User Name Password Log in Register

Remember Me?

What's New? Forum Tutorials News Join Us Search..

FAQ Tutorial Index

Forum Windows 10 Forums Customization

UltraUxThemePatcher - Recover From Black/Grey Screen - Windows 8 / 10

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Last

29 Jan 2017 #1

UltraUxThemePatcher - Recover From Black/Grey Screen - Windows 8 / 10

TheArkive Updated: 28 May 2018

Member

Posts : 13 ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Windows 10 v1803
Build 17134.48
For resolutions to issues relating to updating to Windows 10 v1803 please see this thread:
VirtualCustoms Forum: Win 10 v1803 Build 17134.48 - update and theme issues [mostly
RESOLVED]

*** I have fixed 3 PC's with this method so far ***

At first, when messing around with 3rd party themes in Windows, I thought the black/grey
screen was a dead end. I actually recovered from it recently and wanted to share.

This should apply to most if not all 3rd party windows theme reboot issues
(UltraUxThemePatcher and UxStyle). I'll explain how I got this info at the bottom of this post,
but for now let's get to the main point.

You will need a boot disc to get you to the windows command line.

You should be able to use your Windows 10 installation media (disc/USB). Just boot up to the
first screen before you click NEXT to start the installation and press SHIFT + F10. You can get
a command prompt that way (unless your install media has that feature disabled).

If you can't do SHIFT + F10 with your Windows Install Media then you will need to use a boot
disc. The links below will help you create one.

Origin of boot disc image:

Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK)

WinPE = Windows Preinstallation Environment

WinPE: Create USB Bootable drive

All official Microsoft distributions.

Tools for writing disc image to media:

- Rufus for USB
- ImgBurn for CD/DVD

The issue is nothing more than the theme files themselves. Not Windows Update (not
anymore - as far as UxStyle or UltraUxThemePatcher is concerned). If you check the
changelog / FAQ for UltraUxThemePatcher you'll see its been fixed. As for UxStyle, it does
everything in memory, so there's almost nothing to break/fix (except disabling Fast Startup -
later in this tutorial).
later in this tutorial).

============================
===== PART 1 =====
Replace [offending theme] with default theme
============================

NOTE: It is important to either already know, or be able to find out the exact name of the
[offending theme].theme file you used before your system went to black screens on boot.
Without this info, this tutorial won't be much help to you. In this tutorial I refer to the theme
that broke your system as [offending theme].theme.

POSSIBLE EXAMPLES:

Super Awesome Theme Green.theme

HUD Theme for Geeks Red.theme

NOTE: The title of the theme on whatever forum you got it from might be different from the
actual .theme file name. If you are confused, post a question and I will try to get to you as
soon as I can. But I highly recommend you learn to use the command line and browse
C:\Windows\Resourses\Themes. If you know how to use the command line to browse, then
you are half way to being able to delete and copy/rename files as well, which is all you need
to do to get your PC back without a full reformat.

1) Boot from a boot disc (CD/DVD/USB) and get to the command line.

2) Find out what your system drive letter is. It will most likely not be the C drive when you
use a boot disk. Type the following command and see which drives exist on your system. I
highly recommend you unplug all extra USB drives from your computer, unless you know
exactly what you are doing. The more disk drives hooked in, the longer the list will be.

COMMAND:

wmic logicaldisk get caption,volumename

Example result:

Code:
Caption VolumeName
D: Something
E: Windows10
F: Something Else
X: Boot Disk

If I named my C drive Windows10 then when using a boot disk, in this case it is the E
drive. Make note of what your system drive letter is. It should be easy to spot. If you
didn't use a custom name / volume label then look inside the Program Files / Program
Files (x86) folders and check for software you remember installing. This will help you
identify the correct drive letter.

Here's a list of commands for looking around in drives and folders and how to use
them. Always assume to press ENTER after typing each command. I will type
commands in CAPS but note this is not necessary. I only do this for clarity.

To make the E drive active.

E:
Use any other letter to make that drive letter active. The drive letter must exist in order
for this to work.
 To list the contents of a drive or folder:
DIR

To go into a folder...
CD FolderName
Example:
CD Windows

To go into a folder with spaces in the name...

CD "Folder Name"
Example:
CD "Program Files (x86)"
Example 2 - the drive can also be specified when going into a folder:
CD "C:\Program Files (x86)"

3) Navigate to the following directory:

Replace Z with your system drive letter in the following examples.

Z:\Windows\Resources\Themes

COMMANDS:

Z:
cd\
cd windows\resources\themes

4) Make note of the [offending theme].theme file name (don't misspell it!)

NOTE: Hopefully you remember the last theme you tried before everything when belly up.

5) Delete the [offending theme].theme file (but remember the file name!!!!)

COMMAND:

del [offending theme].theme

6) Copy the aero.theme file and rename it to [offending theme].theme

COMMAND:

copy aero.theme "[offending theme].theme"

(chances are your theme will have spaces, so use quotes)

After this restart and try to log in again. If it doesn't work get back to the command line
and navigate to C:\Windows\Resourses\Themes folder as you did in the beginning of
this section, then proceed to step 7.

/// #7 is thanks to user @brainvision \\\

7) Delete the folder associated with "[offending theme]". After you delete that folder, copy
the "aero" folder to the "[offending theme]".

COMMAND:

del [offending theme]

 copy aero "[offending theme]"

============================

This may be enough for some people. If you already disabled Fast Startup, try restarting
normally into windows and change your theme back to default. You may notice artifacts
from the previous malfunctioning theme. They will go away once you use the GUI to set the
windows theme back to default.

If you did NOT disable Fast Startup, or if you just updated Windows and cannot log in, keep
reading.

I could not even get into Safe Mode with the [offending theme] still active. Make sure you
complete PART 1 above first before proceeding.

Since Win 8/10 won't allow you to start in Safe Mode with F8 anymore, here's how you get
into Safe Mode, and then disable fast startup:

============================
===== Hopefully this works =====
Before going on to Part 2
============================

1) Start your PC

2) as soon as you see the spinning dots, force shutdown by holding the power button

3) this should trigger a "Repair Mode" of sorts, if not, then after forced power down, power
up again - wait for spinning dots - force shutdown by holding power button - do this at least
3 times until you get a msg stating you are entering "Repair Mode" (or something like that)

NOTE: If none of this works and you can't get into repair mode, continue on to Part 2.

IF YOU ARE NOW IN SAFE MODE and have NOT disabled FAST STARTUP.....

4) Run attachment below: Fast Startup - Disable.7z / mirror link

or
run this command on the command line:

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power" /V

HiberbootEnabled /T REG_dWORD /D 0 /F

-=-=-=-= OR =-=-=-=-

If you are coming from a windows update that prevents you from logging on, if you made it
this far into safe mode, you should see some kind of full screen text animation talking about
all the "wonderful" udpates. Once you finally see your desktop again, you should be good to
go back into windows normally (just restart). You may have to update your components, like
UltraUxThemePatcher, in order to resume normal functionality. With any luck, you are now
done.

============================
===== PART 2 =====
Force Safe Mode and disable Fast Startup
============================
NOTE: These settings are "permanent" and will have to be undone via command line when
NOTE: These settings are "permanent" and will have to be undone via command line when
done (shown at the end).

1) Boot via disc (CD/DVD/USB) and get to command prompt.

2) Type BCDEDIT to display your current boot info.

- Look for an entry that says Windows Boot Loader
- Given the boot disc i used my boot records showed up named as {default}. Look for a line
that says:

identifier {something_here}

the {something_here} is the identifier

============================
the point is to find out what your {identifier} is

in my case, via boot disc, it was {default}

replace {default} with your {identifier} as necessary in the commands below

============================

NOTE: If you see multiple instances of Windows Boot Loader, don't worry. If you modify the
wrong boot record, you won't break much if anything. You can always undo the changes
(later in this tutorial). Just keep in mind that you modify a specific boot record by using its
{identifier}. Generally, the {identifier} you need to use in this case should be {default}.

3) Run commands to force safe mode on next boot:

COMMANDS:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

or
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

NOTE: I needed network safe mode to look up instructions for disabling Fast Startup,
but I've included that in this tutorial! Safe Mode is the only way to boot up a system
affected by "black screen" issues (after completing PART 1 above) so that you can
actually disable Fast Startup and finally tell your system to stop loading the previously
saved system state that has your "black screen" issues bundled in it.

4) Reboot normally into windows. Safe mode will be forced without prompt. Assuming you
completed PART 1 above, you should be able to see the interface just fine instead of
black/grey screen. You may see some artifacts remaining from the [offending theme]. You
won't be able to change the theme in safe mode. But you can disable Fast Startup (tutorial
by Brink). The info in that tutorial is included in this one.

5) Run attachment below: Fast Startup - Disable.7z / mirror link

or
run this command on the command line:

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power" /V

HiberbootEnabled /T REG_dWORD /D 0 /F

6) Disable safe mode:

COMMANDS:

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

 (doing this in safe mode, and not from a boot disc, means your {default} configuration
is now referred to as {current})

7) Reboot normally into windows.

============================

Now you should be back to a functional system state.

============================
===== PART 3 =====
How to prevent this... or make recovery easier
============================

Coming across a malfunctioning theme, or one that isn't compatible with your setup /
windows version / etc, is inevitable. You won't have to do all of these things listed below, just
make sure you take into consideration your current setup.

Here's how to make future recovery easier:

1) TURN OFF Fast Startup!!

Pretty much mandatory for all serious theme enthusiasts. This is a system setting and
affects all user accounts. It only needs to be disabled once (per install).
I've mentioned this several times in this post, and for good reason. Fast Startup will save
your previous system state, errors and all. Not good for themes, or any kind of tinkering
under the hood in Windows. Any issues with UltraUxThemePatcher and UxStyle should
almost completely disappear after you disable Fast Startup. Disabling Fast Startup will allow
your system to completely refresh new settings as needed on every new boot and therefore
your recovery from malfunctioning themes will be much more assured if it is off. The one
thing that can't be fixed by disabling Fast Startup is an incompatible/faulty theme.

2) Setup a backup user account (with or without passwords).

This is best if you don't want to permanently enable Safe Mode boot options. This works fine
even if you have automatic login enabled (read #4).
The user logon screen is usually immune to theme malfunctions. I figured this out by
accident. Once you log on to a user account with a malfunctioning theme, it's back to the
black/grey/flashing/etc screen, however you can still reboot and get back to the login screen
as long as you don't have auto-login configured via netplwiz. A 2nd user account will allow
you to go in and do the modifications in PART 1 via the windows GUI.

3) Add boot options to include Safe Mode as an option (Win 8 / 10)

This is best if you prefer a single-user configuration or if you use automatic login. The
downside is that you must use command line to replace offending theme files with default
files (renamed as the [offending theme] folder and file).
Brink (on tenforums) has made a tutorial for that here. This will make the command prompt
more accessible without the need for a boot disc, in case you have to repeat this tutorial. If
you choose this you'll want to make sure you only enable a "command-line only" safe mode
option. Faulty themes will prevent any GUI from loading, even in Safe Mode.

4) Manage automatic logon properly (netplwiz)

Good news! Automatic login can be bypassed!
I recently learned that you can have your system configured for automatic login, and
selectively disable it on the fly.

- Boot up normally

- once you see the windows logo and circling dots hold SHIFT

- keep holding SHIFT until you see the login screen background, at this point automatic
 - keep holding SHIFT until you see the login screen background, at this point automatic
login has been bypassed

- this might not work with bluetooth or USB keyboards connected to a hub on a laptop,
but it works!

This makes having a backup user account far more appealing (to me) since I can still
configure automatic login, and have a GUI to fix theme issues in the alternate user account!
No need to mess with safe mode even.

5) Change your power options - Do NOT "Sleep" on Power Button or Lid Close
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Any setting you allow (or as default) that preserves the previous system state
(hibernation/sleep mode) that potentially has fatal errors will cause you many headaches.

My power settings look like this:

(Plugged in / Battery)
Lid Close: Nothing / Nothing
Power Button: Shutdown / Shutdown
Sleep: Never / Never

You may have good success with different power settings, but I'm tellin ya, disable Fast
Startup!!!
============================

Hope this helps someone. Please let me know if any of this works for you. I'm hoping my
success isn't an isolated incident.

============================
My Testing / Results Explained
============================

My first issue / resolution started with a black screen, a 3-day old backup, and trying to
uninstall / upgrade UltraUxThemePatcher. Usually at some point when using a 3rd party
theme I'll see some artifacts after a few weeks. The results and timing are always random,
but when I saw these glitches, I usually knew uninstalling UltraUxThemePatcher would get
me the black screen.

Basically, I borked my system, and tried several things, always going back to my 3 day old
backup each time an uninstall of UltraUxThemePatcher borked my system again. I finally
came across Fast Startup, I had forgotten about it, but did remember that it saved a
previous system state, which of course I didn't want. After disabling Fast Startup round 1
was over and I got my system back only losing 3 days worth of data, which wasn't much this
time.

Round 2 started on a business trip. I was feeling confident after round 1 so in my free time
on this trip I tried some more themes. My system borked again. As soon as I clicked APPLY I
saw the black screen again. CTRL + ALT + DEL did nothing. It was obvious that round 2 had
begun. Luckily, I recently did a clean install of windows and had not yet used netplwiz to
configure automatic login. After seeing that the login screen was immune to theme issues I
realized that a 2nd user account would have been even more helpful. At this point I had not
even disabled Fast Startup after my clean OS install, so I knew it was "do or die" once again.

The login screen immunity to theme issues gave me the idea to just overwrite the bad
theme with the windows default theme (this has no effect with Fast Startup on). After
 theme with the windows default theme (this has no effect with Fast Startup on). After
struggling to get to a command line prompt, I managed to do that, force safe mode, and
turn off Fast Startup (again - now I have the saved reg file... Oy).

It all worked out beautifully.

For a while I have not been a fan of making HDD images for backup mostly because 3rd
party themes gave me so much heck. I didn't want to reinstate a half broken OS when
restoring. Now that I more accurately understand the issues of 3rd party themes and how to
recover from them I'm much more confident not only in keeping my backups running, but in
trying more themes!

EDIT: Apparently posting the actual boot disk made Microsoft unhappy. Fortunately, the
tools to make the boot disc are still free. The link to the boot disc and the boot disc image
have been taken down.

EDIT2: Added some clarity on how to find out what your system drive letter is (under normal
circumstances) when using a boot disk.

Attached Files
Fast Startup - Disable.reg (302 Bytes, 26 views)

Last edited by TheArkive; 12 Jan 2019 at 07:40.

My Computer Quote

20 Feb 2017 #2

i went the way below

my history:
Perlchamp => ssd 32gb with uefi and gpt
Junior Member
=> clean installed win10 build 14393.rs1_release.160715-1616 (for this i made a USB 3.0
bootstick with rufus)
Posts : 6
x64 Windows10 => no other updates
Home Build
=> did set a windows system restore point
14393.rs1_release.160715-
1616 without => did install UltraUXThemePatcher 3.1.4
KB3213986 +
KB3211320 => did install a Theme (i think it was dark-ubuntu), got dark gray background, no nothing
=> did turn off the pc, put in my bootstick, turned on pc and it booted to the windows-
installation mask (os and language-settings). THERE in left bottom corner was a link "other
installoptions" (or something like that). clicked on it and came into the mask, where you can
choose "troubleshooting" (or something like that). here you have the possibility to choose
the command prompt (for sfc), or you can choose to reset your pc (all data left). i've chosen
"set pc to an older system restore point"
=> no five minutes at all for restore, got back my os !

so long

My Computer Quote

#3
 03 Mar 2017 #3

Perlchamp said:
TheArkive
Member my history:
=> ssd 32gb with uefi and gpt
Posts : 13 => clean installed win10 build 14393.rs1_release.160715-1616 (for this i made a
Windows 10 v1803
Build 17134.48
USB 3.0 bootstick with rufus)
=> no other updates
=> did set a windows system restore point
=> did install UltraUXThemePatcher 3.1.4
=> did install a Theme (i think it was dark-ubuntu), got dark gray background, no
nothing
=> did turn off the pc, put in my bootstick, turned on pc and it booted to the
windows-installation mask (os and language-settings). THERE in left bottom corner
was a link "other installoptions" (or something like that). clicked on it and came
into the mask, where you can choose "troubleshooting" (or something like that).
here you have the possibility to choose the command prompt (for sfc), or you can
choose to reset your pc (all data left). i've chosen "set pc to an older system
restore point"
=> no five minutes at all for restore, got back my os !

so long

Thanks for posting! Yah, I don't use system restore points like I should. I usually use disk
images.

But big thanks for posting your success results!

My Computer Quote

08 Mar 2017 #4

I have a 3 point question here:

1) Is having Fast Boot disabled Pre-Installed going to prevent this?

RECONBunny
Member
2) System Restore points can totally undo this if something ****s right?
Posts : 90
Windows 7 3) If I uninstall this patcher is it going to mess my Windows up? What's the point of that?
Ultimate x64 |
Windows 10 Home
x64

Last edited by RECONBunny; 08 Mar 2017 at 02:30.

My Computer Quote

#5
 08 Mar 2017

my experiences in these cases are:

1) yes, because with disabled "fast boot" you can reach the boot-menu (one time i had it
enabled, and couldn't come into boot-menu => took out batterie on MoBo => got the
Perlchamp possibility back coming into boot-menu again)
Junior Member
2) security first, this means set a restopre point before installing themepatcher and better:
Posts : 6 make a system-image with security-soft that really works (test it)
x64 Windows10 3) use ccleaner after uninstall, or replace your system-image you made before or reset
Home Build
14393.rs1_release.160715-restore-point you made before
1616 without
KB3213986 +
KB3211320
what i think:
don't install themepatcher-software because you never will know what will happen, if
microsoft comes with updates. by the way: i can't understand why microsoft block users to
modify the design (here is the starting point of becoming/getting motivated employers -
microsoft has build some locker-rooms and quiet-zones instead ...)

My Computer Quote

31 Mar 2017 #6

1) Is having Fast Boot disabled Pre-Installed going to prevent this?

TheArkive
Member ####
As long as the configuration is correct then yes. Fastboot is part of hibernation mode, so
Posts : 13 hibernation must be disabled too, but that is covered by the attachment in my OP.
Windows 10 v1803
Build 17134.48 ####

2) System Restore points can totally undo this if something ****s right?

####
It should. I've had issues with system restore actually restoring a faulty state. But with
fastboot properly disabled system restore should be more reliable.
####

3) If I uninstall this patcher is it going to mess my Windows up? What's the point of that?

####
You will only mess up windows if you uninstall this patcher while your system is in an
unstable state because of waking from hibernation or booting with fastboot. Or if you
uninstall the program while an unsigned theme is active.

This is covered in the OP, but I'll say it again because it's important:

Once you disable fastboot you must shutdown and do a cold boot to break the fastboot
cycle. Once the cycle is broken everything will be more reliable when using
UltraUxThemePatcher. It works even through windows updates.

EDIT:

The purpose of using theme patcher software is to be able to run 3rd party themes that are
not signed by Microsoft. Obviously if you are not comfortable modifying your system, then
this is not an option for you. If you want to modify the Windows theme beyond the options
given to you by Microsoft, then theme patcher software will in most cases be required.
 Last edited by TheArkive; 28 May 2018 at 14:02.

My Computer Quote

23 Jun 2017 #7

Hi...the part 1 ..when it says to delete the offering theme file and folder..how do you do that
and when I put copy aero.theme "[offending theme].theme" it says the system cannot found
fernandex00
Junior Member the file..help please

Posts : 1
Android

My Computer Quote

15 Aug 2017 #8

fernandex00 said:
TheArkive
Member Hi...the part 1 ..when it says to delete the offering theme file and folder..how do
you do that and when I put copy aero.theme "[offending theme].theme" it says
Posts : 13 the system cannot found the file..help please
Windows 10 v1803
Build 17134.48
EDIT: 28 May 2018

I've updated the tutorial. Basically, you don't need to mess with the [offending theme]
folder, only the [offending theme].theme file.

COMMAND:

del "[offending theme].theme"

copy aero.theme "[offending theme].theme"

That should be it once you:

1) get to the command line

2) navigate the command line to the proper directory

which is: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

Once you get this far just run the above commands. Replace [offending theme] with the
actual file name of the theme that caused you issues (or potentially caused you issues).

===========================================

If you have questions on how to get to the command line, or how to navigate the command
line, please see the updated original post.

Last edited by TheArkive; 28 May 2018 at 14:00.

My Computer Quote

#9
 30 Sep 2017

I did everything correct. Everything was going great until xcopy aero "Aero 7" /i and it said 0
files were copied. After all the rest, when I restarted my computers into safe mode, it flashed
McKraken
Junior Member black and white.

Posts : 1
Windows 10

My Computer Quote

28 Feb 2018 #10

McKraken said:
TheArkive
Member I did everything correct. Everything was going great until xcopy aero "Aero 7" /i
and it said 0 files were copied. After all the rest, when I restarted my computers
Posts : 13 into safe mode, it flashed black and white.
Windows 10 v1803
Build 17134.48
EDIT: 28 May 2018

I've updated the tutorial. Basically, you don't need to mess with the [offending theme]
folder, only the [offending theme].theme file.

COMMAND:

del "[offending theme].theme"

copy aero.theme "[offending theme].theme"

That should be it once you:

1) get to the command line

2) navigate the command line to the proper directory

which is: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

Once you get this far just run the above commands. Replace [offending theme] with the
actual file name of the theme that caused you issues (or potentially caused you issues).

===========================================

If you have questions on how to get to the command line, or how to navigate the command
line, please see the updated original post.

Last edited by TheArkive; 28 May 2018 at 14:00.

My Computer Quote

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Last
 Related Threads

Window 10 - Black Screen with Grey Flickering at startup. in Graphic Cards

So here's how it all went down... This morning when I open the device manager, I saw that the display adapter, Intel HD Graphics 4000 had a yellow
exclamation mark on it. When I clicked it, it saids Window had stopped the device from working(code...

PC black/grey screens then restarts in General Support

Hey all So the last 2 days on 3 separate occasions my computer has crashed and restarted, when it happens my screens (2) either turn black or a
random colour (light greyish on 2 of 3 occasions). All 3 times have happened whilst I have been...

Grey screen in settings | Windows 10 in General Support

I'm trying to change my account password but when I click 'change', a grey window pops up for about 20 seconds then closes. This also happens when
using Cortana. Does anyone know how to resolve this? 68312

Windows Ten Screen flashing black and grey in General Support

Hello! I recently got a windows 10 ASUS laptop, and I tried to install this theme on it. After installing it, I went to personalization, and clicked on the
theme. The screen started flashing black and light gray, I tried rebooting, but to no avail....

Our Sites Site Links About Us Find Us

Vista Forums Contact Us Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has
Eight Forums Privacy and Cookies not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved
Seven Forums Terms of service by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related
materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 17:18.