How to Fix Black Screen Error During Windows 8.1 InstallationOne of the errors that users are experiencing when trying to update to Windows 8.1 is a blank black screen that blocks the installation process from completing and reverts the original files to Windows 8.
While Microsoft is yet to release a fix, one of our readers has found a pretty quick way to solve the issue and install Windows 8.1 just fine.
It appears that everything comes down to video card drivers, as Windows 8.1 might not be compatible with some older driver versions.
Our reader Adel recommends users to download Windows 8.1-compatible drivers, regardless of the model you have. Here’s his message and full (we’ve included links to download the latest drivers to make it easier for you):
How to Fix Black Screen Error During Windows 8.1 Installat
- Thread starter labeeman
- Start date
- Messages
- 4,664
- Location
- Belgrade , Serbia
Don't know what they did to 8.1 when the drivers are concerned. WTH they had to mess with that. This is exactly what happened to me. Downloaded and installed 8.1 thru the store and all went well 'till last step and than only cursor on the black screen. Ctr.-alt.-Del let me into Task Manager and thru that to Safe mode, but there no dice there either. Uninstalled drivers I was using before (amd_catalyst_12.6_legacy_win8 , for my Asus HD3850 ), cleaned up drivers with Driver Cleaner and on next boot same thing.
Downloaded 8.1 ISO, did a clean install and only than it worked with MS drivers but they are so minimal that are almost unusable, the same drivers I used on win8 did not even want to install at all.
So dear M$, you had to screw up just when I thought you did something right. That's like calling a plumber to fix a leak and he shuts water down so it doesn't leak any more, no more leaks but no water either. I thought they learned a lesson with Vista. Billy should fire that miserable lot and start anew. This crew screws up everything they touch, RT update is a dud and DOA and so is their HW.
Cruising for bruising, they are. What are they going to ask 200 bucks for, OS that can not run on ordinary hardware ?? That's just nuts I'd say. Stupid, stupid stupid.
Downloaded 8.1 ISO, did a clean install and only than it worked with MS drivers but they are so minimal that are almost unusable, the same drivers I used on win8 did not even want to install at all.
So dear M$, you had to screw up just when I thought you did something right. That's like calling a plumber to fix a leak and he shuts water down so it doesn't leak any more, no more leaks but no water either. I thought they learned a lesson with Vista. Billy should fire that miserable lot and start anew. This crew screws up everything they touch, RT update is a dud and DOA and so is their HW.
Cruising for bruising, they are. What are they going to ask 200 bucks for, OS that can not run on ordinary hardware ?? That's just nuts I'd say. Stupid, stupid stupid.
- Messages
- 118
- Location
- Southampton, Hampshire
Well 8.1 installs the latest Nvida drivers whether you want them or not - and there lies the problem. Drive Sweeper got rid of the new drivers and I had to go back and install older drivers from 2012. Hours and hours wasted trying to figure out what the problem was.
- Messages
- 4,664
- Location
- Belgrade , Serbia
There must have been a change in the way Video drivers work in 8.1. With Win8 drivers from Win7 and Vista worked (at least AMD -ATI) ones, now it has to be a radical change that doe not let Win8 video drivers (and who knows what else) to work. Win8 was renown for a great drivers base but now they had to screw that up, what a bunch of nitwits. And not a word of warning from their side. Well I am quite satisfied with the way Win8 works but was looking forward to 8.1 enhancements mainly on GUI side. There should have been a 8.1 readiness tool to check for problems like that. Maybe there is an issue with new DirectX version ? In any case, what a stupid move on M$ part. How do they think to sell a product like that ? where suddenly a large part of hardware wouldn't run on it.
retiredat44
New Member
- Messages
- 30
makes no difference, because on bootup the computer uses the standard vga driver before the boot process initializes the drivers.. so, the version of video driver only make a differnce when the computer goes through boot, bios, instructions, then the O.S., instructions, and video drivers..
- Messages
- 4,664
- Location
- Belgrade , Serbia
Well, that was just my problem, everything went well until drivers for video card kicked in and than...blank. Luckily AMD came out with proper drivers a week after. For older vid cards driver " amd_catalyst_13.4_legacy_beta_vista_win7_win8" worked great. So, back on 8.1 I am and works right, Found out that some programs that needed compatibility settings to work on W8, now work naturally. My IPTV program works now too, I shall be testing all other installed programs but see not too many problems.
P.S. In win 8 had a problem with 2 desktops on 2 monitors, they were reversed and could not find the way to fix it because second monitor was an old Dell and could not take frequencies offered. Now finally AMD CCC and windows agree on which one is which.
P.S. In win 8 had a problem with 2 desktops on 2 monitors, they were reversed and could not find the way to fix it because second monitor was an old Dell and could not take frequencies offered. Now finally AMD CCC and windows agree on which one is which.
- Messages
- 280
retiredat44
New Member
- Messages
- 30
I use HDMI with lcd... monitor, and the stock vga driver never appeared when it into reboot phase on my win 8 to win 8.1 upgrade on my MSI P7N with duo2core setup.. the bios could not be seen, and it was just a black screen... there was no way to get to the bios... period,,, and instead of just letting me roll it back and be done,, the bastage made me run install of win 8 over the win 8.
I have 30 years experience with computer, building design, all... and yet I was left with no way to salvage the install.. there was only one thing I could have tried.. I could have walked away and came back the next day to see if it was just slow...
my newer computer the upgrade went well, as it should with all upgrades... so, I would not trust win 8.1 upgrade on anything older than ??? a year or two...
I have 30 years experience with computer, building design, all... and yet I was left with no way to salvage the install.. there was only one thing I could have tried.. I could have walked away and came back the next day to see if it was just slow...
my newer computer the upgrade went well, as it should with all upgrades... so, I would not trust win 8.1 upgrade on anything older than ??? a year or two...
Windows 8.1 Installation and Blank Black Screen
Hello all,
I tried installing Win 8.1 via the App store, and during the update process/restarts/reboots, I now have a blank black screen. Just from Googling, it seems to be a graphics driver issue that 8.1 doesn't support.
I reset the CMOS, disabled my HIS IceQ graphics card, and was able to to get into BIOS using my iGPU.
I was initially able to get into Windows 8.1.........checked Device Mgr. to see the status of the Intel graphics HD 4000 driver and found out: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43).
I updated the BIOS and rebooted, but can't now get back into Windows.......(on another PC, I downloaded the graphics driver (to a thumb drive) from here https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=23405 to manually install it as recommended by Intel).
Rebooted up the PC again, saw the options of going into BIOS, but didn't get into it, saw the initial booting up Win 8 splash screen for a few secs., and then blank black screen.
Tried restarting the macnine a few more times, reset CMOS, tried F8 in hopes of getting into safe mode (no luck), rebooted a few more times (even got into BIOS and disabled Lucid Virtu Universal MVP).......still the same results.
So, at the moment, all I can do is get into BIOS. I'm keeping as a last reort to doing a clean install, but would really like to be able to get into Windows and uninstall 8.1. I built this machine just 4-5 months ago and all was running well in Win 8.
I'd truly appreciate any help on this.
Thanks,
Patre
Ps.
I've Googled and looked at some of the fixes available for this isse, but I can't get into Windows to do this.
Hello all,
I tried installing Win 8.1 via the App store, and during the update process/restarts/reboots, I now have a blank black screen. Just from Googling, it seems to be a graphics driver issue that 8.1 doesn't support.
I reset the CMOS, disabled my HIS IceQ graphics card, and was able to to get into BIOS using my iGPU.
I was initially able to get into Windows 8.1.........checked Device Mgr. to see the status of the Intel graphics HD 4000 driver and found out: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43).
I updated the BIOS and rebooted, but can't now get back into Windows.......(on another PC, I downloaded the graphics driver (to a thumb drive) from here https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=23405 to manually install it as recommended by Intel).
Rebooted up the PC again, saw the options of going into BIOS, but didn't get into it, saw the initial booting up Win 8 splash screen for a few secs., and then blank black screen.
Tried restarting the macnine a few more times, reset CMOS, tried F8 in hopes of getting into safe mode (no luck), rebooted a few more times (even got into BIOS and disabled Lucid Virtu Universal MVP).......still the same results.
So, at the moment, all I can do is get into BIOS. I'm keeping as a last reort to doing a clean install, but would really like to be able to get into Windows and uninstall 8.1. I built this machine just 4-5 months ago and all was running well in Win 8.
I'd truly appreciate any help on this.
Thanks,
Patre
Ps.
I've Googled and looked at some of the fixes available for this isse, but I can't get into Windows to do this.
- Messages
- 4,664
- Location
- Belgrade , Serbia
I'm afraid it looks like there was some change in the way graphic card drivers work in W8.1 and for older ones just got ta wait until it's makers decide to make new ones. Looks like for Intel 4000 series there is a serious problem.
Waiting for them to "make new ones" isn't really an option in my current situation. I'm wondering (through BIOS), if there's another driver that can be used (thinking out aloud here) to get into windows??
- Messages
- 4,664
- Location
- Belgrade , Serbia
That's probably lap top with that video card built in so unless there is another discrete one no changes in BIOS will make it work differently. All your troubles are related to driver.