Black screen, no authorization.

[Juanhasan]

Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing a persistent issue with my laptop, and after trying multiple fixes without success, I’m turning to the community for help. Here's the situation:

The Problem:

1. After logging into Windows, the desktop background is completely black.
2. Attempts to set a wallpaper (image or slideshow) fail. It always switches back to "Solid Color," and then the background remains black.
3. At one point, the background reappeared briefly, but the app icons' areas stayed black. Selecting a portion of the desktop (e.g., with the mouse) caused the selected area to turn black as well.
4. I also do not have the authorization to change settings, but I always had

What I’ve Tried So Far:

1. Restarting Windows Explorer: Did not fix the issue.
2. Running sfc /scannow: No integrity violations found.
3. Running DISM commands:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
     All commands completed successfully, but the issue persists.
4. Updating the GPU driver for AMD Radeon Vega 8:
   • Uninstalled the GPU from Device Manager and restarted the PC to let Windows reinstall it.
   • Attempted to install the latest AMD driver using AMD Adrenalin software, but it showed an error saying, "Windows may have replaced your AMD graphics driver, or your hardware is not compatible with this software."
   • Updated the driver twice using both AMD's website and Windows Update. The issue persists.
5. Checked for Windows updates and ensured all were installed.

Additional Info:

• I noticed that Windows Update reinstalled the Vega 8 driver during one of my attempts. This might be interfering with manual driver installations.
• The problem is not isolated to a single user account; it seems system-wide.
• I also tested disabling overlays (e.g., Discord, Steam), resetting Windows Explorer, and changing display settings, but none of these resolved the issue.

Possible Next Steps:

• I've considered a repair installation (In-Place Upgrade) of Windows 11 but wanted to check if there’s another solution before proceeding.

Has anyone experienced similar issues or has advice on what else I can try?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Raj_05]

Hi @Juanhasan,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're dealing with a complex issue involving a black screen on your desktop after logging in, along with permission-related problems that prevent you from modifying settings. Here are a few additional steps to consider before performing a repair installation.

Check for Corrupt User Profile

• Sometimes, a corrupted user profile can cause issues like this. You could try creating a new user account with administrator privileges and see if the problem persists when logged in under that account.
  • Steps:
    1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
    2. Select File > Run new task, and type netplwiz to open the User Accounts window.
    3. Create a new local or Microsoft account, assign administrator rights, and log in with that new account.
    4. Check if the issue persists on the new account.

System File Checker in Safe Mode

• It’s possible that system file corruption is deeper than what sfc or DISM can detect in a normal boot. Try running these commands again in Safe Mode to see if it helps:
  1. Restart the computer and press F8 or Shift + F8 to enter the Advanced Boot Options (if available).
  2. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
  3. Run sfc /scannow and the DISM commands again.

Check Group Policy Settings

• It's possible that some Group Policy settings have been changed that are preventing you from accessing certain settings. You can use the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) to check:
  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
  3. Check for any settings that might be preventing you from changing the background or other settings.

Graphics Driver Conflict

• Since you mentioned issues with the AMD Vega 8 driver, there could be a conflict with integrated graphics or a Windows auto-update reinstalling the driver.
  1. Open Device Manager and uninstall both the AMD Vega 8 and the Microsoft Basic Display drivers.
  2. Restart your computer and let Windows try to reinstall a fresh version of the driver.
  3. Alternatively, manually install a specific driver version from the AMD website rather than using the Adrenalin software.

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Check for Malware or Corruption

• Malware can sometimes cause issues with system files or settings. Run a full malware scan using Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus to rule this out.

Perform a System Restore

• If this issue started recently and you have a restore point available, you could perform a system restore to roll back to a time when the system was working correctly.
  • Steps:
    1. Press Win + R, type rstrui and press Enter.
    2. Follow the prompts to restore your system to a previous state.

Repair Installation (In-Place Upgrade)

• If the issue still persists after trying the above steps, a repair installation might be the next best step. This will reinstall Windows without affecting your files, apps, or settings.
  1. Download the Windows 11 installation media from the Microsoft website.
  2. Run the Setup file and choose the option for Upgrade this PC now.
  3. Follow the prompts to repair Windows while keeping your files and apps intact.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[Juanhasan]

I tried the system restore, and it workes!

All the Problems are gone. The Screen and so on.

Thanks!