Ctrl-Alt-Del to unlock Computer > Login > Black Sreen

dmitchell · 18 Nov 2010

I have 10 new Win7(64)Pro Dell Optiplex980

8 of 10 are having this issue

Network w/ SBS2k3 Domain Policy requires (for pci compliance) to force all workstations to lock if inactive for 10 minutes.

When a user returns to their pc, the press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to provide their login creds. Upon doing so correctly, the screen goes black, and appears to be completely unresponsive... The only option is the hard boot the device...

In some cases if we elect to lock manually (rather that wait 10 min) login from this seems to work most of the time, but in some cases I end up with the same result described above...

One other note, is that I have yet to experience any of the other issues I've read through on this forum (thank god) meaning, I have not loggon problems on any of my machines unless unlocking a pc that has a user already logged in... FYI, if I switch users, I've had a 100% success loggin in doing this, It only seems to affect a user that is unlocking the machine that is currently logged in...

All 10 were configured out of the box with Dell setup, all fully updated, all configured the same way... We've disabled all identifyable power management settings (win/bios), disabled hibernation (powercfg -h off). In short all 10 machines are identical... The weird part is that 2 of the machines have never had a problem with any of this...

It seems like once locked, the machines don't want to unlock. ps: on rare instances the pc did unlock but it took 3-10 minutes, in most cases indefinitely (meaning we gave up and had to get to work, so we had to hard boot)

This is a real mystery... That's why I'm calling in Scooby and the gang!

usasma · 20 Nov 2010

I'd suggest 2 things:
- update all drivers to the manufacturer's latest version (not Dell, but the actual manufacturer of each device). If they have ATI graphics, install the Drivers Only drivers - not the Catalyst Control Center
- once all device drivers are installed, then get all Windows Updates. Carefully review the optional/additional one's to see what they are before installing them.

Beyond that, I'd take one of the systems and see if the issue occurs without the group policy settings.
Ruling out the group policy is probably the most important thing at this point.

Fixing the KSOD (Black Screen of Death) is very difficult, very time consuming, and usually unsuccessful. In the past (at work) we've tried to fix them. We've spent weeks (literally!) and weren't able to fix them. So we don't even try to fix them any longer- we just ask the customer about a backup and then reinstall Windows.

Once you've ruled out the Group Policy settings, then the problem becomes one of fixing the individual systems - and then you can decide to either try and fix then or simply wipe and reinstall Windows.