Microsoft deny update causes black screen

Microsoft says that a problem with its Windows operating system, dubbed the 'Black Screen of Death' is not due to its latest security update.

The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system.

Security experts have suggested that the firms latest security update, issued on 10 November, was the cause of the problem.

Reports suggest the flaw also affects Vista, XP and other systems.

In a blog posting on its security site, Microsoft said that it had investigated the claims and "found that our November Security Updates are not making changes to the system that these reports say are responsible for these issues".

The firm said that the behaviour was associated with malware, such as Daonol, and that this was probably the root cause.

Software firm Prevx, which has issued a fix for the problem, says "millions" of people may be affected.

"Users have resorted to reloading Windows as a last ditch effort to fix the problem," the firm's David Kennerley wrote in a blog post.

"We hope we can help a good many of you avoid the need to reload."

Unknown problem

The firm said its fix did not work in all cases.

"There can be many causes," said Mr Kennerley.

"But if your black screen woes began in the last two weeks after a Windows update or after running any security program (including Prevx) to remove malware during this time then this fix will have a high probability of working."

Mr Kennerly said the firm had identified "at least 10 different scenarios which will trigger the same black screen conditions".

"These appear to have been around for years now," he said.

The firm reports that the problem affects editions of Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, and Windows 2000.

Microsoft said that people who are affected by the problem should contact its customer service line.

The "black screen of death" moniker is a play on the "blue screen of death", which appears when Microsoft operating systems crash.

-- BBC 2009/12/2

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

My last update went in on the 25th K976098, I have ultimate. No problems like that...since then just updates for defender and MSS. Only problem I have is the infrequent IE shutting down and many have this I understand.

My last update went in on the 25th K976098, I have ultimate. No problems like that...since then just updates for defender and MSS. Only problem I have is the infrequent IE shutting down and many have this I understand.

I also have no problem with my windows 7 Home Ultimate. I only have issue with Explore when I do a search, it shut down. This happen very often

Running Win 7 64-bit with Avira Antivirus. No problem yet with the 25th Nov updates. Not using IE8 but using Firefox and Thunderbird, both 64-bit.

Yes what? Nothing !

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Oh yes....! I had this problem last week... black screen & generally unstable... on Pro version!

Shop said it was the motherboard going "south"... I really don't believe that, it's almost new... they said they "cleaned it" hmmmm...? It was rather vague!

Until this evening I not used the PC as have not been able to connect to internet via CAT CDMA MC727... but that problem now solved, so we'll see, if the black screen comes back!

My last update went in on the 25th K976098, I have ultimate. No problems like that...since then just updates for defender and MSS. Only problem I have is the infrequent IE shutting down and many have this I understand.

I also have no problem with my windows 7 Home Ultimate. I only have issue with Explore when I do a search, it shut down. This happen very often

So do I... Usually, I only use IE for banking but today I tried "bing" at it shutted down several times.

Reading the Guardian on line yesterday -Guardian.co.uk- "Will microsoft updates kill my computer" 2 windows updates for november are the problem. KB915597 and KB976098. Prevx give a"Diy fix "although will not work on all systems. Checked my own and i had downloaded the latter. I Uninstalled it so far so good.

False alarm... It was malware that caused the Black Screen, not the updates.

Prevx issued an apology to Microsoft.