fix permanently, check for corrupt system files or misconfigured settings (see below).
2. Corrupted User Profile or Login Interface
The sign-in screen (Winlogon/UI) might be failing due to a corrupted profile or system file.

Fix with System File Checker:
- Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click File > Run new task .
- Type
cmd
, check "Create this task with administrative privileges" , and press Enter. - In the Command Prompt, run:
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the scan to finish. If it finds and fixes issues, restart.
If
sfc
doesn't help, try:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthThen run
sfc /scannow
again.
3. Graphics Driver Issues
A faulty or updated graphics driver can cause a black screen after boot.
Try booting into Safe Mode:
- Restart your PC and interrupt boot 3 times to trigger Automatic Repair .
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart .
- After restart, press F4 or 5 to boot into Safe Mode (with or without networking).
If the desktop loads in Safe Mode:
- Uninstall the graphics driver:
- Press Win X > Device Manager .
- Expand Display adapters , right-click the GPU, and choose Uninstall device .
- Check “Delete the driver software” if available.
- Restart normally — Windows will use a basic display driver.
4. Third-Party Software or Startup Conflict
Sometimes malware, antivirus, or startup apps interfere with the login process.
What to do:
- Boot into Safe Mode (as above).
- Open Task Manager > Startup tab and disable all startup items.
- Or use msconfig :
- Run
msconfig
from Task Manager. - Go to Startup tab > Open Task Manager , and disable everything.
- Reboot and see if login screen appears.
- Run
Also, scan for malware using:
mpcmdrun.exe -scan -scantype 2
(run in admin Command Prompt — this triggers a full Microsoft Defender scan).
5. Check for Pending Updates or Failed Updates
A failed Windows Update can cause this issue.
- Boot into Safe Mode.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update .
- Check if there are pending or failed updates.
- If so, try to install them or use the Windows Update Troubleshooter .
Alternatively, use the media creation tool to perform a repair install (in-place upgrade) — this reinstalls Windows without deleting your files.
6. Temporary Profile or Profile Corruption
If Windows can't load your user profile, it may fall back to a temporary one or fail silently.
Signs:
- You see a temporary profile message on rare occasions.
- Settings and files don't load.
Fix:
- Boot into Safe Mode and log in as a different admin account (create one if needed via Command Prompt):
net user tempadmin P@ssw0rd /add net localgroup administrators tempadmin /add
- Then check your original profile under
C:\Users\YourName
— if it's corrupted, you may need to migrate data. - ? Launch explorer.exe via Task Manager .
- ? Run
sfc /scannow
and DISM . - ? Boot into Safe Mode to diagnose.
- ? Update or roll back graphics drivers .
- ? Disable startup apps and scan for malware .
- ? Repair install Windows (last resort) .
Summary – Quick Steps to Try:
It's usually not hardware failure if the cursor appears. Focus on software, drivers, and system integrity. Most cases are resolvable without data loss.
Basically, start with Safe Mode and work from there.
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