Hi As the system is not starting up in the Normal mode you will need to start the system in safe mode and follow the further steps. Switch ON the system and switch OFF the system 3 to 4 times when the Dell logo appears. This will make the system to go into ‘Windows 8 Advanced Startup Options’ screen. Please select Troubleshoot option and choose the Advanced Options and then choose the Windows Startup Settings option, finally hit the Restart button. When your PC reboots you will be able to boot into Safe Mode with Networking from the familiar looking Advanced Boot Options screen. Once the system is in Safe Mode with networking mode please refer to the link below to download, install and execute it to run malware scan tool. http://bit.ly/2A6CAo After the scan finishes it should give the virus name please select the files and delete it and restart the computer to check for the issue resolution. Also, Clear the startup and uninstall any 3rd party tool bar like the Search protect by conduit tool bar using Revo uninstaller from the link below. http://dell.to/15CIYIH Please let me know if this helps. Answer from DELL-Ravi Ch on dell.com
Dell
dell.com › dell community › desktops › optiplex desktops
Black Screen with cursor | DELL Technologies
September 12, 2022 - Black screen with cursor, otherwise known as a black screen of death error, is typically a result of a Windows system crash – it occurs during a critical error, and the OS is not capable of booting.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/dell › black screen w/ cursor!
r/Dell on Reddit: Black Screen w/ Cursor!
March 13, 2024 -
Anybody have any idea how to fix the Windows black screen with cursor issue. I’ve tried opening task manager to start explorer.exe, WIN+R and then typing explorer.exe in, with the black screen.
Booting into safe mode I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling graphics drivers, disabling App Readiness.
Advanced startup I’ve tried uninstalling latest quality and feature updates…
I work in IT support as one of two in the whole department for a large car dealership. I’ve had it happen on different models of OptiPlex and with both Windows 10 and 11 OS.
Anybody have a fix for this? It’s always a really bad day in the office when it happens because whoever it happens to is out of commission as I spend an hour or two trying all these steps/whatever new ones I find online and reading random logs in an attempt to fix it before having to reset the PC.
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I'm around Optiplexes most of the time and I haven't run into that issue as frequently as you, but maybe I'm just lucky. Is it possible your baseline image could be messed up?
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The only recommendation I can make to prevent this problem would be the following two things: Whenever you buy a new computer for your dealership, make sure to wipe and reload Windows from scratch. Never keep Dell's base image. It has all sorts of bloatware on it that can cause you difficult to troubleshoot problems down the line. And never let your users have administrative rights. They shouldn't be able to accidentally delete key windows files or install random software that could cause problems with the computer. It's possible that you already do these things. I mention them because I've deployed probably a couple thousand computers at this point and very rarely have these kinds of difficulties. Oh and also, one thing you could try is maybe create a new user account and log in with it. See if the new account is having the same problems. It's possible that just that particular user account's appdata folder is screwed up and now it won't load properly when you login. If you can't do anything with most of the GUI, you should be able to use a command prompt to create a new user account. Assuming you're not in a domain. If you're in a domain, try logging in as another account and see if you have the same problems. If a different doesn't have the black screen issue, try deleting the problematic profile and re-sign them in again. I've seen the blackscreen issue maybe twice but a restart of the computer fixed the problem.
Black screen with movable cursor
Hey there, I have a Dell 15r and it is currently running Windows 8.1. This morning it working just fine. I was on YouTube and a video wouldn't load, so I simply restarted my laptop. Thats when the ... More on dell.com
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August 25, 2014Windows boots but won't load (Black screen with cursor)
[Sorry for the long post, but I feel the need to fully explain my situation] I have the following problem: I turn on my PC, and Windows shows it's normal loading screen, after which it goes into a ... More on dell.com
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April 19, 2015Inspiron 1545 Black screen with movable cursor after startup
I had my laptop hooked up to my tv through an HDMI cord. My laptop screen was not appearing on my tv so I right clicked on my desktop and clicked the option to move screen to tv. After that m... More on dell.com
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September 4, 2013Dell laptop with black screen and working cursor - Windows 11
Dell laptop with black screen and working cursor - posted in Windows 11: This is a Dell laptop running Win 11 that worked fine for 3-4 years. Now, while browsing in Chrome, went to turn on Spotify and all of a sudden the screen is black but it does have a working cursor. More on bleepingcomputer.com
Why is my Dell laptop screen flickering?
Dell laptop screen flickering is commonly caused by outdated graphics drivers, incompatible applications, or incorrect display settings. It can also stem from hardware issues like a loose screen cable, overheating, or a faulty display panel.
Common fixes include updating drivers, adjusting refresh rates, or checking for environmental light sensor issues.
Common fixes include updating drivers, adjusting refresh rates, or checking for environmental light sensor issues.
partitionwizard.com
partitionwizard.com › home › disk recovery › 11 simple approaches to fix a dell laptop with a black screen
Dell Laptop Black Screen: 11 Solutions to Fix It & Recover Data
What should I do if my Dell laptop displays a black screen after a BIOS update?
If your Dell laptop shows a black screen after a BIOS update, perform a hard reset to clear temporary settings. If this fails, use the BIOS Recovery tool by holding Ctrl + Esc while plugging in the AC adapter to force a recovery screen. Then select Recover BIOS and press Enter.
partitionwizard.com
partitionwizard.com › home › disk recovery › 11 simple approaches to fix a dell laptop with a black screen
Dell Laptop Black Screen: 11 Solutions to Fix It & Recover Data
What should I do if my Dell laptop screen stays blank?
To fix this issue, the steps are as follows:
1. Check if the laptop and power button LED turn on. If not, fix power issues.
2. Try connecting an external monitor to check if the issue is with the laptop screen.
3. Adjust the brightness.
1. Check if the laptop and power button LED turn on. If not, fix power issues.
2. Try connecting an external monitor to check if the issue is with the laptop screen.
3. Adjust the brightness.
partitionwizard.com
partitionwizard.com › home › disk recovery › 11 simple approaches to fix a dell laptop with a black screen
Dell Laptop Black Screen: 11 Solutions to Fix It & Recover Data
Dell
dell.com › support › kbdoc › en-us › 000228155 › inspiron-and-vostro-laptop-screen-goes-black-but-cursor-moves-on-screen
Dell DCXXXXX, Dell Pro Essential, Inspiron, and Vostro Laptop Screen Goes Black but Cursor Moves On-Screen | Dell US
Dell DCXXXXX, Dell Pro Essential, Inspiron, and Vostro laptop owners may experience a black screen with the cursor still visible. You can still move the cursor on-screen using the touchpad. This happens on the first reboot after the OOBE completes.
Dell
dell.com › support › contents › en-au › article › product-support › self-support-knowledgebase › monitor-screen-video › laptop-display-screen-not-working
Laptop Screen Not Working: Fix Common Display Issues | Dell Australia
If your laptop is displaying a black screen with just the cursor or mouse pointer, it's likely a software issue, such as a corrupted user profile or system files. Try booting into Safe Mode or performing a system restore to fix the issue. 11. How do I turn off automatic brightness adjustment ...
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › laptop › oju0g-dell-laptop-gone-totally-blank-black-screen.html
My Dell laptop has gone totally blank, black screen but mouse arrow is visible and is moveable on the screen. Windows
March 25, 2024 - A black screen with a movable cursor often indicates explorer.exe failure or display driver issues. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then restart explorer.exe via File > Run new task > type 'explorer.exe'.
Top answer 1 of 13
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Hi As the system is not starting up in the Normal mode you will need to start the system in safe mode and follow the further steps. Switch ON the system and switch OFF the system 3 to 4 times when the Dell logo appears. This will make the system to go into ‘Windows 8 Advanced Startup Options’ screen. Please select Troubleshoot option and choose the Advanced Options and then choose the Windows Startup Settings option, finally hit the Restart button. When your PC reboots you will be able to boot into Safe Mode with Networking from the familiar looking Advanced Boot Options screen. Once the system is in Safe Mode with networking mode please refer to the link below to download, install and execute it to run malware scan tool. http://bit.ly/2A6CAo After the scan finishes it should give the virus name please select the files and delete it and restart the computer to check for the issue resolution. Also, Clear the startup and uninstall any 3rd party tool bar like the Search protect by conduit tool bar using Revo uninstaller from the link below. http://dell.to/15CIYIH Please let me know if this helps.
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I am having the same issue with my Dell 15 z model.
MiniTool Partition Wizard
partitionwizard.com › home › disk recovery › 11 simple approaches to fix a dell laptop with a black screen
Dell Laptop Black Screen: 11 Solutions to Fix It & Recover Data
April 3, 2026 - If it crashes, you’ll see a black screen with a cursor. So, you should restart the explorer.exe process. The steps are as follows: Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
Dell
dell.com › dell community › software › windows general
Windows boots but won't load (Black screen with cursor) | DELL Technologies
April 19, 2015 - Like I said, this has been happening form the day my PC arrived, but restarting a couple of times always fixed it. As of now, both HHDD seem to be working fine, the Dell utility recognizes both of them, and does not find errors in any of them, ...
PassFab
passfab.com › fix-windows › dell-laptop-black-screen-with-cursor.html
Dell Laptop Showing Black Screen with Cursor? 9 Best Ways!
March 30, 2026 - To resolve the issue, you can restart the graphics driver by pressing WINDOWS + CTRL + SHIFT + B keys simultaneously. Still facing Dell laptop black screen with blinking underscore or cursor?
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i just now had the same problem where my screen would black out and only show my cursor.... and I kept reading and reading on the ways you guys tried to solve the issue. I downloaded the spyhunter as well....nothing would work....what I did to solve this problem I actually stumbled into on accident....very simple....nothing to download...... just make sure you have all the files you need saved or backed up somewhere..... 1.restart computer and select the option run in safe mode with networks (mine was f5) 2.hold ctrl+alt+delete to bring up task manager and at the bottom left of the task manager box it will say either (more details) or (fewer details) make sure you have MORE DETAILS selected. 3.click file and hit run new task. 4.when it lets you type in the box.....................type CONTROL PANEL 5. select user accounts and family safety. 6. select the user account that is blacking out after start up. 7.click make changes to my account in pc settings. WHEN I DID THIS IT GAVE ME AN OPTION THAT SAID I HAD TO REFRESH WINDOWS BEFORE I COULD MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE ACCOUNT. SO I CLICKED REFRESH....MY LAPTOP DID ITS THING AND NOW ITS JUST LIKE BRAND NEW AGAIN....ONLY TOOK 15 MINUTES... IF YOU KNOW A FASTER OR EASIER WAY TO GET TO THE OPTION THAT WANTS YOU TO LET WINDOWS REFRESH ITSELF....THATS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO!! ...............................................enjoy hope this works for you guys as it did for me
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All things being more difficult than need to be with Windows these days, I would simply restore a previously 'Known Good' boot. Start pressing repeatedly, F8 , as soon as the Dell Splash screen goes away (and be really quick!) Should give you the Safe/Normal boot screen with a number of other options, one being 'restore a previously known good boot'
Indirepair
indirepair.in › home › fix dell laptop black screen: causes, solutions, and prevention
Dell Laptop Screen Black? Fixing Guide (2025)
April 21, 2026 - Dell black screen issues, whether a blank screen with a cursor or a laptop stuck on the Dell logo, stem from software conflicts (eg. Windows 11 driver issues) or hardware failures (eg. GPU or cable problems) This guide, based on my experience and Dell’s troubleshooting resources, provides comprehensive fixes for models like the Inspiron and XPS.
BleepingComputer
bleepingcomputer.com › bleepingcomputer forums › microsoft windows support › windows 11
Dell laptop with black screen and working cursor - Windows 11
May 31, 2026 - Are you facing a black screen with only a cursor visible on your Windows computer? This video offers a detailed walkthrough of the troubleshooting methods you can employ to fix this common issue. We will explore several potential causes and provide step-by-step instructions to help you restore your screen functionality. Join me as i tackle this problem and get your system back to normal. https://youtu.be/aUA3ksi4fDc?si=oJ4h-MkAGAjGM4ZI · Thank you for posting this but I don't have the same screens as you for ex, I don't have the 3 item menu on top starting with File.
Quora
quora.com › unanswered › When-I-power-on-and-sign-in-to-my-Dell-Inspiron-PC-it-shows-a-black-screen-with-a-cursor-How-do-I-resolve-this-issue
When I power on and sign in to my Dell Inspiron PC, it shows a black screen with a cursor. How do I resolve this issue? - Quora
1 person wants answers to this question. Be the first to answer.
Dell
dell.com › support › contents › en-us › article › product-support › self-support-knowledgebase › monitor-screen-video › laptop-display-screen-not-working
Laptop Screen Not Working: Fix Common Display Issues | Dell US
If your laptop is displaying a black screen with just the cursor or mouse pointer, it's likely a software issue, such as a corrupted user profile or system files. Try booting into Safe Mode or performing a system restore to fix the issue. 11. How do I turn off automatic brightness adjustment ...
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 2697548 › black-screen-with-cursor-on-dell
Black screen with cursor on Dell - Microsoft Q&A
December 31, 2015 - If that does not work make your own System Repair Disk from the information in this Tutorial and see if that fixes the problem:
Dell
dell.com › dell community › laptops › inspiron
Inspiron 1720 black screen with mouse cursor on Windows logon screen | DELL Technologies
November 6, 2023 - Maybe it went into black screen after the update tried to install itself when my mother used the laptop, the troubleshooter reverted it and it worked until I launched it again. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/black-screen-with-cursor/9d5e370b-1ad5-43bc-8870-23a4e6d2b148
Wondershare Recoverit
recoverit.wondershare.com › wondershare recoverit › computer troubleshooting › how to fix dell laptop black screen issue?
How to Fix Dell Laptop Black Screen Problem
In the Automatic Repair screen, choose Advanced Options and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Enable Safe Mode and hit the "Restart" button. As the system boots in Safe mode, head to the device manager again and then try updating the OS or graphics drivers to get rid of the black screen. The Explorer.exe process manages all processes currently running on the laptop. And if the process is not working properly, then you will end up with a black screen Dell XPS.
Dell
dell.com › support › kbdoc › en-us › 000134946 › how-to-troubleshoot-display-or-video-issues-on-dell-laptop-lcd-panel
Troubleshoot Laptop Display Issues and Resolve Black Screen Problems | Dell US
Resolve display or video problems on Dell laptops. Fix black screens, adjust brightness, connect external monitors, update display drivers, and more.
Driver Easy
drivereasy.com › home › knowledge base › common errors › how to fix black screen on dell laptop [full guide]
How to Fix Black Screen on Dell Laptop [Full Guide] - Driver Easy
October 25, 2024 - Your Dell laptop should be off. If your laptop is on, turn it off. Turn on your laptop by pressing the Power button. Hold the Shift key and tap the F8 key before the Windows logo shows up. Doing so will bring out the Recovery Mode menu. If you couldn’t enter Safe Mode on your first attempt, then try again. It may take several attempts before it works so just be patient. While in the Recovery Mode menu, select See advanced repair options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Windows Startup Settings > Restart.
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 4360185 › windows-11-black-screen-with-only-mouse-cursor-vis
Windows 11- Black screen with only mouse cursor visible before login screen - Microsoft Q&A
December 16, 2021 - Update your drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware from PC or motherboard maker's Support Downloads web page, using the full model number, Serial Number or Dell Service Tag on sticker. Compare the latest drivers available for download with the ones ...