Black Screen But Can See My Cursor

Kudos to YOU!

IT's a fix!

10.9.5 seemed to create the same problem.

For those of you having this problem lately. Run the following command by going into Single User mode by pressing Command + S while booting. Talked to Apple support and resolved it.

mount -uw /

cd /Library/Preferences

mv com.apple.loginwindow.plist com.apple.loginwindow.plist.old

reboot

and do this if it's still not resolved

▪ 1. Shut down your Mac if it is on.

▪ 2. Press the power button to start the computer.

▪ 3. Immediately press and hold the Command key and one of the following:

▪ the "s" key for single-user mode. (Command-S)

then shut your computer and turn it back on normally.

Spiro.r, your solution worked for me. I have gotten JessinMA's solution to work before, but yours works when the other doesn't. It also has the benefit of being able to run from my desk to a remote Mac. Thanks!

Kudos for in response to spiro.r, too.

Strange, but I am logged-in on the original post page and most recent post page... but I am logged-out if I navigate to any of the pages in-between!

Perfect, thanks spiro.r - I was unable to use the earlier method because no input was possible at the black screen. Just needed a quick re-config of the login window prefs.

AFAIK -- /Library/Preferences/loginwindow.plist was deprecated in Mavericks (maybe earlier)... So for me I just removed the com.apple... entry but this wasn't present. It might show up for people who upgraded from earlier OS's but I can't be sure, we don't do that around here 🙂

For what it's worth, we use NIS authentication and therefore use the "username/password" option at the login screen, so you can't just press a letter to pick a user. I was unable to enter anything at the black screen because it would just give me a system beep/funk noise.

Next time (if it happens again), I'll try steps 2 and 4 separately, I'm curious whether both are needed. Again, many thanks!

Well... Nothing has worked. Not sure I'm following directions properly. When I restart holding command+s and I arrive at the screen to enter the info, do I hit return in between each line? The new line begins with root#, or something like this. Is ssh the same as single user mode? I'm lost here. Not sure what to do next.

Same here. I've tired all method mentioned here and none of them seems to work. Going to visit the Genius Bar this weekend. I need my Macbook to work like right now. HALP! Someone.

Strange but this works for me too.

I have been having this problem for many months, even upgrade to Yosemite didn't help. I have been curing this but three finger swiping to anther window and back. Very frustrating.

Was about to go the Apple Store tomorrow but now I don't have to!

Derwoodk, on another Mac, open Terminal and use that to ssh into the one with the problem. SSH isn't Single User Mode. It's a way to log into another computer remotely

Safe boot worked! Thanks

I just wanted to share the fix I have if it happens to you instead of doing a format and reinstall.

1. Start computer holding up COMMAND + SHIFT (puts you into single user mode)
2. In the prompt enter: mount –uw / then hit return (please note spaces in command)
3. Enter: cd /Library/Preferences then hit return (please note spaces AND the Capital L and P – it is case sensitive)
4. Enter: mv com.apple.loginwindow.plist com.apple.loginwindow.plist.old (please note spaces) then hit return
5. Enter: Reboot then hit return
6. Once the computer restarts tap the trackpad (so you see the cursor) then enter the first letter of the username, which would be a (it is best to use the administrator account) then hit ENTER
7. Now enter in the password (groupmtech), then press enter

TracyToronto Step 1 is COMMAND + S (not SHIFT)

Otherwise... good work! 😉

I just wanted to share the fix I have if it happens to you instead of doing a format and reinstall.

****ERROR, it is not COMMAND + SHIFT for the first step, its Command + S

1. Start computer holding up COMMAND + S (puts you into single user mode)
2. In the prompt enter: mount –uw / then hit return (please note spaces in command)
3. Enter: cd /Library/Preferences then hit return (please note spaces AND the Capital L and P – it is case sensitive)
4. Enter: mv com.apple.loginwindow.plist com.apple.loginwindow.plist.old (please note spaces) then hit return
5. Enter: Reboot then hit return
6. Once the computer restarts tap the trackpad (so you see the cursor) then enter the first letter of the username, which would be a in my case (it is best to use the administrator account) then hit ENTER
7. Now enter in the password , then press enter

Yeah Jesseinma!!!! Saved my bacon today with the old "close your eyes and use the force Luke".

This has now worked for me 2 times. Different machines. Most recently 12-12-2014.