Blackout after login with KB5027231 applied

[PCL86]

After applying KB5027231, it becomes a blackout state after login.

[PennRobotics]

I had the same problem.

1. Restart into command prompt as a startup option. (You have to reboot multiple times after POST but before Windows login, then let one of the boots continue until the blue diagnostics screen appears. I think startup options are F1.)
2. wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:5027231
3. Reboot into Windows
4. Pause updates (because it will try to update again)
5. Backup EP settings
6. Uninstall/disable EP (or see if it will download symbols; for me, it did not)
7. Install the Windows Update
8. Reinstall EP

[cy18]

Exactly same problem occurs to me. After hours, I found my way to save the system. Since my Windows are Chinese, the names in the following steps may not be exactly right.

1. Executate Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc
2. Kill explorer.exe
3. Run explorer.exe with "Run new task"
4. Well, this worked on my previous blackout months ago, but does not work this time. But it still worth trying. Now Let's continue.
5. Run your webbrowser by "Run new task", download explorer patcher setup file ep_setup.exe.
6. Run ep_setup.exe /uninstall to uninstall explorer patcher.
7. Reboot.
8. Step 5~7 are the steps I tried. I'm not sure if they are necessary.
9. In Task Manager, run “Computer Manager” by creating a new task called compmgmt.msc
10. Create a new user, and add the new user to the group Administrators.
11. Switch to login window by Win+L and login as the new user.
12. The explorer should starts normally as the new user. Find Explorer Patcher in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall it.
13. Logout and login to your old user, it should be restored now.

After this, I tried install explorer again, it still does not work. So I think I have to bear the Win11 style UI before a fix comes out.

[perseity]

Exactly same problem occurs to me. After hours, I found my way to save the system. Since my Windows are Chinese, the names in the following steps may not be exactly right.

1. Executate Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc

2. Kill explorer.exe

3. Run explorer.exe with "Run new task"

4. Well, this worked on my previous blackout months ago, but does not work this time. But it still worth trying. Now Let's continue.

5. Run your webbrowser by "Run new task", download explorer patcher setup file ep_setup.exe.

6. Run ep_setup.exe /uninstall to uninstall explorer patcher.

7. Reboot.

8. Step 5~7 are the steps I tried. I'm not sure if they are necessary.

9. In Task Manager, run “Computer Manager” by creating a new task called compmgmt.msc

10. Create a new user, and add the new user to the group Administrators.

11. Switch to login window by Win+L and login as the new user.

12. The explorer should starts normally as the new user. Find Explorer Patcher in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall it.

13. Logout and login to your old user, it should be restored now.

After this, I tried install explorer again, it still does not work. So I think I have to bear the Win11 style UI before a fix comes out.

You can simplify to:

1. Open Task Manager via Ctrl+Shift+Esc
2. Via "Run new task" in right corner open powershell/cmd
3. "c:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_setup.exe" /uninstall
4. Confirm the dialog and wait for the successful uninstall modal to popup
5. After clicking Ok on the successful uninstall modal the explorer will restart and Win should be working and be W11 ugly again...

[cy18]

Exactly same problem occurs to me. After hours, I found my way to save the system. Since my Windows are Chinese, the names in the following steps may not be exactly right.

1. Executate Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc

2. Kill explorer.exe

3. Run explorer.exe with "Run new task"

4. Well, this worked on my previous blackout months ago, but does not work this time. But it still worth trying. Now Let's continue.

5. Run your webbrowser by "Run new task", download explorer patcher setup file ep_setup.exe.

6. Run ep_setup.exe /uninstall to uninstall explorer patcher.

7. Reboot.

8. Step 5~7 are the steps I tried. I'm not sure if they are necessary.

9. In Task Manager, run “Computer Manager” by creating a new task called compmgmt.msc

10. Create a new user, and add the new user to the group Administrators.

11. Switch to login window by Win+L and login as the new user.

12. The explorer should starts normally as the new user. Find Explorer Patcher in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall it.

13. Logout and login to your old user, it should be restored now.

After this, I tried install explorer again, it still does not work. So I think I have to bear the Win11 style UI before a fix comes out.

You can simplify to:

1. Open Task Manager via Ctrl+Shift+Esc
2. Via "Run new task" in right corner open powershell/cmd
3. "C:\Program Files](c:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_setup.exe" /uninstall
4. Confirm the dialog and wait for the successful uninstall modal to popup
5. After clicking Ok on the successful uninstall modal the explorer will restart and Win should be working and be W11 ugly again...

I'm wondering why my step 5~7 does not work. Maybe it's because of a wrong version of ep_setup.exe? Or I just didn't wait long enough?

[cy18]

I had the same problem.

1. Restart into command prompt as a startup option. (You have to reboot multiple times after POST but before Windows login, then let one of the boots continue until the blue diagnostics screen appears. I think startup options are F1.)
2. wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:5027231
3. Reboot into Windows
4. Pause updates (because it will try to update again)
5. Backup EP settings
6. Uninstall/disable EP (or see if it will download symbols; for me, it did not)
7. Install the Windows Update
8. Reinstall EP

I tried completely uninstall EP, uninstall/reinstall KB5027231, and reinstall EP, it still blacks out. I tried both EP 22621.1555.55.1 and 22621.1555.55.2, while my system version is 22621.1848, maybe this is the reason?

[PennRobotics]

You could try uninstalling the other KBs possibly installed at the same time, discoverable via: wmic qfe list brief /format:table

If that doesn't work, I'm out of answers.

[Noel1703]

i had a blackscreen too, but that update said it failed: Installation Error – 0x8007045b
As soon as i Killed and Reran explorer, it said EP downloaded some icons for some build i dont remember

[abap-weasel]

+1

[bmuter]

Fwiw, after KB5027231 and blackscreen, a Ctrl+Alt+Del popped the Sign Out. After signing out and back in EP worked fine. OS is 22621.1848

[cy18]

You could try uninstalling the other KBs possibly installed at the same time, discoverable via: wmic qfe list brief /format:table

If that doesn't work, I'm out of answers.

Thank you for your reply. I tried uninstalling KBs. After uninstalling 3 or 4 KBs, it failed at KB5025239, with code 0x800f0905. Then I tried DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth before another try, it still failed to uninstall KB5025239. So I moved on to the next steps, i.e. , Install all KBs, reboot, install EP. It still blacks out.

Do you have any idea where can I find any logs to help addressing the problem? Thank you.

[pyrates999]

Windows has lots of logs in windows event viewer. Here's how to access it:

1. On the desktop, right click on This PC and select manage
2. Go to System Tools -> Event Viewer -> Windows Logs
3. From there check Application and System

[qheartq616]

1.Ctrl+Alt+Delete
2.Execute Task Manager
3.Click "Run new task"
4.Input "explorer.exe" and press enter
5.Tried setp 4 again and again, my computer came out an alert and says that explorer had reboot over 10 times and your task bar turn back to win11 style.
6.Uninstall your explorer patcher or wait until an update that fixes this problem

I met problem like this before. I thought it's probably this soft has a bug that make your explorer down. View it on here

[cy18]

I tried create a new user and install EP in that user's desktop environment, it works. However, when I login with the old user, it still blacks out. I tried restore EP default settings, it does not work.
So the problem should be some user settings.

[pyrates999]

To see if it's a setting that explorer patcher has set, try this:

1. login as the user that has the black screen
2. press ctrl+alt+delete to bring up the task manager
3. use the run feature in task manager to run cmd.exe
4. cd into C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher by running: cd "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher"
5. then run: ep_setup.exe /uninstall
6. that should uninstall explorer patcher
7. run regedit
8. export this registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher" and upload it to here
9. delete the same registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher"
10. reboot and log into that same user who had the black screen
11. if there is no black screen now, continue, otherwise stop
12. install explorer patcher
13. verify you get a notification that symbols have been downloaded
14. restart windows explorer using either the task manager or in the properties window of explorer patcher

[SimonMacer]

I have updated to Windows 11 Build 22000.2121 (KB5027292) the Blackout or explorer crash issues are resolved.

The new KB5027292 preview update fixes this issue.

June 13, 2023—KB5027223 (OS Build 22000.2057) Known issues
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/june-13-2023-kb5027223-os-build-22000-2057-168b3781-ffd0-4779-83da-162b880a0b24

[pyrates999]

Preview updates and insider builds are not supported by explorer patcher: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Symbols

So I would advise you to uninstall explorer patcher then as it can't work without symbols.

[cy18]

To see if it's a setting that explorer patcher has set, try this:

1. login as the user that has the black screen
2. press ctrl+alt+delete to bring up the task manager
3. use the run feature in task manager to run cmd.exe
4. cd into C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher by running: cd "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher"
5. then run: ep_setup.exe /uninstall
6. that should uninstall explorer patcher
7. run regedit
8. export this registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher" and upload it to here
9. delete the same registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher"
10. reboot and log into that same user who had the black screen
11. if there is no black screen now, continue, otherwise stop
12. install explorer patcher
13. verify you get a notification that symbols have been downloaded
14. restart windows explorer using either the task manager or in the properties window of explorer patcher

Thank you for your reply. The black screen consists in the old user as long as EP is installed. Since the explorer is crached, I cannot see the notification even if the symbols are downloaded. According to the manual mentioned in https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Symbols , I see no symbols loaded in the console.

[SimonMacer]

Preview updates and insider builds are not supported by explorer patcher: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Symbols

So I would advise you to uninstall explorer patcher then as it can't work without symbols.

It work good for me ^^^
https://i.imgur.com/tpqN1PL.png

Windows 11 21H2 Inside Preview 22000.2121

Because Explorer.exe crashes on 22000.2057 with Explorer Patcher installed.

[PCL86]

To see if it's a setting that explorer patcher has set, try this:

1. login as the user that has the black screen

2. press ctrl+alt+delete to bring up the task manager

3. use the run feature in task manager to run cmd.exe

4. cd into C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher by running: cd "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher"

5. then run: ep_setup.exe /uninstall

6. that should uninstall explorer patcher

7. run regedit

8. export this registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher" and upload it to here

9. delete the same registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher"

10. reboot and log into that same user who had the black screen

11. if there is no black screen now, continue, otherwise stop

12. install explorer patcher

13. verify you get a notification that symbols have been downloaded

14. restart windows explorer using either the task manager or in the properties window of explorer patcher

thank you.
The method you taught me worked fine.
appreciate

[cy18]

I did nothing

To see if it's a setting that explorer patcher has set, try this:

1. login as the user that has the black screen
2. press ctrl+alt+delete to bring up the task manager
3. use the run feature in task manager to run cmd.exe
4. cd into C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher by running: cd "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher"
5. then run: ep_setup.exe /uninstall
6. that should uninstall explorer patcher
7. run regedit
8. export this registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher" and upload it to here
9. delete the same registry key: "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ExplorerPatcher"
10. reboot and log into that same user who had the black screen
11. if there is no black screen now, continue, otherwise stop
12. install explorer patcher
13. verify you get a notification that symbols have been downloaded
14. restart windows explorer using either the task manager or in the properties window of explorer patcher

Thank you for your reply. The black screen consists in the old user as long as EP is installed. Since the explorer is crached, I cannot see the notification even if the symbols are downloaded. According to the manual mentioned in https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Symbols , I see no symbols loaded in the console.

I did nothing but leave the computer turned on for about 1 hour. Before reboot I checked the console, nothing about symbols are logged. I also checked the status of desktop. It was still fine in the new user desktop and black in the old user destop. However, after reboot, it suddenly worked for the old user!

Since it worked on the new user but failed at the old user, I doubt it is an issue related to symbols. Maybe there's some configuration procedures for EP which cost as long as 1 hour to finish?

[x011]

Uninstalling ep, kb and reinstalling ep didn't work for me. Will wait until new ep or kb fixes this.

[Tsaukpaetra]

Personal anecdote: After uninstalling both the KB and EP, clearing the registry settings, rebooting, installing the KB and EP, all is well again.

Only major differences between the two reg changes is the broken one has stuff under twinui.pcshell whereas the clean install (currently) does not.

[Raptor007]

My workaround for this is to first try restarting a couple of times, and if that doesn't fix it, go into Recovery Mode, Advanced, Uninstall Updates, then Uninstall Latest Quality Update. This has successfully resolved the issue for me several times now. Something in the 2023-06 Cumulative Update batch seems especially likely to cause the black screen problem.

I'm also not convinced this is ExplorerPatcher's fault; when looking around for fixes, it sounds like the black screen after login is just a common occurrence on Windows 11, especially after installing updates. But if ExplorerPatcher is contributing to the problem, I'd sure love it fixed!

[vnvn-org]

Each one during the reboot process for the update gave me a black screen, somebody help me now. My OS is 22621.1848. I try uninstall EP and reinstall but not working

[pyrates999]

If it works when EP is uninstalled, I would wait until there's a fix.

[appleguy010]

The KB5027231 update applied on two of my machines, but only one of them experienced this issue.
I have very different settings applied on these machines so I suspect certain configurations are affected by this issue.
Perhaps machines with the Windows 10 style start menu and taskbar configured? That is the main difference between my configurations from my memory.

I would like to export my settings and compare them between my two machines, but unfortunately I didn't realize ExplorerPatcher was causing the issue at the time so I ended up bricking my windows install after attempting to load a restore point from a few days prior (using rstrui.exe)
I suppose I could still do this by checking registry keys manually. Are all the settings for ExplorerPatcher stored in the registry?

[Raptor007]

I'm not sure this will work for everyone, but I was able to successfully install the 2023-06 Cumulative Update without the black screen problem. The trick seemed to be updating to the latest Nvidia driver (536.23 6/14/2023) in GeForce Experience before letting Windows Update install. I did not have to uninstall ExplorerPatcher!

I got the idea of the graphics driver being part of the problem from this black screen troubleshooting guide, which suggests resetting the graphics driver as a possible fix.

[appleguy010]

I was able to completely recover my environment in a much more elegant way than uninstalling the program or uninstalling any updates.
Here was my process.

Once I was logged in but explorer.exe wouldn't launch (black screen), I opened task manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
Task Manager > Run new task:
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI

Once the "Properties" window appeared, I clicked "Restart File Explorer (*)" in the bottom left.

At this point explorer.exe launched successfully for the first time and I got a toast notification stating the following:
"Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22521.1848"
From there I rebooted the system and everything is working normally now.

I'll attach my exported settings from my two machines in case that data is useful.
explorerpatcher-settings.zip

Is ExplorerPatcher unable to download symbols automatically when explorer.exe doesn't launch?
I genuinely don't know the answer to that because my computer installed the windows update while offline (so the downloading the symbols would have failed on the first boot anyways).
If it is unable to download symbols that is definitely an issue since it seems to me like they were a prerequisite to get my explorer.exe working.

[qheartq616]

I was able to completely recover my environment in a much more elegant way than uninstalling the program or uninstalling any updates. Here was my process.

Once I was logged in but explorer.exe wouldn't launch (black screen), I opened task manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc) Task Manager > Run new task: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI

Once the "Properties" window appeared, I clicked "Restart File Explorer (*)" in the bottom left.

At this point explorer.exe launched successfully for the first time and I got a toast notification stating the following: "Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22521.1848" From there I rebooted the system and everything is working normally now.

I'll attach my exported settings from my two machines in case that data is useful. explorerpatcher-settings.zip

Is ExplorerPatcher unable to download symbols automatically when explorer.exe doesn't launch? I genuinely don't know the answer to that because my computer installed the windows update while offline (so the downloading the symbols would have failed on the first boot anyways). If it is unable to download symbols that is definitely an issue since it seems to me like they were a prerequisite to get my explorer.exe working.

I think this is the solution.
What's more, after "Properties" window appeared, we can enable console in "Advanced" and then Restart File Explorer. It turns out that it was forced to download symbols for OS.
Remember to disable it after download completed.

[pyrates999]

I was able to completely recover my environment in a much more elegant way than uninstalling the program or uninstalling any updates. Here was my process.
Once I was logged in but explorer.exe wouldn't launch (black screen), I opened task manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc) Task Manager > Run new task: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI
Once the "Properties" window appeared, I clicked "Restart File Explorer (*)" in the bottom left.
At this point explorer.exe launched successfully for the first time and I got a toast notification stating the following: "Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22521.1848" From there I rebooted the system and everything is working normally now.
I'll attach my exported settings from my two machines in case that data is useful. explorerpatcher-settings.zip
Is ExplorerPatcher unable to download symbols automatically when explorer.exe doesn't launch? I genuinely don't know the answer to that because my computer installed the windows update while offline (so the downloading the symbols would have failed on the first boot anyways). If it is unable to download symbols that is definitely an issue since it seems to me like they were a prerequisite to get my explorer.exe working.

I think this is the solution. What's more, after "Properties" window appeared, we can enable console in "Advanced" and then Restart File Explorer. It turns out that it was forced to download symbols for OS. Remember to disable it after download completed.

Never disable downloading of symbols for the OS. They are needed by explorer patcher. Unless you are a developer, you should not be disabling that.

[qheartq616]

I was able to completely recover my environment in a much more elegant way than uninstalling the program or uninstalling any updates. Here was my process.
Once I was logged in but explorer.exe wouldn't launch (black screen), I opened task manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc) Task Manager > Run new task: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI
Once the "Properties" window appeared, I clicked "Restart File Explorer (*)" in the bottom left.
At this point explorer.exe launched successfully for the first time and I got a toast notification stating the following: "Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22521.1848" From there I rebooted the system and everything is working normally now.
I'll attach my exported settings from my two machines in case that data is useful. explorerpatcher-settings.zip
Is ExplorerPatcher unable to download symbols automatically when explorer.exe doesn't launch? I genuinely don't know the answer to that because my computer installed the windows update while offline (so the downloading the symbols would have failed on the first boot anyways). If it is unable to download symbols that is definitely an issue since it seems to me like they were a prerequisite to get my explorer.exe working.

I think this is the solution. What's more, after "Properties" window appeared, we can enable console in "Advanced" and then Restart File Explorer. It turns out that it was forced to download symbols for OS. Remember to disable it after download completed.

Never disable downloading of symbols for the OS. They are needed by explorer patcher. Unless you are a developer, you should not be disabling that.

disable console in "Advanced"

[pyrates999]

I was able to completely recover my environment in a much more elegant way than uninstalling the program or uninstalling any updates. Here was my process.
Once I was logged in but explorer.exe wouldn't launch (black screen), I opened task manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc) Task Manager > Run new task: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll",ZZGUI
Once the "Properties" window appeared, I clicked "Restart File Explorer (*)" in the bottom left.
At this point explorer.exe launched successfully for the first time and I got a toast notification stating the following: "Successfully downloaded symbols for OS build 10.0.22521.1848" From there I rebooted the system and everything is working normally now.
I'll attach my exported settings from my two machines in case that data is useful. explorerpatcher-settings.zip
Is ExplorerPatcher unable to download symbols automatically when explorer.exe doesn't launch? I genuinely don't know the answer to that because my computer installed the windows update while offline (so the downloading the symbols would have failed on the first boot anyways). If it is unable to download symbols that is definitely an issue since it seems to me like they were a prerequisite to get my explorer.exe working.

I think this is the solution. What's more, after "Properties" window appeared, we can enable console in "Advanced" and then Restart File Explorer. It turns out that it was forced to download symbols for OS. Remember to disable it after download completed.

Never disable downloading of symbols for the OS. They are needed by explorer patcher. Unless you are a developer, you should not be disabling that.

disable console in "Advanced"

ah my mistake. I thought you meant to disable download symbols.

[voldemarz]

I had this black screen issue after the update on 3 different machines. On all of them I started the Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and from there a new explorer taks. After that had no issues un subsequent reboots.

Two machines use Nvidia GPUs (4090 and P4000), the third is a laptop with Integrated Intel Xe graphics.