Windows 10: Black screen with flashing underscore Windows 10

I started having this problem a few days ago, during a windows update my PC restarted and when I tried to turn it back on I was met with a black screen with a blinking underscore on the top left of the screen. I tried to reboot in safe mode multiple times but I got the same results. I have 1 hard drive1TB and I have tried unplugging and plugging it back in again to no avail. So I made a windows 10 bootable USB to try and run system repairs, upon getting to the startup screen I attempted the following Troubleshooting options:

• Start-up Repair runs for about 5 seconds before saying "couldn't repair your PC"
• System restore can't be done as I have to boot up Windows 10 with the USB.
• I don't have a system image file to use for recovery
• I can't uninstall any updates

So the only option I was left with was the command prompt. Here I ran Chkdsk /f on my HDD which ran fine and no problems were found. I then ran Chkdsk /r which also showed that there wasn't any problems and no further action was needed. I then tried the following commands as recommended on other posts:

• Bootrec /fixmbr - Operation completed successfully
• Bootrec /fixboot - Operation completed successfully
• Bootrec /scanos - Identified 1 windows installation and completed successfully
• Bootrec /rebuildbcd - identifies window installation but upon entering 'y' it says the requested device cannot be found.

I'm assuming the OS is corrupted or not being detected but I don't know what else to do now, any help?


thanks in advance.

:)

 

Black screen with flashing underscore

Hi,

Let's resolve your concern by following the steps provided on the links given below:

• Troubleshoot black screen problems
• Backup and Restore in Windows 10
• Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10
• Recovery options in Windows 10

Update us on the result.

 

Blank screen with flashing underscore

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I appreciate the efforts taken by you in resolving the issue. I understand that you get a black screen with flashing underscore. I’ll certainly assist you with the issue.



However, please let us know the make and model number of the computer that you are using.



As you have already tried changing the Boot order, I would suggest you to refer the troubleshooting steps mentioned below and see if that helps.



Method 1: Rebuild BCD



You may want to try rebuilding the BCD file and see if that helps. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Create a bootable media and boot the PC using the
   media.
   
2. On the initial setup screen, select the language and other
   preferences and click on Next. (If you don't see the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for info on how to change your PC's boot order, and then try again.)
   
3. Now, click on Repair your computer.
   
4. On the System Recovery Options screen, select
   Troubleshoot> Advanced options > Command Prompt.
   
5. Now type in the commands and hit enter: BOOTREC /FIXMBR
   
   BOOTREC /FIXBOOT
   
   BOOTREC /scanos
   
   BOOTREC /rebuildbcd
   
6. Restart the PC.
   

Method 2: Startup Repair



If Rebuilding BCD doesn’t help, we can perform a Startup Repair on the computer and check. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Boot the PC using the bootable media.
   
2. On the initial setup screen, select the language and other
   preferences and click on Next. (If you don't see the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for info on how to change your PC's boot order, and then try again.)
   
3. Now, click on Repair your computer.
   
4. On the System Recovery Options screen, select
   Troubleshoot> Advanced options > Startup Repair.
   
5. Restart the PC.
   

Let us know how it goes.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Black screen with flashing underscore

Think I'll have to ditch my laptop, but will ask anyway...

I've a ThinkPad Edge 15, bought with Windows 7 and upgraded to 10; my daughter got to it before me just after the last update and did something which lets me see only a black screen w/blinking underscore at boot-up.

Interrupting with F1, I was able to do a hardware check - and no problem. So a software issue? The

problem with that is I have no back-up/recovery disk, likely lost during a recent move.

Is there a solution - other than buying a new machine??