Blank Login screen after logout, sleep, or hibernate

[VVet69]

Hi,

Recently replaced the 500GB HD with a new  Crucial 500GB SSD. Used MacriumReflect to image/restore.  After completing the restore, everything works EXCEPT for this:

After logging out of a logged in user, or putting the laptop to sleep or hibernate, the Login screen appears without any User Icons or any Power or Accessibility icons.  The mouse works, CTRL-ALT-DEL does not do anything. I have to power off reset the laptop to recover.  

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @VVet69 

HP has created an article for such issues - you may want to give it a try >> https://support.hp.com/th-en/document/c01853693

[VVet69]

Hi,

None of the recommended solutions in the article apply to a logout causing the login screen to appear blank.  Note that I can recover from sleep or hibernate just fine, then the login screen appears with no user icons, etc and I cannot log back in  to the session.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[IT_WinSec]

Ok,

So it may be either something in Windows or the user account is corrupted.

Let's first try to repair Windows by reinstalling it over the existing installation - note that you will not loose your applications or files.

You can use Method 2 described here >> https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-repair-a-faulty-windows-installation-without-reformatting/

• You will need Windows 7 installation files (ISO)
• You will need either a blank DVD or a blank/empty USB pendrive 4 GBs (minimum)

STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD

• You can use this free utility

>> https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%20ISO%20Downloader.exe

>> https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

The tool will download ISO images from Microsoft and has lots of options for many Windows versions including OEM. If you use it, be careful to select the correct Windows ISO for the x86 or x64 edition, Home/Pro/Ultimate, etc...

Note there is a difference between OEM/COEM and those without OEM in the name

• Your existing Windows installation is of OEM type if it came preinstalled on the PC, it came by HP, it was not installed by a company/enterprise organization and if your PC has a COA OEM sticker at the bottom or behind the battery
• Your existing Windows installation is of retail type (FPP) if you purchased it from a store after you bought the PC, it is usually in a box, it was installed later and you do NOT have a COA sticker

When download completes, you will need to write or "burn" the ISO image and boot from a bootable media. You need to use either 1 empty/blank USB pendrive (4 GB capacity or more)  OR  an empty/blank DVD disc (4.7 GB capacity)

** How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

** How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

 instructions are for Ubuntu, but you need to use the ISO image of Windows 7

STEP 2 - Repair installation

Insert the USB pendrive or the DVD and start the setup program to perform UPGRADE installation for in-place upgrade and repair.

Follow the on-screen instructions and method 2 here >> https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-repair-a-faulty-windows-installation-without-reformatting/

Let me know if this helps. Provide your feedback/update and let me know if you face difficulties

[VVet69]

HI,

I don't think this is a corrupt OS issue; I did not make ANY changes to the system after restoring the image to the new SSD, first thing i did was log in and then log out.  I do not want to go through the effort of trying to successfully do a re-install of Windows and then the patching effort.  Main points again:

1. I can see the normal Windows 7 login screen (user login icons and power/accessibility icons) after a reboot.

2. after a logoff or awake from sleep or hibernate, I cannot see only the blank login screen with no icons

Could this be some kind of racing issue in the system that was caused by the increased performance of the SSD vs the old HDD?  There must be some way to trace the issue as to why the login screen is not fully refreshing after a logout.

Thanks in advance!

[IT_WinSec]

---

@VVet69 wrote:

HI,

I don't think this is a corrupt OS issue;

IT_WinSec comments >> It's either in the Operating system or the account.

I do not want to go through the effort of trying to successfully do a re-install of Windows and then the patching effort. 

IT_WinSec comments >>

So far I did not suggest you perfom re-installation of Windows - just repair installaton over the existing version. This is not reinstallation, no programs and personal files are affected. You will not need to re-update and re-patch Windows

Could this be some kind of racing issue in the system that was caused by the increased performance of the SSD vs the old HDD? 

IT_WinSec comments >>

No, I am afraid that this is technically not possible.

---

Another step you can do is to create another account and test how it goes with it

Let's check if this is something about your user profile. Windows is used by users and each and every user can have their own space known as Windows Account where the personal settings and files are not messed up with other users' accounts.

Read this article >here< and follow the instructions to create a new local user account.

Once the account is created *and* while still in the original account,   please click on the Start button, search for and type CMD and open the Command Prompt app. In there, please type logoff and hit [ENTER] from the keyboard and you will log off from your account

Your Windows login screen may look like this:

Make sure you select the new user account and log into it.

Once you are in the new profile, note that you will not see your previous account's Desktop and personal files  (until you are back into the original account). Restart the computer and always log into the new account and do not use your initial accoun.

Test if you experience the problems while using the new account only.

Let me know how it goes

To log back into the original account, open CMD, typle logoff and log back in there.