Solved Blank screen on restart after removing Crimewatch with AdwCleaner

[DrewAcerAspWin7]

Upon downloading Horizon, I became infected with the adware, Crimewatch.
I scanned for adware using MalwareBytes and AdwCleaner simultaneously.
I Quarantined all infections on Malware, closed it.
Then selected "Clean" on AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner did not show me what it detected, nor did it tell me what it removed. It asked to restart, so I did.

Log-in screen is now blank! Even in safe-mode. But, I can still see my cursor.

I then used F8 to access the System Recovery Options.
Start-up repair and System Restore did not solve my problem.

What else can I do?
Could the adware be causing my problem? Or is it more likely that AdwCleaner removed something vital in the registry? I trust MalwareBytes is not the issue. Been using it for years without one problem!

I have begun backing up my files using Knoppix incase I must reinstall Windows, but I'm hoping for a more convenient alternative.

(Acer Aspire 5517 KAWg0)

 

[Jacee]

Malwarebyte's is not an antivirus ... it is an "anti-malware" program. Please read this: https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/topic/8068-is-antimalwarebytes-an-anti-virus-program/

 

[DrewAcerAspWin7]

Yes, I know. Malware bytes is anti-malware, but it can also be used to remove Adware, Trojans, Potentionally Unwanted Programs. That's why I ran it alongside Adware Cleaner. I also have McAfee

If you meant my bio, thanks, I'll change that right away.

 

[DrewAcerAspWin7]

Problem solved.

So I set my PC back to factory settings. I'm surprised how fast it was to do! And all these years I procrastinated on setting my PC back to Factory settings, as recomended by others to do so at least once a year.

PC works like brand new! Wootz!