Windows 8.1 Black Screen on start up

[danny78690]

I have a Dell Optiplex 745 desktop running Windows 8.1 Pro

 

Recently when I start up my system, I've been welcomed by a black screen that covers the log in screen and it stays for about 20-30 minutes. 

 

My system boots up "normally," the Windows logo comes up and loads but before I get to the log in screen, a black screen comes up. I know that my system is not hanging and is responsive, because my keyboard still works (if I hit the numlock it will go on/off) and I can see my cursor on the black screen and can move it. As well, I can shut down by pushing the power button. So it's not an issue of my system being non-responsive or hanging. It works fine, just this black screen stays for a long time before I can actually log in and use my system. 

 

Has anybody using Windows 8 or 8.1 had the same issue I am having? Were you able to fix this issue and how can I resolve my issue? 

 

Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! 

[Frankie]

Well your computer was not intended to run Win 8 and most probably is it overkill for him. I would suggest BIOS update but since the newest BIOS on Dell site is from 2/7/2012 and first release of Windows 8 was in october 2012, you most probably need to downgrade.

[ttam]

Try a Win 8 refresh.

[macpro622776]

@danny78690 I actually have the same computer as you and encountered the same problem when I first upgraded to 8.1.

 

I am using the PCIe graphics card that came with this computer, the Radeon X1000 series running with two monitors. After I upgraded I had the same issue as you, however even if I left it for an hour it wouldn't turn on. I tried logging on blind and I could see it worked as when I hit the power button to shut down, the desktop quickly flashed before fading to the shutting down screen. When I powered up again, it appeared black. I proceeded to login again then I decided to play around with Windows-P since I had two monitors, and that was to change the dual screen configuration from Main only, duplicate, extend, projector only. Anyway I ended up getting the second monitor going properly so I decided to restart and see if the issue was still there, and to my surprise it worked as normal.

 

The issue is Quick Boot. I realised that since the restart had no problem, and when you restart it doesn't do a Quick Boot; it only does with a shut down.

 

I don't know your current monitor set up but you can try what I did. Alternatively, try booting into Safe Mode (F8, if that doesn't work then Shift-F8) and turn off Quick Boot from there - that should work ok. The issue is the graphics driver is not supported properly in 8.1 but it is in 8, which is why I didn't have a problem with it in 8.

 

Hopefully this helps.

[danny78690]

Well your computer was not intended to run Win 8 and most probably is it overkill for him. I would suggest BIOS update but since the newest BIOS on Dell site is from 2/7/2012 and first release of Windows 8 was in october 2012, you most probably need to downgrade.

 

Just for the record, the system is running 8.1 better than XP.

[danny78690]

@danny78690 I actually have the same computer as you and encountered the same problem when I first upgraded to 8.1.

 

I am using the PCIe graphics card that came with this computer, the Radeon X1000 series running with two monitors. After I upgraded I had the same issue as you, however even if I left it for an hour it wouldn't turn on. I tried logging on blind and I could see it worked as when I hit the power button to shut down, the desktop quickly flashed before fading to the shutting down screen. When I powered up again, it appeared black. I proceeded to login again then I decided to play around with Windows-P since I had two monitors, and that was to change the dual screen configuration from Main only, duplicate, extend, projector only. Anyway I ended up getting the second monitor going properly so I decided to restart and see if the issue was still there, and to my surprise it worked as normal.

 

The issue is Quick Boot. I realised that since the restart had no problem, and when you restart it doesn't do a Quick Boot; it only does with a shut down.

 

I don't know your current monitor set up but you can try what I did. Alternatively, try booting into Safe Mode (F8, if that doesn't work then Shift-F8) and turn off Quick Boot from there - that should work ok. The issue is the graphics driver is not supported properly in 8.1 but it is in 8, which is why I didn't have a problem with it in 8.

 

Hopefully this helps.

 

Thank you so much for your help, I will try it and get back to you!

[danny78690]

@macpro622776 Thank you so much, it worked! I really appreciate your help. 

[Frankie]

@danny78690 Good for you I doesnt want to sound like a douche or something, but from what I find, Dell said that PC wasnt intend to run win 8. So i thought that was the problem I´ve seen a lot of people with old computers complain it´s slow, because they put newest OS on it.