Windows 10 Black Screen Issues can be a real pain. Even a Blue Screen of Death is more informative than your monitor turning black and giving you nothing. Typically, these black screens happen just after a Windows update or as you log in. It seems no amount of key pressing or mouse clicking can fix it. Fortunately, the experts at Dave’s Computers can.
There are a couple things you can do to fix Windows 10 black screen issues depending on when it occurs. If you’re experiencing this problem, here is what you can do.
Fix Windows 10 black screen issues
There are four ways that we know of to address these black screen problems. Let’s begin with the simplest.
- Press Ctrl on your keyboard. While you won’t see anything happen, bear with us.
- Type in your Windows 10 login password and then Enter. Windows may log you into the desktop as normal. If it doesn’t, try step 3.
- Hit Enter, retype your password and hit Enter once more. This will retest this quick fix and make sure the password is entered in the right place.
Sometimes, login gets stuck loading your profile and will present a black screen. By hitting Ctrl, you select the password box in the login screen. Entering your password should log you in as usual and allow Windows to load your profile and your desktop as normal.
If that doesn’t work and you have just installed or upgraded Windows 10, check your monitor cable. Windows can often default to a different configuration than you would like and may switch between an onboard graphics chip and a graphics card. If your motherboard has onboard graphics, plug your monitor into the DVI/VGA port on the motherboard and retest.
Otherwise:
- Start your computer with your Windows 10 installation media inserted and boot from it.
- Select Troubleshoot instead of Install in the bottom left of the new screen.
- Select Advanced Options, Startup Repair and let Windows do its thing. If there are file issues, this should repair it.
If it doesn’t:
Boot your computer with your Windows 10 installation media inserted and boot from it.
- Select Troubleshoot instead of Install in the bottom left of the new screen.
- Select Advanced Options and Safe Mode. Press F5 and let Windows reload.
- Install the latest graphics driver for your computer and reboot and retest.
In most cases, one of these will fix Windows 10 black screen issues. If you still can’t fix it or have any other computer problem you need help with, contact Dave’s Computers today at 908-428-9558. We’re here to help!
Even though the Windows 10 Firewall is better than ever, it is still difficult to recommend it as your only internet defense. That’s why we always recommend using a third party firewall. There are a number of options, both free and premium and it’s a good idea to use one of these instead. If you’re way ahead of us and already use a third-party firewall, you might notice that every once in a while Windows firewall turns itself back on.
It always seems to happen after a significant Windows update but can also happen quite randomly. So even after you have turned off Windows Firewall in the Control Panel, it somehow manages to activate itself. If you’re having trouble keeping Windows Firewall turned off, here’s how to do switch if off permanently.
- Type ‘services.msc’ into the Search Windows box.
- Find Windows Firewall and right click it.
- Stop the service and select ‘Disabled’ in the drop down menu.
- Click Apply and then OK to quit out of the window.
There should be no need to reboot or log out and back in again to implement your settings.
Firewall use
There is nothing wrong with using multiple firewalls but if you use a competent third-party one, there is no need. Windows Firewall will only take up unnecessary resources and potentially slow down your network connection.
As an added note, you may find Windows Store may not allow you to download or update apps when Windows Firewall is disabled. If that is the case on your computer, simple enable the service perform your download and/or update and disable it again.
Disappearing notification icons are actually a common occurrence in Windows 10, with the internet and Wi-Fi icons being primary among them. For some reason, what should be a very simple element of Windows 10 is more problematic than it should be. If your internet or Wi-Fi icon has disappeared from the notification tray, here’s how to fix it.
Return the internet icon to the notification tray in Windows 10
Getting the icons back into the notification tray should be as simple as re-enabling them. However, first we should check that your network and/or Wi-Fi are actually working.
- Navigate to Control Panel, Network and Internet and View status and tasks.
- Click ‘Change adapter settings’ on the left to bring up a new window with all your network hardware.
- Check your Ethernet and Wi-Fi cards are enabled.
If they are enabled and seem to be working correctly, check the notification area itself.
- Navigate to Settings, System, Notifications & actions.
- Make sure ‘Show app notifications’ is turned on.
- Click the ‘Turn system icons on or off’ text link.
- Select Network and switch it off then back on again.
- Select Wi-Fi (if enabled) and switch it off then back on again.
In the vast majority of cases forcing Windows to turn network notifications on and off again is enough to bring the icons back to the notification area. The icons should now behave normally, for a while at least!
If you’re seeing an error that says ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)’ it means something has gone wrong with the program or with Windows files that the program needs to access. While it sounds serious, it is actually quite straightforward to address.
With some basic Windows troubleshooting techniques, we can fix the error and get your program working properly again.
Fixing ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)’ errors
When fixing file errors in Windows 10, we take a systematic approach. It is often a process of elimination beginning with the simplest fix and moving onto the more involved ones. Perform each step, retest the program that was giving the error and stop once it works properly again. Otherwise continue onto the next step.
- Reboot your computer.
- Run the program as an administrator. Right click the program executable (ends in .exe or labeled as Application in Windows Explorer) and select ‘Run as administrator’.
- Run the program in compatibility mode. Right click the program executable and select ‘Troubleshoot compatibility’. Choose the previous version of Windows and retest.
- Ensure you have the latest Windows updates, graphics and sound drivers. Update as necessary and reboot your computer.
- Reinstall Microsoft C Runtime packages. You can download these files directly from Microsoft. Install them, reboot and try again.
- Re-install the program giving the error.
- If it’s a game giving the 0xc000007b error, you may be missing essential DLL files and .NET framework files. Re-install or download the files as necessary.
- Open a CMD window as an administrator and type or paste ‘chkdsk c: /f /r’. This will check your file system for issues. It won’t pick up everything but is a good troubleshooting tool.
- Reinstall DirectX. DirectX is packaged with graphics drivers Microsoft also makes it available as a separate download.
- Uninstall your graphics drivers and reinstall them. Make sure to use the uninstall facility within the driver software, reboot, then perform the reinstall.
‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)’ errors can be caused by a variety of missing files, which is why we have to perform this process of elimination. In the vast majority of cases, one of these steps will fix the issue.
If you know of any other ways to fix it, let us know below!
Safe Mode is an important Windows 10 troubleshooting tool that any power user should become familiar with. It allows you to access usually locked Windows files and drivers as well as circumventing Windows file protection. This allows a lot of freedom when fixing Windows faults. If you would like to know how to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode, read on.
Boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode
There are two main methods of booting into Safe Mode within Windows 10. Both get you to the same place, just in different ways.
MSConfig
- Type ‘msconfig’ into the Search Windows/Cortana box.
- Select the Boot tab and check the box next to ‘Safe boot’ in Boot options.
- Click Apply. Windows will tell you it needs to reboot for the settings to take effect. Hit Restart when you’re ready.
- Once the computer boots, select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options and then Startup Settings in the next windows.
- Select Restart when prompted.
Start Menu
- Left click on the Start Menu.
- Hold down the shift key and left click on Power.
- Keep holding shift and click Restart.
- Once the computer boots, select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options and then Startup Settings in the next windows.
- Select Restart when prompted.
Both methods will boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode. Once you’re there you will be presented with three main options in Startup Settings. Choose F4 for Safe Mode, F5 for Safe Mode with Networking or F6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Know any other ways to get Windows 10 into Safe Mode? Let us know below!
A repair installation of Windows 10 reinstalls the operating system while retaining all your files, folders and media. It is a task of last resort once other troubleshooting steps have been unsuccessful, but it is very effective. If you need to perform a repair installation of Windows 10, this is how you do it.
You will need administrator access to the system, 9GB of free space on your primary hard drive, Windows 10 installation media of the same version you’re using and this guide.
Repair installation of Windows 10
First we need to prepare your computer for the task ahead. You will need to turn off any third-party security tools you have installed if you use them. That means firewall, antivirus, malware scanners, file encryption tools and anything else that monitors file changes or locks access to files and folders.
Then:
- Save any files you absolutely cannot live without onto a different disk or into the cloud, just in case.
- Insert the installation DVD or USB drive into your computer.
- Navigate to ‘Setup.exe’ within the installation media and double click.
- Allow the repair process to load and proceed.
- Select download and install updates when prompted and then Next.
- The process will continue, showing a few windows as it works.
- Confirm license terms when prompted and allow the process to continue.
- On the Ready to install screen, select the ‘Change what to keep’ text link.
- Select keep personal files and apps if you want to or nothing if you don’t. Click Next.
- Allow the process to complete, there may be multiple reboots, this is normal.
- Once the repair installation is complete, you will be presented with the ‘welcome back’ screen. Click Next.
- Set up Express or Custom settings as you require.
- You will soon see the normal Windows 10 sign in screen then ‘We’re setting things up for you’. Wait for the process to complete.
- You should then see the Windows 10 desktop and have access to your old data and settings!
There is a lot of waiting around and quite a bit of confirmation but the entire process is quite straightforward. If you’re having computer problems you are unable to fix, contact us at 908-428-9558 or get a free quote here.
Advanced Startup mode in Windows 10 is a gateway to a range of powerful troubleshooting tools. It allows access to core file checker, system restore, system refresh and a range of other utilities. If you’re having issues with Windows 10 and need to do some work under the hood, Advanced Startup is a good place to be. Here is how you access Advanced Startup.
There are four main ways to get into Advanced Startup in Windows 10.
Restart menu method
The Restart menu method is the fastest way to access Advanced Startup.
- Click on the Windows button in the Taskbar.
- Select Power.
- Hold shift and left click Restart.
This will automatically reboot your computer into Advanced Startup mode.
Command line method
If you are familiar with the Windows command line, you can just as quickly reboot into Advanced Startup in Windows 10 from there.
- Open a CMD window as Administrator.
- Type ‘shutdown.exe /r /o’ into the window and hit Enter.
Your system will immediately reboot into Advanced Startup mode.
Settings app method
If you’re familiar with the Settings app, you can force a reboot from there too.
- Navigate to Settings and Update and Security.
- Select Recovery in the left pane.
- Click the Restart now option under Advanced start-up.
Installation media method
If you’re having problems with USB drivers, mouse or keyboard, you may not be able to use any of the above methods. If that’s the case, try this:
- Insert your Windows 10 installation media.
- Set your BIOS or UEFI to boot from that media.
- Restart your system.
- Select language and keyboard options when prompted by Windows.
- Make sure to Select Repair your computer and not Install now.
You will now boot into Advanced Startup mode.
Using Advanced Startup mode to troubleshoot issues is a great way to get your PC working again. If you cannot fix the issue yourself, contact one of our experts today and we can fix it for you!If you’re the only one who uses your computer or you trust those you share it with, why not remove password login in Windows 10? It enables the computer to boot straight to the desktop and shaves precious seconds off the boot time. It also removes that extra manual step so Windows can go from being powered off to the desktop without your intervention.
Alternatively, if other people have access to your computer, you might like to enable password login to keep it safe.
Enable password login in Windows 10
Password login is enabled by default in either a Windows 10 upgrade or a new install. If you have previously disabled it, or it isn’t enabled for some reason, do this:
- Type ‘netplwiz’ into the Search Windows/Cortana box.
- Put a check in the box next to ‘Users must enter a username and password…’ and then click Apply.
- Click OK to save changes.
You will need to either log out and back in again or reboot your system for the change to take effect.
Disable password login in Windows 10
To disable password login, you essentially do the opposite of the above.
- Type ‘netplwiz’ into the Search Windows/Cortana box.
- Uncheck the box next to ‘Users must enter a username and password…’ then click Apply.
- Enter your password twice when prompted by Windows.
- Click OK to save your changes.
You will need to log out and in or reboot your computer for this change to take effect too.
Know a faster way to enable or disable password login in Windows 10? Have any questions? Let us know below!Is your computer running slow? Are you tired of going from repair shop to repair shop in Palmer Ranch and Lakewood Ranch looking for good service and computer help? If so, Dave's Computer is here for you and we can offer computer help for any issues you may be facing. One of the most common that we see day after day is internet cookie trouble.
What is a Cookie?
A cookie is more than just a tasty dessert. In the world of computers it is a bit of information that is gathered from websites and web pages and is stored on your computer while you are surfing the web. It is generated by a web page server and is a bit of information that your computer saves about the page and the server so it can be accessed the next time you log into the site. A cookie can be thought of as a sort of identification card, which will tell a website to remember certain information so you can load and access the site faster on repeat visits.
Are They Safe?
Cookies are made to be secure and to protect your information and cannot carry viruses or malware. Tracking cookies may record some information about the web searches and activity of the computer. While the cookies help you load pages faster and help web pages remember things like your log in and password information they can build up and slow down your computer over time. After months of visiting sites. The cookies can however be too much – especially when you have information saved for sites you have bit visited more than once. When this happens, it is time to delete the cookies and clear out the information.
Closing Thoughts on Cookies and Computer Help
Cookies are the internet's version of memory sticks and ID cards. They help websites know when you have returned to a site you frequently visit and help you load the information faster. Too many cookies use up valuable memory and really slow down your computer and can cause other problems. When this happens, deleting the cookies is the best way to deal with the issue; if you want or need some help dealing with your computer cookies, contact Dave's Computers and we can help. Our team of experts are ready to service the Sarasota, Bradenton, and surrounding areas, so call us today to get your computer back to running the way it should be!When you upgrade your operating system, one of the first things you will find is that not all hardware will continue working properly. That’s because the drivers currently in use by that hardware are not designed to work with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Of course, that can bring on a big hassle and it can be kind of frightening if you don’t know what’s going on. Don’t worry. Before you make the decision to call a computer repair service, you may be able to locate and download the drivers you now need. It isn’t nearly as difficult as you may imagine.
So, what can you do? To begin with, you will have to track down the drivers for your computer’s specific needs, and these can vary depending on the manufacturer and the hardware installed within the machine. Of course, there is no way to list every single driver out there, so here are some of the most common along with links so that you can access the drivers quickly and easily. If you have trouble with any of these, then you can always contact a computer support service.
One more note: when you are seeking out the driver you need, look for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. If there is a specific driver for Windows 8.1, then use that one. If there is only one labeled Windows 8, then this is the one you will need.
- If you have an Acer device, whether it is a laptop, a tablet, or a desktop, then you will need to update drivers based on your device specifically. You can find the drivers and information you need by going to acer.com/worldwide/support/download.htm. There is a limited number of Acer devices that do not support Windows 8, so you may wish to check on this before you purchase the operating system upgrade.
- If you have an AMD video card, then you will need to ensure you have the proper driver for this as well. You can find the drivers along with release notes at AMD Support
- If you have an ASUS device, then you may need new drivers for your motherboard. Not all motherboards by ASUS will support Windows 8.1, but you can find the information at event.asus.com/mb/windows_8/.
- Canon printers and scanners will need new drivers for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, but the driver should be provided through Microsoft and you should be able to download them via Windows Update.
- Dell computers and laptops may need their own set of drivers, which you can find at dell.com/support
- If you have an HP desktop, laptop, or printer, then you may need new drivers for Windows 8. You can find the drivers you may need at www8.hp.com/us/en/support.html.
- Intel offers different products including motherboards, chipsets, graphics cards, and more. You may need to download drivers for all of these and they should be available through Windows Update.
Of course, there are many other things that may require drivers, and the best way to find them is to go to the manufacturer website. If you have any trouble, then contact a computer help service. You can get in contact with us at the contact us button at the bottom of the page and we can provide for many of your computer repair needs.
📞 Call Dave's — 908-428-9558