No, it’s not a title of a horror movie or an album by a death metal band. The black screen of death is a system error that can happen in Windows due to various reasons, such as faulty drivers, hardware defects, or software glitches.
This frustrating and perplexing issue has been plaguing Windows users for years, causing panic and confusion as to what exactly is going wrong with their system. Whether you’re a casual user or an IT professional, understanding this pesky problem can save you time. So here are five simple fixes for the black screen of death
Table of Contents
#1 Simple reboot
Sometimes, a simple reboot can solve the problem. You can try pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete and choose Restart. If that doesn’t work, you can force a shutdown by holding the Power button for a few seconds.
#2 Restart the File Explorer
If your desktop is black but you can still see your mouse cursor, you might be able to restart the File Explorer process.
1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager and click on the Processes tab.
2. Find Windows Explorer in the list of processes and right-click on it. Choose Restart and see if your desktop comes back.
#3 Disconnect the docking station
If you have an external monitor or a laptop connected to a docking station, ensure all the cables are plugged in securely and correctly. Try disconnecting and reconnecting them or using different ports if possible.
#4 Faulty driver
A faulty video card driver can cause the black screen of death. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling it in Safe Mode.
- Download the video driver compatible with your computer.
- Launch Windows Safe Mode.
- Go to Device Manager by pressing the Windows button + Pause.
- In Display Adaptors, right-click on your video driver and select Uninstall device.
- Double-click on the video driver installation file and follow the guided prompts to install it. Restart your computer when prompted.
#5 Restore Windows
You can restore Windows to a previous point in time, known as a restore point. Although System Restore does not alter your personal files, it may remove recently installed apps and drivers.
- Open the System Properties by pressing the Windows button + Pause and select System protection.
- Click System Restore.
- Choose the restore point related to the problematic driver or update.
- Your system will restart and restore to the selected point.
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Yes, experiencing a black screen of death on Windows can be frustrating and stressful. Remember to always keep your drivers updated to prevent future black screens from occurring. If all else fails, seek professional assistance from a trusted technician or support team.
