Windows 7 hit by black screen of death

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Geoff Spick02 December 2009, 8:46 AM

The last set of Windows patch updates seem to be causing trouble for some users, possibly "millions" according to one company.


According to the BBC, Windows 7 users are being faced with a raft of black screen lock-ups having patched their systems with the latest monthly dose of Windows fixes. The black screen is caused by the desktop vanishing, the start bar and other controls becoming inaccessible.

At this point, Microsoft says that it does not recognise the problem, but is investigating. So, it could be a case of Prevx, the security software company that highlighted the issue selling its services off the back of a low-key issue. Prevx says on its blog, "Firstly, there appears to be many causes of the black screen issue. The symptoms are very distinctive and troublesome. After starting your Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, W2K, W2K3 or W2K8 PC or server the system appears normal. However, after logging on there is no desktop, task bar, system tray or side bar. Instead you are left with a totally black screen and a single My Computer Explorer window. Even this window might be minimized making it hard to see."

Prevx offers a free fix for the problem, with the proviso that it may not work in all cases. The actual cause seems to be something of a mystery and while there are lots of messages about the story flying around Twitter, finding someone who has actually had the problem is proving harder, even on dedicated PC support forums. The last patch updates included fixes for various Windows flaws, but not in Windows 7. The Prevx update is a few days old and if this was really a massive issue, we think it would exploded to the front pages by now.

If the story evolves, then we'll keep you informed. If nothing much happens, put it down to a slow news day as we wait for Microsoft to finally release some proper Windows 7 sales figures.

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plutonium210 (Advanced member):

"So, it could be a case of Prevx, the security software company that highlighted the issue selling its services off the back of a low-key issue." - Geoff Spick

The anti-virus and malware app developers have been doing it for decades.

02 December 2009, 10:37 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

stevjosco (User):

In the world of Microsoft fashion (an oxymoron, I'm sure) black is the new blue.
Fabulous Darling
:p

02 December 2009, 10:46 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Your Average Joe (Cornerstone member):

No probs on our Win7 machines here.

"Prevx offers a free fix for the problem, with the proviso that it may not work in all cases."

Not really a fix then, is it?

02 December 2009, 11:09 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Your Average Joe:
No probs on our Win7 machines here.

Good for you indded, but hardly a large enough sample group for useful analysis.



Quoting Your Average Joe:
Not really a fix then, is it?

a possible work-around at best


02 December 2009, 11:23 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

as we wait for Microsoft to finally release some proper Windows 7 sales figures.

This has never happened previously. What is the precedent for expeting MS to release credible data now?

02 December 2009, 11:26 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hicks (User):

Yet to have any issues come into work about Windows updates with Windows 7, I work in retail as a Tech and we move a lot of Windows 7 units each day. If this is indeed a new problem I can see in the next week or two I will have customers at my tech counter about it. Will be keeping an eye on this story or developments.

02 December 2009, 12:55 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Your Average Joe (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Hicks:
I work in retail as a Tech and we move a lot of Windows 7 units each day.

Yet to have any complaints here too.
We have about 2 dozen machines on display and no probs there either.
The guys in support and warranty claims have their fingers crossed too :)




02 December 2009, 1:09 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Regular user):

Quoting Your Average Joe:
Yet to have any complaints here too.


Nothing here either. Just had at least 2 computers with Win7 do full updates, and both are fine.

02 December 2009, 3:07 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

GeoffSpick (User):

Hi all,

word is the problem is caused by a piece of malware and is not a Windows issue (in this specific sense. In the wider sense, make your own jokes). More here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8388253.stm

02 December 2009, 8:10 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

DandamanV (User):

Does that mean that I shouldn't Windows Update my computer for a really long time?

03 December 2009, 10:26 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Regular user):

Nope. It was malware not a Windows Update. Windows Updates need to be applied ASAP - Windows needs all the help it can get to stay secure :-P

03 December 2009, 10:41 AM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AlexF (User):

Not sure if this would help, but I'll switch to Linux just in case. Oh, wait..

03 December 2009, 11:55 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hicks (User):

It's good news to find out it was Malware and nothing to actually do with Windows 7 updates, I was dreading a stream of people at this time of year having issues, a lot of the repair centers we deal with actually close down shortly and don't reopen till early Jan.

04 December 2009, 12:20 PM (3 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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