Windows 10 Update Causes 'Black Screen of Death'

Microsoft has warned the latest Windows 10 update could produce a completely black screen for some users. It's easily fixable and shouldn't be a permanent problem.

Microsoft hasn't given any details of why the problem occurs, or if it affects people with a particular piece of hardware or software in place. It's only saying that a "small number of devices" appear to be affected.

The problem is listed as being with Windows 10 version 1809 and 1803. Those are the two major updated versions of Windows 10 which were released last year. Version 1803 was released in April, 2018, while 1809 was released last November; the latter should be what most users are running now. The latest Windows 10 release is version 1903, otherwise known as the "Windows 10 May 2019 update," and is still propagating to users worldwide.

Microsoft says the black screen problem means that "devices may startup to a black screen during the first logon after installing updates."

That's pretty much the worst type of "crash" as it leaves the user with no real clue what is going on. It's even worse than the "blue screen of death" that occasionally popped up with older versions of Windows and at least offered some reference numbers that could help diagnose the problem.

Forced Restart Should Clear Fault

Fortunately, the fix this time is simple enough as it only involves a forced restart. Microsoft says users who get the black screen should "press Ctrl + Alt + Delete [on the keyboard], then select the Power button [on the screen in the lower right corner, then select Restart]. Your device should now restart normally."

In the meantime, Microsoft is trying to figure out a solution and says it will issue "an update in an upcoming release." (Source: microsoft.com)

Bluetooth Devices May Be Blocked

Meanwhile, some Bluetooth devices will stop working with Windows 10 after the latest update. It's not a bug, but rather a deliberate decision by Microsoft. The issue has to do with the way that some low-powered devices connect over Bluetooth. The security breach means that hackers could connect to Windows PCs without permission and then simulate keystrokes, which would then likely issue elevated access and in turn install malware on the machine.

Microsoft says that the update blocks "unsecure" devices from connecting. Manufacturers of legitimate devices affected by the update will need to issue firmware fixes for the device. (Source: slashgear.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Have you heard about this problem before? Did you experience the completely black screen? Should Microsoft issue such warnings directly to users through an on-screen notification or by sending emails, for example?