Black screen after Sierra update (today)

Thanks very much for this! I wasn't aware of Etrecheck, but here is its entire report, with apologies for including so many irrelevant lines of code (unfortunately, I don't know which ones):

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2016-12-22 15:40:49

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:30

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Other problem

Description:

Just after completing login, screen goes to black but with active cursor; doesn’t happen using “guest” login ….

Hardware Information:ⓘ

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,2

1 2 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-4750HQ) CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 14

Video Information:ⓘ

Intel Iris Pro

Color LCD 2880 x 1800

System Software:ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12.2 (16C68) - Time since boot: about 5 hours

Disk Information:ⓘ

APPLE SSD SM0256F disk0 : (251 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 249.77 GB (26.43 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 250.14 GB Online

USB Information:ⓘ

Western Digital My Passport 07B8

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

SanDisk Extreme

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub

EPSON EPSON WorkForce 845 Series

Logitech USB Laser Mouse

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub

MediaTek Inc MT1887

Western Digital External HDD

Apple Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

Thunderbolt Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files:ⓘ

/etc/hosts - Count: 1

Gatekeeper:ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions:ⓘ

/Applications/LaCie Desktop Manager.app

[not loaded] com.LaCie.ScsiType00 (1.2.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2013-06-26) [Support]

[not loaded] com.jmicron.driver.jmPeripheralDevice (2.0.4 - 2013-06-26) [Support]

[not loaded] com.lacie.driver.LaCie_RemoteComms (1.0.1 - SDK 10.5 - 2013-06-26) [Support]

[not loaded] com.oxsemi.driver.OxsemiDeviceType00 (1.28.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2013-06-26) [Support]

/Applications/Viscosity.app

[not loaded] com.viscosityvpn.Viscosity.tap (1.2 - 2014-12-04) [Support]

[not loaded] com.viscosityvpn.Viscosity.tun (1.2 - 2014-12-04) [Support]

/Incompatible Software/Parallels Service.app

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.prl_hid_hook (7.0 15107.796624 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor (7.0 15107.796624 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge (7.0 15107.796624 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.prl_usb_connect (7.0 15107.796624 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic (7.0 15107.796624 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.avira.kext.FileAccessControl (1.2.5 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-12-18) [Support]

~/Downloads/LCC Installer.app

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-11-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2013-11-12) [Support]

System Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 180 Apple tasks

[running] 92 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[not loaded] 38 Apple tasks

[loaded] 165 Apple tasks

[running] 108 Apple tasks

Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2011-12-07) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.general.agent.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.gjallarhorn.plist (2016-12-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.notifications.agent.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.odscan.default.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.scheduler.agent.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[running] com.avira.antivirus.systray.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.telemetry.agent.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.update.default.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[running] com.avira.helper.avstats.plist (2016-12-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist (2016-12-13)

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-08-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist (2013-06-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-03-03) [Support]

Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2011-12-07) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.avira.antivirus.dbcleaner.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[running] com.avira.helper.watchdox.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[running] com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist (2013-03-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.cloudpath.maccmd.plist (2012-08-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[running] com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist (2012-10-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-12-18) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist (2014-03-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.sparklabs.ViscosityHelper.plist (2014-12-20) [Support]

[loaded] com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist (2016-12-19) [Support] - /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper: Executable not found!

User Launch Agents:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2012-08-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-08-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-09-29) [Support]

[running] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

[running] com.amazon.cloud-player.plist (2014-02-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.pia.pia_manager.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]

User Login Items:ⓘ

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application

(/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

Google Chrome Application Hidden

(~/Desktop/Time Capsule Desktop/Google Chrome.app)

WDDriveUtilityHelper Application

(/Applications/WD Drive Utilities.app/Contents/WDDriveUtilityHelper.app)

Garmin Express Service Application (2016-09-17)

(/Applications/Garmin Express.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Garmin Express Service.app)

EpsonLowInkReminderAgent Application

(/Applications/Epson Software/Epson Low Ink Reminder.app/Contents/EpsonLowInkReminderAgent.app)

Internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

DirectorShockwave: 11.6.5r635 (2012-06-27) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017265: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (2012-08-10) [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 10.1.10 (2014-08-05) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 (2013-12-27) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-12-13)

Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) Outdated! Update

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-05-06)

AdobePDFViewer: 10.1.10 (2014-08-05) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.1.0 (2011-04-20) [Support]

Scorch: Unknown - SDK 10.2 (2014-04-12) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 7 Update 51 (2014-12-08) Check version

User internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown (2014-10-14) [Support]

3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ

Akamai NetSession Preferences (2016-09-01) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-04-15) [Support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2012-06-06) [Support]

Java (2014-03-03) [Support]

Time Machine:ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.77 GB Disk used: 223.34 GB

Destinations:

My Passport for Mac [Local]

Total size: 999.83 GB

Total number of backups: 85

Oldest backup: 3/5/15, 10:00 PM

Last backup: 12/22/16, 2:59 PM

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 999.83 GB > (Disk size 249.77 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ

10% WindowServer

4% kernel_task

2% savapi

1% fontd

1% com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent

Top Processes by Memory:ⓘ

1.15 GB Google Chrome Helper(11)

792 MB kernel_task

434 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

254 MB Finder

188 MB Google Chrome

Virtual Memory Information:ⓘ

1.90 GB Available RAM

52 MB Free RAM

6.10 GB Used RAM

1.85 GB Cached files

66 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information:ⓘ

Dec 22, 2016, 09:58:15 AM Self test - passed

Dec 20, 2016, 12:50:26 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-12-20-125026_[redacted].crash

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadat a.framework/Versions/A/Support/mds_stores

Dec 20, 2016, 12:27:43 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-12-20-122743_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Versions/A/Support/mds_stores

Dec 20, 2016, 11:24:42 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-12-20-112442_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

Dec 20, 2016, 11:15:55 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-12-20-111555_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

Dec 20, 2016, 11:05:35 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-12-20-110535_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

YES, this is the solution that worked for me too.

1.Start up and quickly press the Command and S keys, to get you into the single-user mode.)

2. You then need to type the following commands: Each one of the five, one after the other

/sbin/fsck -fy

/sbin/mount -uw /

rm -f /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist

rm -f /var/db/.AppleUpgrade

reboot

As explained more in the link ShemThePenman gave.

http://betanews.com/2016/12/15/blank-screen-cursor-macos-update-fix/

AND -- If still a problem another idea already posted by littleden worked: On the black screen, type in your password.

wait. If nothing, type in password again.Wait

THE PROBLEM I've read may have something to do with the way Apple OS is now updated...it messes with the login sequences...so these steps repair the sequences as needed.

Good luck.

Worked for me...magic!

Yes, login items! With thanks to the hint from Luis Sequeira1 above, I cleaned out my login items (System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items ) and now it works properly. Thanks very much all!

We got 2 black screens during the Sierra upgrade on our MacPro 2013 on 12/22/2016. We called Apple and they set up a local Genius Bar appointment the next day and told us to take our monitor with the computer. We called the store and they said to leave our monitor home. Odd!

We took the MacPro to the local Genius Bar on 12/23/2016. Their Apple monitor worked immediately and Sierra OS finished installing. Our black screens never appeared in the Apple Store. Odd!

When we took the MacPro home and reconnected our 2 Samsung Syncmaster 2343BWX monitors, the black screens are back. The next Genius Bar appointment is a week from now, 12/30/2016. Until then, we have a $5,000 paperweight.

It looks like only Apple monitors work now.

Have you tried the quick fix I and others have mentioned? When the black screen appears, type the first letter of your username (even though you can't see it) and hit return, then type your password (again, invisibly) and hit return again. Sounds crazy, but it works.

Heathrow&#39;s mom wrote:

We got 2 black screens during the Sierra upgrade on our MacPro 2013 on 12/22/2016. We called Apple and they set up a local Genius Bar appointment the next day and told us to take our monitor with the computer. We called the store and they said to leave our monitor home. Odd!

We took the MacPro to the local Genius Bar on 12/23/2016. Their Apple monitor worked immediately and Sierra OS finished installing. Our black screens never appeared in the Apple Store. Odd!

When we took the MacPro home and reconnected our 2 Samsung Syncmaster 2343BWX monitors, the black screens are back. The next Genius Bar appointment is a week from now, 12/30/2016. Until then, we have a $5,000 paperweight.

It looks like only Apple monitors work now.

Not true.

Did you try connecting just one of the two monitors and see if that makes a difference?

Also, you did not mention the usual stuff: try on a new user, restart in Safe Mode, reset NVRAM...

This update to 10.12.2 is bleeping scary. I find my MacBook with a black screen......***......nothing...do the hold the power button down restart.....comes back with the screen all scrambled.....another hold the power button down restart.....black screen again with no sign of intelligence. After waiting a long time (>20 minutes) it finally comes up to the login screen. If the update is going to be risky or potentially unsettling to the user, can we at least get a warning or not have the update occur automagically?

Thank you for your post. I just upgraded (not sure if that is the accurate term if you know what I mean) to Sierra from El Capitan. Upon booting the MBPro mid-2015 this afternoon, I was faced with a black screen and a cursor. Fortunstely, I fiund your post, tuped in the password and all was fine. Thank you for saving me hours of aggravation.

So I had this issue on two of my Mac desktops. The black screens happened after the computers automatically backed up in the middle of the night. After reading through a lot of the boards and googling the problem I figured out what was going on.

So if you have the black screen you will need to restart the computer and hold command R while it is starting up. As soon as you see the apple then you can release the command R. Then you will see a Mac Utilities Screen. Initially, I was told to reinstall the software but that didn't seem to work. So then I just used the last backup I had that wasn't 10.12.2. That took a while but it worked. The I went into the App Store and went to updates and started the OS update again for 12.12.2. I had to typed in my admin password for the computer several minutes into the update so make sure you know that. Then the screen went black and the update continued for another 10 minutes or so and it worked and the update was successful. I think having to type in your admin password was the cause of the problem in the automatic update. From now on I will not do automatic updates and do it myself through the app store.

I hope this helps. It saved me a trip to the Genius Bar.

I have the same issue.

The Sierra team must fix the bug

Same issue with me.

I found a little fix for me. At the start up, when the display remains blank, I waited until the display went off by energy saver. Then by pressing the keyboard button the login screen shows up.

Yes, it seems to be Sierra 10.12.2 MacOS operating system issue.

Regards, Robert