I just want to start off by saying I really hate Windows 8... a co-worker asked me to fix their laptop no problem I thought boy did I get into a mess with this one.

So it boots up fine you enter the password and then you get a black screen

I tried rebooting and spamming the F8 key to get safe mode to start no such luck it just goes to the login page.

I did the shift restart and started safemode that way logged in and the same exact thing just a black screen

I tried to do a refresh of the PC except now it's saying that I have the incorrect password even though it will let me login before just to a black screen

Ok I will try a system restore then asks for a password... same thing as the refresh says I have the wrong password.

What the heck is going on here? What am I doing wrong?

Hello Andrew Libera,

Do you use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1?
Have you made any change before this black screen issue?

How do you reset the Windows? Please share screenshot about reset asking for password, because based on my test, I can normally reset the Windows 8.1 with password.

Please take a look at the following KB, and install the update KB 2756872.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2756559

As you can normally boot into safe mode, I think it may be caused by the driver or programs.

Please boot into safe mode, and then try to use the clean boot.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
If the issue is not occur when you use clean boot, you need to check if the program conflict.

Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN

Hello Andrew Libera,

Do you use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1?
Have you made any change before this black screen issue?

How do you reset the Windows? Please share screenshot about reset asking for password, because based on my test, I can normally reset the Windows 8.1 with password.

Please take a look at the following KB, and install the update KB 2756872.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2756559

As you can normally boot into safe mode, I think it may be caused by the driver or programs.

Please boot into safe mode, and then try to use the clean boot.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
If the issue is not occur when you use clean boot, you need to check if the program conflict.

Best regards,
Fangzho