This wikiHow teaches you how to fix the black screen that appears when your computer loads Windows 7. This problem is also known as the Black Screen of Death (KSOD).
Step
Method 1 of 3: Running Windows Explorer
Step 1. Run Windows until a black screen appears
You may be able to force the computer to load the Windows Explorer program. After that, you can use it to scan and remove any malware hiding on your computer.
Step 2. Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc key
Pressing this key combination will open the Task Manager.
If you can't open Task Manager, try to run Startup Repair by following the steps listed in Method 3
Step 3. Click the File menu
Step 4. Click the New Task option
Step 5. Type explorer.exe and press Enter key
After that, the Windows interface should appear on the screen after a while.
If you've been waiting for a few minutes and the Windows interface doesn't appear, try turning off the graphics card driver (also known as GPU/VGA)
Step 6. Open a browser
If Windows loads successfully, you should then scan your computer for malware that is causing the black screen. The quickest way to do this is to use a free program called Malwarebytes.
Step 7. Visit the malwarebytes.org website
Step 8. Click the Free Download button to download Malwarebytes
The free version of Malwarebytes has all the features needed to implement this method.
Step 9. Run the Malwarebytes installer file
Step 10. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to install Malwarebytes
You can choose the default settings when installing it.
Step 11. Run Malwarebytes after installing it
Usually Malwarebytes will run automatically once installed. Otherwise, you can launch it by double-clicking the program's shortcut on the desktop or in the Start menu.
Step 12. Click the Check for Updates button to update Malwarebtyes
The update process will take a few minutes.
Step 13. Click the Scan Now button to scan the computer
Step 14. Wait for the scanning process to complete
This process may take about half an hour.
Step 15. Click the Quarantine button if Malwarebtyes finds malware
This will delete any suspicious files found by Malwarebtyes. After that, the black screen problem should not reappear.
When Malwarebytes finishes finding and removing malware, restart the computer and scan the computer again
Method 2 of 3: Disabling Graphics Card Driver
Step 1. Restart the computer
The graphics card driver might cause a black screen to appear when Windows loads. Removing this driver will allow Windows to load normally. After that, you can install the latest drivers that don't cause this problem to appear.
Step 2. Press the F8 key continuously while the computer restarts
If successful, the Advanced Boot Options menu will appear on the screen. If it fails and the computer loads Windows, you must restart the computer and try again.
Step 3. Select the Safe Mode option and press Enter key
This will load Windows in Safe Mode allowing you to use Windows as normal and without the black screen.
If Safe Mode fails, try to run Startup Repair by following the steps listed in Method 3
Step 4. Press Win+R keys after Windows loads in Safe Mode
Step 5. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter key
Step 6. Open the hidden options in the Display adapters category by clicking the "+" button on the left of it
Step 7. Right-click the first option in the Display Adapters category
This category may display one or more display adapters.
Step 8. Click the Uninstall option
Step 9. Check the Delete driver software box and click the OK button
Step 10. Repeat the previous steps for other options in the Display adapters category
Step 11. Restart the computer and run Windows as usual
If the graphics card driver is causing this problem, Windows should load normally. However, given that the graphics card driver has been disabled, the screen resolution used may be lower than usual.
Step 12. Install the latest graphics card drivers if Windows loads successfully
If Windows can load after removing the graphics card driver, you will need to install the latest drivers for the graphics card to run normally. Follow these steps to do this:
- Open a browser.
- Go to the page where you can download the graphics card driver. The graphics card installed in the computer may be Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA branded. If you're not sure what brand of graphics card you have, use driver detection software.
- Use the driver detection feature available on the Intel, AMD, or Nvidia website to scan your computer and download the drivers.
Method 3 of 3: Running Startup Repair
Step 1. Restart the computer
The Startup Repair feature is used to reinstall important system files used by Windows to perform the boot process. Using this feature might be able to solve the black screen problem you are experiencing.
Step 2. Press the F8 key continuously when the computer restarts
If successful, the Advanced Boot Options menu will open. If it fails and the computer loads Windows, you must restart the computer and try again.
If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not open, you can load Windows via the Windows 7 installation DVD or load Windows via a USB flash disk (USB Drive) and select the "Repair computer" option from the Windows installation menu
Step 3. Select the Repair Your Computer option and press Enter key
Step 4. Select the type of keyboard (keyboard)
The keyboard you are using should be selected by default.
Step 5. Select the user account you want to use to log into Windows
Selecting an administrator account will allow you to access the Command Prompt as well as other Windows repair options.
Step 6. Click the Startup Repair option
Step 7. Wait for Startup Repair to finish scanning the computer
Step 8. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to fix the detected problem
Depending on the problem that Startup Repair detects, you may be presented with several different options. In most cases, Startup Repair will fix the problem automatically, and the computer will restart once or more.
If Startup Repair prompts you to run the System Restore process, click the Restore button and select the desired restore point
Step 9. Try to restart Windows
After Startup Repair finishes fixing the problems it finds, try restarting and reloading Windows.
