Windows 10: Screen goes dark for several minutes while switching user accounts

Very odd behavior after the Anniversary Update: when I try to switch from another user to my primary user account, there is a long lag, either right before the password screen or right after the password is entered, when the screen goes dark.

This only happens when switching to the primary user account, not when switching to other user accounts.

I'm using a Dell XPS 8900 with Windows 10 Home Premium.

:)

 

Screen goes dark

My screen goes dark after 1 minute of non-use. I have it set to go dark after 20 minutes using Settings, Power. Why is it not taking? Please help

 

HELP Lumia 1520 Display Problems

My screen also goes dark after receiving or making a phone call. Frustrating when you need to type a number while on a conference call but can't see the screen. This problem needs to be addressed for professionals in the workplace and every day private
users.

 

HGilbert, did you ever find a resolution to this issue? Just yesterday, I set up a Dell XPS 8910 with Windows 10 Pro on the Anniversary Edition. When I switch from my Admin User Account to a local limited user account, the switch is quick. When I try to switch back from the local limited user account to my Admin User Account, the screen goes black for 60 seconds before the switch is completed. So, like you, the slow switching issue only occurs when switching to the primary (admin) user account.

Anyone out there have a similar issue & can offer some suggestions as to how to resolve this as it is a real PITA! *Mad

Thanks in advance for any assistance in resolving this frustrating issue.

 

I would try a clean boot state, see if that resolves the problem. If so, start turning on items 2 or 3 at a time, to try and nail it down.


Clean Boot - Perform in Windows 10 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

*Smile

 

Just some thoughts on what the process may be.

When switching from Admin to local, there is not much the system needs to do...profile-wise. Local restricted is not tied to an MS account, so no authentication of apps, OneDrive, Outlook, etc, etc, need be done, at that time. Each app would need to be signed into separately as needed.

Other way around, you're going from a kinda bare-bones environment to one tied to an MS account. All kinds of authentication going on. It can't even get the Welcome screen up until it figures out who you are and your options. If you auto-logon with the Admin user account, you could get a blank screen for a bit till it gets itself put together. Don't take me too literally, but there's a lot more under the covers work to be done with a MS account versus a local.

Just my thoughts. TC

 

Thanks for your thoughts. Just to let you know ... my Admin account is *not* tied to a Microsoft account ... it is also a local account.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, as I was already considering doing that. However, before doing so, I decided to first try restarting into Safe Mode & then restarting into Safe Mode with Networking. For what it's worth, under both environments, I was able to freely switch between users with no lag at all. Will have to wait a bit to do the Clean Boot & then will report back results.

 

No, I have not found any solution to this. Just out of curiosity: did your problem start along with a change in graphics drivers? One suggestion was made that it might be connected to this, and I indeed changed to a new monitor and driver around the time this started for me.

 

Nope, I'm just setting up a new Dell XPS 8910. Loaded a few apps and then established a local limited account for my husband, and that is when this all started. I have not been able to find much online about this issue. It is driving me nuts! As I posted above, when booting into Safe Mode & Safe Mode with Networking the issue was not present. I will be doing a Clean Boot to troubleshoot further as noted above, but cannot do it now. Maybe later this weekend or next week. I will report my results. You may want to do the same. The tutorial for Clean Boot is linked above in #3 from simrick.

 

The issue of the screen going dark for 60 seconds while switch user accounts has been resolved on my Dell XPS 8910. I uninstalled Malwarebytes AntiMalware version 3.0.6.1469 from my system. First through Control Panel Programs & Features Add/Removal Process. Then, rebooted & ran the Malwarebytes Clean tool. Rebooted & ran CCleaner registry cleaner. After all vestiges of MBAM were removed, I rebooted. Voila! Switching between users is very snappy now. *Biggrin

I had read a thread on this forum stating that the latest version of MBAM is very problematic. I decided to remove it as I was having issues trying to run a Clean Boot. This worked like a charm.

HGilbert, if you are running Malwarebytes AntiMalware version 3 on your system, you may wish to uninstall it as it may be causing this issue for you as well.

Unfortunately, the above resolution was short lived. The problem has now occurred again. I am having issues running a Clean Boot, even though I have followed the tutorial on this forum to the letter. In the meantime, I am using the following workarounds to switch users.

ALT + F4
or
Press Start button, Press User Icon, Press Lock
or
Add a Switch User Shortcut to the desktop of all users
Create Switch User shortcut in Windows 10

 

HGilbert, just wanted to get back with you after several days of troubleshooting this switch user issue. I can now definitely confirm that the issue on my Dell XPS 8910 was caused by all the Dell bloatware that came pre-installed on my system. I have uninstalled all the Dell pre-installed programs, except for Dell Registration, and my system is running perfectly now ... finally! *Biggrin

 

Cheers! *Thumbs

 

Wow! You were persistent! Good job! *Thumbs

 

Well, I also have a Dell XPS 8900 series desktop. Fancy that. I uninstalled the DELL programs (except for Registration), as you advised, and also Malwarebytes, just in case, and the problem appears to have disappeared. I'll try reinstalling Malwarebytes to see if that causes any slowdown...

Thanks a million!