Windows 10: Windows 10 Update Black Screen Failures Caused by Display Adapters?

For the below pictured 2012 ACER All-In-One, Windows 10 updates crash repeatedly with the black screen as shown. Setup automatically rolls back following a hard shut down.* Disconnecting power and waiting hours will occasionally let the setup continue, but only briefly until another black screen or a freeze at 81 percent is followed by rollback. This scenario dates back to the initial Windows 10 build through the current 10.0.16299.15 -- Fall Creators Update 1709.* Black screen and other freezes occur with the internal Windows Updater, the Media Creation Tool (MCT), or DVD-based ISO created from the MCT. Up to now I've always managed after many frustrating hours stretching to days to pull in each update.* But 1709 is proving relentlessly difficult.



In the photo above no HDD activity is indicated, only power and networking indicators. There are multiple potential causes for such a black screen during Windows Updates but Microsoft's stated leading culprit is the display adapter. The adapter can reportedly become an upgrade blocker. The recommendation is to either update the video card driver to the latest version or to uninstall the video card driver.
My question for the forum: This unit, an Aspire Z1620-UR31P, has whatever video chip integrated into either the motherboard or the CPU. Mine is Intel HD Graphics. I pressed Windows key + X > Device Manager > Display Adapters, and selected update for that adapter.* The report came back that the best driver is currently in use.* So, dare I select Disable Device or Uninstall Device, or am I seeking more trouble?* Keep in mind the freeze at 81 percent is frequent and suggests multiple issues.* In the photo below note how the circle has disappeared and all is frozen with only power light on.* (FYI I turned off WiFi in this attempt, obviously to no benefit.)



Any inputs most welcome.* Black screen troubleshooting is hell.* I will note that this Z1620 is my leisure unit.* My more capable ACER Aspire E1 (laptop) updates cleanly and smoothly for every Windows 10 update.* But I do media consulting and prefer having a Windows-based backup unit.

:)

 

New windows 10 update: Black Screen Nvidia

Windows 10 forces update result in hardware crash. The recent update causes a black screen or wonky display. Monitor enters power save mode and won't respond or failures at higher resolution. No key bar commands helps. Horizontal vertical lines, no screen.

Hard to fix or update drivers with a "black screen". Multiple reboots, until windows 10 gives option to restore to earlier version.

Restore only works until it helpfully updates again and nukes the screen.

Why is this forced crash being forced upon the user?

How can I stop the windows 10 update until it is fixed?

NVIDA

Windows 10 Update

Black Screen

Power Save

System Restore

Horizontal Lines

Crash

Stop Windows 10 Update.

 

2nd display is not recognized after windows 10 update

My laptop is not recognizing my 2nd display. It did work with Windows 10. I am assuming it is now a windows 10 update that is causing the problem. It now just goes back & forth trying to recognize 2nd display. My 2nd display light blinks blue, screen
stays black. My laptop goes black then back to normal when 2nd display times out.

 

Hi WBJ2.

The black / blank screen is likely a result of a driver being to new, you need to go back to older version.

My suggestion, hopefully there will be others.

If you have rolled backed to 1703 then I would mark my network connection as "metered" to stop the next download and install attempt.

Start > Settings > Network and Internet > Wifi ( or Ethernet ) > Click on your Network. Should see a manage button, click and mark as Metered.

If you've had repeated update problems have you considered a clean install? First I would make a complete Image with a tool like Macrium Reflect so you can at least restore to a working copy should everything go really crappy. Test the boot media. Clean install will delete data so it needs to be backed up.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

I would then go into device manager and note what driver version you are currently using for Intel HD. Then locate that driver either on the Acer or Intel site. You are going to need to install it.

Then with 1709 on a key or DVD perform the clean install, disconnected from the Internet. Do not allow it to get updates.

Two ways this is going to end, blank screen or working copy. If you get working Windows use this tutorial, option four, to block Window driver updates.

Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

If you wind up with blank / black screen, and assuming install completed you will need to get to Safe Mode. Power off. Power on and when you see the spinning dots hold the power key until it shuts off. Power on, see the spinning dots, hold the power key until it powers off.

Power on and Windows should take you to the advance startup options.

Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10

Once in safe mode perform the tutorial to disable driver updates, above.

Then install the the driver you got from either Intel or Acer. Check device manager to see if driver installed, may have to show hidden devices.

Boot normally. Hopefull you will see log in screen. Log in and connect to Internet for software updates (may have to shut off Metered Connection)


Ken

 

Much thanks, Ken. Sounds like you strongly suspect the video card. As I proceed with your suggestions I must answer your question, "If you've had repeated update problems have you considered a clean install? "

Yes. To put it mildly. The only way I've ever been able to get Windows 10 on this unit -- beginning with 1507 aka Threshold 1 -- was via clean install: First through the MCT running straight off the desktop, and later with an MCT-created bootable flash or ISO. The ISO was used for 1703 in combination with a Clean Boot and ended with a "bricked" PC. Weeks of TenForums input combined with unexplained good luck brought the unit back with 1703 running smoothly. So your referring me to Macrium Reflect is significant.

During the time with version 1607 two or three blue screens involving a USB flash drive prompted me to run Windows Memory Diagnostic tool and the tool consistently indicated a problem. I had long planned anyway to upgrade the feeble 2GB RAM to the maximum allowable 8GB, but before I got around to that came the 1703 "bricking." Curiously under 1703 the memory diagnostic finds no problem. During the bricked period I burned MemTest86+ 5.01 to a DVD but it failed to run. It was as I removed MemTest86+ and prepared to reinsert Windows recovery media that I was stunned but thankful as the screen flashed blue with a familiar MS voice saying Windows installation was being finalized -- for 1703! Go figure: following weeks of being unable to boot from anything but a recovery DVD, the PC finalized the upgrade from the HDD in conjunction with an unusable MemTest86+ DVD.

BTW, a clean install can be performed directly from the MCT residing on the desktop. I take it you do not suggest that. Also, Advanced Startup options can be accessed through various recovery steps or media -- so I further take it that it is vital to do it while in Safe Mode. (Seems like all that on-off, on-off pressing MS built in to the process would be a bit hard on the registry.) Thanks again!!

 

"I pressed Windows key + X > Device Manager > Display Adapters, and selected update for that adapter.* The report came back that the best driver is currently in use.* So, dare I select Disable Device or Uninstall Device, or am I seeking more trouble?*"

If you 'Uninstall device', then reboot, Windows will find the best driver which may or may not be the same. Take a note of the current driver version no. and compare. I recently did this procedure for an Audio driver and it rolled back a couple versions to a working state ever since. Seems that sometimes newer is not better. PS; I would upgrade 2gb RAM to at least 4, if not more. This is the bare minimum to run Windows 10 and may be a source of some of your issues. Good Luck

 

Well, MrGeek, it unfortunately brought back the very same driver version. RATS! I did not select "delete driver software," which I believe was correct.

 

Lots to digest there.

Likely have to change Secure boot to off to boot memtest86+ and fast boot off. (Both in BIOS)

The on and off is a way to get advance mode started. Lots don't have media or recovery key and can't hold down shift key and click restart. Shouldn't cause any issues to registry.

If your memory is suspect I would strongly recommend you follow through on a long duration test with Memtest. This could be the root of your issues.

Here is our clean install tutorial.

Clean Install Windows 10

The reason for being in Safe Mode is Windows load base drivers. In normal mode you have the bad driver and the black screen.

 

Okay, guys. Time to try again to make MemTest86+ work. In keeping with Ken's advice on boot settings I see member NulMus saying he had to "disable Fast Boot and Secure Boot and then enable CSM." I guess the way an unusable MemTest image forced 1703 to completion will be forever a mystery.

Since I want a RAM increase anyway I could just go straight to new, larger DDR3 modules. But after two complicated threads here it would be more than nice to know if RAM's an issue.

In closing, anyone know if Microsoft pulls anything after a certain timespan in which a metered connection isn't being manually checked for updates?