In grave need of help fighting off a black screen at startup. Sorry for the long write up, but Im trying to be as clear as possible and what I have done/experienced thus far.
Original Windows 8.1 on a Toshiba P50-B, 64 bit. Build 1607
Radeon R9 M265X graphics card. Intel 4600 apparently as well. i7-4710HQ processor
Only one user, local sign in, admin.
Upgraded to 10 on that promotional upgrade a year ago, kept my files. No issues during the year.
Went to bed with the computer on table, woke up to it with a black screen, just thought it was sleeping but no mouse movement nor keystroke woke it up, fan and lights were on and running. Then noticed it was the kind of screen that is pitch black, as if the laptop monitor was off, without the hint of edge lighted that often looks when the screen is on but blacked to save energy, etc. No cursor is visible either. So I force shut it down and restarted. Toshiba logo welcome screen, busy dots at the bottom, then seems to get back to normal, but no, black screen again. Couldnt get to the log on screen as I couldnt see anything. Shut it off again. This time, the Toshiba Welcome screen noted at the bottom that its was diagnosing a repair. Then I get a Blue screen with bunch of things to do like reset, refresh, startup options, etc
Went to safe mode to try some things:
1) Safe mode does work. No issues. Networking fine as well. Chrome and Firefox run ok. No Audio (I think thats normal)
2) I remember that perhaps my latest windows update did something weird to it, so I tried to revert with System Restore. Did not work, it got stopped in the middle of it. Tried normal boot, and still black screen. Havent tried since.
3) Tried going back in Build, and cannot either.
4) Tried uninstalling my latest programs, change power settings (as I remember some power settings would not actually be follows such as 20 min inactivity goes to sleep, sometimes it would go to sleep in minute 2). Same Black Screen.
5) Ran MalwareBytes no problem. nothing was found.
6) Ran rkill exe from bleeping computer in case it was some kind of ransomware? but nothing changed to scan and remove after it ran.
7) Havent noticed anything extra normal running or installed.
8) I do use an additional monitor en Extended mode but cant try it because this happened to me while I am on travel for a few weeks :/
9) Dont think its hard drive related.
10) Left it on for more than 12 hours straight to see if it juggled issues by itself, a petty hail mary :?
Then I noticed more weird things but may be associated with normal operations of Safe Mode?:
A) Cant use windows update? (Security tab of the settings crashes as soon as its clicked to open - this also apparently includes the rest of of the "security tab", so perhaps windows defender at other security measures arent running right now.
B) tried to start service with a command "net start wuauser", couldnt go through
C) Tried to stop startup services and programs from running (Some command stuff and Task Manager settings I cant remember now). Normal boot still black
D) Cant install programs or drivers in safe mode? AMD drivers would try to install but couldnt finish half way through. The Crimson Live install said that it isnt certified with windows, somehow? AMD Error said it had something to do with Signature Enforcement, is this disabled in safe mode? If I start without it on the startup boot menu, its still a normal mode and get a blackscreen.
Device Manager says all items are up to date.
E) First type party apps dont work or cant be opened (Photos, store apps, Word/Excel, etc)
F) DxDiag shows Display tab as "Microsoft Display Driver" Standard Display Types. But I swear this used to be the Radeon R9. so not sure if Safe mode messes dxdiag a bit. Sound tab has nothing filled in, as expected I think as no audio works on safe mode I believe.
G) AND says to activate Windows, but its a legitimate one, upgraded from 8.1 to 10. It should already be written in the OS internally, no?. I fear this may be a glitch from the security tab not working. or is this common when in safe mode?
What could it be? Hopefully is not hardware. Device manager doesn't show any alerts on my graphics card and supposedly thinks they are up to date (I think not, and haven't updated them either, but don't think they have much changed in a year), but the monitor does have an alert and called Generic PNP Monitor. So I'm thinking something got messed up because it cannot find the external monitor? but this usually doesn't happen when Im on travel before or without an additional monitor. The alert says "Status is not available for this device when Windows is running in Safe Mode." So I guess that's a red herring then? Hoping it is something simple I oversighted and software wise so I can keep using the pc. It works amazingly well on safe mode, doesnt look ugly, but it is indeed a step down in resolution, but normal looking.
Next up to try but dont have much experience:
- Try a farther date of System Restore (I fear its gonna stop midway again, same fate)
- Download Windows Update Assistant and try to update my build from 1607 to the recently new one? Afraid that something will happen again during it and bricking the pc.
- Flash the Build that resets the settings on the build without affecting files? Also afraid it will not complete and make things worse
- Clean install/Reset PC? Also afraid something will happen midway through or not complete.
Any other ideas are welcome!
Appreciate any information and help!
Original Windows 8.1 on a Toshiba P50-B, 64 bit. Build 1607
Radeon R9 M265X graphics card. Intel 4600 apparently as well. i7-4710HQ processor
Only one user, local sign in, admin.
Upgraded to 10 on that promotional upgrade a year ago, kept my files. No issues during the year.
Went to bed with the computer on table, woke up to it with a black screen, just thought it was sleeping but no mouse movement nor keystroke woke it up, fan and lights were on and running. Then noticed it was the kind of screen that is pitch black, as if the laptop monitor was off, without the hint of edge lighted that often looks when the screen is on but blacked to save energy, etc. No cursor is visible either. So I force shut it down and restarted. Toshiba logo welcome screen, busy dots at the bottom, then seems to get back to normal, but no, black screen again. Couldnt get to the log on screen as I couldnt see anything. Shut it off again. This time, the Toshiba Welcome screen noted at the bottom that its was diagnosing a repair. Then I get a Blue screen with bunch of things to do like reset, refresh, startup options, etc
Went to safe mode to try some things:
1) Safe mode does work. No issues. Networking fine as well. Chrome and Firefox run ok. No Audio (I think thats normal)
2) I remember that perhaps my latest windows update did something weird to it, so I tried to revert with System Restore. Did not work, it got stopped in the middle of it. Tried normal boot, and still black screen. Havent tried since.
3) Tried going back in Build, and cannot either.
4) Tried uninstalling my latest programs, change power settings (as I remember some power settings would not actually be follows such as 20 min inactivity goes to sleep, sometimes it would go to sleep in minute 2). Same Black Screen.
5) Ran MalwareBytes no problem. nothing was found.
6) Ran rkill exe from bleeping computer in case it was some kind of ransomware? but nothing changed to scan and remove after it ran.
7) Havent noticed anything extra normal running or installed.
8) I do use an additional monitor en Extended mode but cant try it because this happened to me while I am on travel for a few weeks :/
9) Dont think its hard drive related.
10) Left it on for more than 12 hours straight to see if it juggled issues by itself, a petty hail mary :?
Then I noticed more weird things but may be associated with normal operations of Safe Mode?:
A) Cant use windows update? (Security tab of the settings crashes as soon as its clicked to open - this also apparently includes the rest of of the "security tab", so perhaps windows defender at other security measures arent running right now.
B) tried to start service with a command "net start wuauser", couldnt go through
C) Tried to stop startup services and programs from running (Some command stuff and Task Manager settings I cant remember now). Normal boot still black
D) Cant install programs or drivers in safe mode? AMD drivers would try to install but couldnt finish half way through. The Crimson Live install said that it isnt certified with windows, somehow? AMD Error said it had something to do with Signature Enforcement, is this disabled in safe mode? If I start without it on the startup boot menu, its still a normal mode and get a blackscreen.
Device Manager says all items are up to date.
E) First type party apps dont work or cant be opened (Photos, store apps, Word/Excel, etc)
F) DxDiag shows Display tab as "Microsoft Display Driver" Standard Display Types. But I swear this used to be the Radeon R9. so not sure if Safe mode messes dxdiag a bit. Sound tab has nothing filled in, as expected I think as no audio works on safe mode I believe.
G) AND says to activate Windows, but its a legitimate one, upgraded from 8.1 to 10. It should already be written in the OS internally, no?. I fear this may be a glitch from the security tab not working. or is this common when in safe mode?
What could it be? Hopefully is not hardware. Device manager doesn't show any alerts on my graphics card and supposedly thinks they are up to date (I think not, and haven't updated them either, but don't think they have much changed in a year), but the monitor does have an alert and called Generic PNP Monitor. So I'm thinking something got messed up because it cannot find the external monitor? but this usually doesn't happen when Im on travel before or without an additional monitor. The alert says "Status is not available for this device when Windows is running in Safe Mode." So I guess that's a red herring then? Hoping it is something simple I oversighted and software wise so I can keep using the pc. It works amazingly well on safe mode, doesnt look ugly, but it is indeed a step down in resolution, but normal looking.
Next up to try but dont have much experience:
- Try a farther date of System Restore (I fear its gonna stop midway again, same fate)
- Download Windows Update Assistant and try to update my build from 1607 to the recently new one? Afraid that something will happen again during it and bricking the pc.
- Flash the Build that resets the settings on the build without affecting files? Also afraid it will not complete and make things worse
- Clean install/Reset PC? Also afraid something will happen midway through or not complete.
Any other ideas are welcome!
Appreciate any information and help!
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