I open Windows 11 and log in to a blank (black) screen.

Question

This problem may have started after rebooting from a Windows 11 update. It also may have started after I looked at a Facebook notification that I couldn't exit and that warned me not to shut down my computer, which, of course, I did.

So, after I shut it down and restarted, I used my finger to login but the screen came up black, not with my desktop. This is a Lenovo Yoga 6, if it matters. I could see and move the cursor but clicking anywhere on the screen did nothing. Ctrl-Alt-Del brought up Task Mgr and I'm able to run Chrome from there. I tried restarting Explorer.exe but it did nothing. I've restarted the computer several times and the same thing happens. I don't know if I can run other programs from Task Mgr or not.

Is there a way I can update again, in the dark? Any ideas on how to fix this? Is it a virus?

Answer 1

I fixed it. I ended up rebooting into safe mode by holding the shift key. Then I chose to let the computer find the last good boot and put the computer back to before that update, which was one day earlier for me. It worked. I'm not 100% sure it was the actual update that caused the problem, but now that I think about it, I've had problems with almost all of my updates and this was the worst. Luckily a fixer update comes out within the next day or two.

Answer 2

Hi Gray, Thanks for your post. Can you please open any actions as follows.

1. Scan your PC with Windows Security or 3rd party antimalware software Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection.
2. Start your PC in safe mode in Windows; it can help identify if any third-party software is causing the issue. To boot Windows in safe mode, press and hold the Shift key, restart Computer, then Troubleshoot > Advanced option > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Check for Windows updates. Settings > Windows update > Check for Windows update.
4. Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e
5. Run Startup Repair. a. Boot Into Windows Recovery Environment. b. Next, under Choose an option, click on Troubleshoot. c. Next, click on Advanced options. d. Click on Startup Repair. Now it will start to diagnose your PC to find issues with the start-up. e. Next, select a user account and enter the password. f. Click Continue to begin Startup repair. This process may take some time, so wait till it is complete.

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

---

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Answer 3

I have inadvertently found the fix for this issue. Download "Explorer Patcher" from github and install it. If you don't have another computer to download it, you can use ctrl+alt+delete, run task manager then use the "Run New Task" option with this path __C:__Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe to open edge.

Navigate to:

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/tag/22621.4317.67.1_b93337a 

and go to bottom of page to download ep_setup.exe

Open folder to view downloads and run this file. Your computer may freeze but give it some time. Then reboot. After reboot Windows Explorer will now be working. Then remove the "Explorer Patcher" from "Programs and Features" in the control panel to clean up. Finalize updating your system.

You can also download this to a usb drive and browse to it through the "Run New Task" option in Task Manager.