Black Screen after graphics driver installation (Macbook Air Windows 10)

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Level 1

22 points

Black Screen after graphics driver installation (Macbook Air Windows 10)

Hi. I'm using a Macbook Air 2011 and when i'm installing the BC 5.1 driver i get a black screen after the graphics card driver get installed. I've tried it already with the Windows 10 build-in drivers. With the latest Intel ones. At least 4 different drivers. All do install without an error. But as soon they get installed the screen turns black and i can't do anything to get it working again.

Things i tried:

different Windows Editions (Win 8.1/10 & maybe even 7 - truly can't remember)
OSX Sierra and Arch Linux work fine!
Close the lid and wake up again
Press on keyboard the keys for screen brightness
Multiple times SMC/PRAM-Reset

So as long as i don't install graphics driver on the Macbook Air. All works fine.

Reason for black screen:

I could connect to the MB Air via RDP/VNC to see what could be wrong. My finding was: the Air suddenly recognizes a second display. But i don't have any further display connected. I also can't remove that mysterious display. So that seems to be the problem. I've had a working Windows 10 already for months before on this device. Never before I had a problem like this with Windows. I'm out of ideas. It just doesn't make any sense. I was hoping it's some kind of glitch i could get rid of with an SMC/PRAM reset but no it didn't help at all.

Do you have an idea or have encountered the same problem?

MacBook Air, Windows 10, null

Posted on May 4, 2017 8:57 PM

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Answer 1

octra Author

Level 1

22 points

May 8, 2017 1:27 AM in response to Loner T

I've made a discovery testing Windows 10 1703.

I tried to install Windows on a MBR Bootcamp partition (you get one if you create a second exfat partition in disk utility). This worked fine. No black screen after the Bootcamp driver installation.
I tried to install Windows on a modern GPT Bootcamp partition (you get one if you create a second Mac OS Extended (Journaled) partition in disk utility and delete it later inside the Windows 10 installer). This did install fine but as soon as the Bootcamp driver got installed the screen went black and did not turn on again.

So I would not recommend to install Windows 10 on a GPT Bootcamp partition if you have the black screen problem. There seem to be some kind of issue which leads to a not working display. I don't understand it myself but I guess I don't have to. I've tried both and one works well the other not for my Macbook Air 2011 with Bootcamp 5.1 (latest one I can have for my Macbok Air generation).

So if you create a Win 10 thumb drive. You can use Rufus 2.14 (only Windows) or newer. Choose your ISO image and set the partition scheme to "MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM". This way it works for me. I have no more black a black screen after I install the Bootcamp (5.1) drivers.

(Also I did not needed to use the Bootcamp Assistant. If you have a second Windows PC and already the Bootcamp drivers you don't really need the assistant.)

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 5, 2017 3:53 AM in response to octra

Based on MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) - Technical Specifications , you have an Intel HD3K GPU. Windows Updates are notorious for pushing the incorrect Intel drivers.

Based on your comment in Problem with drivers , W10 has forced updates. You will need to use the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and disable updates for the specific PID/VID of the GPU.

Be aware that W10 is not supported on a 2011 Mac since there are no official Apple drivers. The list of supported Mac models is listed in Use Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp - Apple Support .

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Answer 3

octra Author

Level 1

22 points

May 5, 2017 7:00 PM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't think it's anything with the driver because i've tried 3 different drivers and also the BC 5.1 one that worked in the past perfectly fine. Tried them all without the device ever got connected to the Internet.

I've used Windows on this device for years. Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows 8. Windows 8.1. Windows 10. Never had problems. But now the screen turns black. You could think, hey maybe it's Windows 10 1703 that changes something. But no i'm using the same Windows 10 1607 that worked 5 weeks ago perfectly fine.

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Answer 4

octra Author

Level 1

22 points

May 7, 2017 7:14 AM in response to Loner T

Today I had a breakthrough. Found the problem. It was as it seems a broken BootCamp 5.1 driver package with some broken chipset drivers I guess. Because of that all graphics driver I tried turned my screen black.

Thanks for the support Loner! I gave already up on this. Win 10 1703 works fine on my Macbook Air 2011 now (even with BC 5.1).

Have a nice Day!

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 8, 2017 6:53 AM in response to octra

A 2011 Mac is a preUEFI Mac, so it required a CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to emulate legacy BIOS, which uses a MBR overlay on top of a GPT disk called Hybrid MBR to allow such an installation.

You can read about a Hybrid MBR in http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/hybrid.html .

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