Black screen with cursor after login on Windows 11 - Startup Repair, SFC, and System Restore didn't fix it

Hello everyone,
I have an HP laptop running Windows 11 (exact model unknown).
My laptop boots normally to the login screen. After I enter the correct password, the screen turns black with only the mouse cursor visible. I cannot reach the desktop.
This started immediately after I deleted the C:\$Windows.~BT folder while trying to free disk space after a failed Windows Update.
Things I have already tried:
Startup Repair (did not fix it)
System Restore (failed)
Safe Mode (did not help)
sfc /scannow (no integrity violations)
BitLocker unlocked successfully
bcdedit shows osdevice partition=C:
Winlogon Shell = explorer.exe
Winlogon Userinit = C:\Windows\System32\userinit.exe,
I do not want to reset or reinstall Windows because this is my brother's laptop and I need to preserve all data.
Is there any way to repair this black screen issue without resetting Windows?

I'm guessing you didn't make a system image backup before the update?

Try a Repair install Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems with Windows Update

Adityachaurasia said:

the screen turns black with only the mouse cursor visible. I cannot reach the desktop.

Click to expand...

If this is true how have you been able to try anything at all with no user interface? Just wondering.

wiganken said:

If this is true how have you been able to try anything at all with no user interface? Just wondering.

Click to expand...

I was not using windows interface , instead I was using WinRe

BrianInEngland said:

I'm guessing you didn't make a system image backup before the update?

Try a Repair install Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems with Windows Update

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked, but I cannot access Settings or desktop because the system goes to a black screen after login.

ChatGPT:

1. Check whether Explorer can start manually.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc (or Ctrl+Alt+Del → Task Manager).

If Task Manager opens, choose File → Run new task and run:

explorer.exe

If Explorer immediately exits or nothing appears, there is likely a deeper system problem.

2. Look for pending update actions.

From WinRE Command Prompt:

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

If Windows is stuck with an incomplete update, this can sometimes restore a bootable state.

3. Run DISM against the offline installation.

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

If it requests a source, you'll need Windows installation media matching the installed version.

4. Check the disk.

chkdsk C: /f

If prompted, allow repairs.

What happened with : Startup Repair (did not fix it)

Was there a srttrail.txt?


Please boot to Windows RE > run these commands > post share links

Celery said:

ChatGPT:

1. Check whether Explorer can start manually.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc (or Ctrl+Alt+Del → Task Manager).

If Task Manager opens, choose File → Run new task and run:

explorer.exe

If Explorer immediately exits or nothing appears, there is likely a deeper system problem.

2. Look for pending update actions.

From WinRE Command Prompt:

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

If Windows is stuck with an incomplete update, this can sometimes restore a bootable state.

3. Run DISM against the offline installation.

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

If it requests a source, you'll need Windows installation media matching the installed version.

4. Check the disk.

chkdsk C: /f

If prompted, allow repairs.

Click to expand...

I tried all this still not fixing

Search for > post a share link

c:\windows\system32\logfiles\srt\srttrail.txt



Run > post share links

bcdedit
bcdedit | find "osdevice"
DISM /Image:W:\ /Get-Drivers /Format:Table
(change the letter W to the partition letter in the result from the prior command)

Adityachaurasia said:

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked, but I cannot access Settings or desktop because the system goes to a black screen after login.

Click to expand...

Try WIN + I to get into Settings