How can I remove malware that briefly opens Command Prompt and blacks out my screen?

Check Task Scheduler as well as Startup Apps. Search for Task Scheduler, review tasks that run at logon or system startup, and look for entries launching cmd.exe, PowerShell, scripts, or files from suspicious folders such as temporary user directories. Don’t delete system tasks blindly—check the action, file path, publisher, and creation date first.

Start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs and malware won’t load. From there, run a full scan with Microsoft Defender, not just a quick scan. You can also run an offline scan from Windows Security so the scan happens before normal Windows processes start. Disconnect from the internet first if you’re worried about the infection communicating or downloading anything.

If the screen still goes black in Safe Mode or scans can’t complete, use a clean Windows installation USB to access recovery tools and scan the drive offline. Back up only essential personal documents, then consider reinstalling Windows from trusted installation media if the infection can’t be removed. A full clean reinstall is safer than a factory reset that might preserve compromised files, and you should change important passwords from a different, clean device afterward.