It’s frustrating when you power on your computer only to find yourself staring at a black screen?

The problem can occur due to a number of reasons, the most ones being:

• Power or connection problems
• Faulty computer hardware
• Loose components (like RAM)
• Incorrect BIOS configuration
• Corrupted or outdated graphics drivers

This post gives you easy, DIY fixes (with step-by-step instructions) to fix the “computer turns on but no display” issue. Let’s dive right in.

Solution#1 – Make sure cables are properly connected and working

Ensure all the cables, such as HDMI and VGA cables, are connected and working. Don’t forget to inspect the power cord of your monitor.

Solution#2 – Disconnect peripheral devices

At times, the issue can be caused by peripheral devices such as external storage drives and webcams. In case you are using any peripheral devices, disconnect them and reboot Windows.

If this does the trick, then reconnect the peripheral devices one by one and reboot Windows each time to identify the culprit.

Solution #3 – Perform a hard reset

At times, static or residual electricity could get stored on the system’s board capacitors, which in turn could cause issues when you power on your PC. This is where a hard reset can come in. It drains the residual power, thereby helping fix the black-screen-on-starting-PC issue.

• Performing a hard reset is not difficult at all. Just follow the steps shared below.
• Turn the computer off
• Disconnect your power cable (If you’re a laptop user, you’ll need to replace the battery as well)
• Disconnect the external devices, such as webcams, media cards, and USB drivers
• Press down the power button and hold it for 20-25 seconds to ensure the residual power gets drained
• Reconnect your power cable (Laptop users need to replace the battery as well)
• Restart Windows

Solution #5 – Reset BIOS settings

If the above-mentioned solutions don’t work, check whether the problem persists with another monitor. If it doesn’t, it’s possible the display issue is being caused by your computer’s BIOS, which activates everything that your Windows PC needs to start.

Resetting the BIOS settings restores them to the last saved configuration and may help fix the issue of blank screen.

Important: Resetting the BIOS settings is not going to erase hard drive data, but it could affect how the hardware is configured if you changed the settings before. You should perform the steps listed below only if you are confident about your ability to understand BIOS settings. Otherwise, skip this solution because incorrect changes to BIOS settings could cause various serious issues to crop up.

How to reset the BIOS settings

The simplest way to reset the BIOS is from its interface. Even in your screen is black, you may be able to access BIOS interface if your monitor is able to receive power.

• Turn your computer on
• Press and hold F2 key till you see “Entering Setup”
• Reset BIOS to its default settings. How you can do this depends on your computer model and version, but three most common ways are: (1) Click Load defaults, (2) Press F9 key to load factory settings, and (3) Press Alt+F keys to load factory settings
• Now press Esc key and then select “Exit” or “Save and Exit”
• Press Enter key to save the changes and exit the BIOS screen
• Windows should restart automatically

Solution #6 – Reseat memory modules

Loose RAM sticks may cause startup errors. Reseating them (which basically means removing components and putting them back into their original slot) can help resolve those connections.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Turn the computer off
• Now remove your power cable
• Open the computer cover or case
• Remove the RAM and now reseat it in its original place

In case of more than one memory modules, you might consider reseating every component. You may even consider switching their slots. In case the RAM is rusty, it might be a good idea to clean it with an eraser.

Solution #7 – Update graphics driver

You can update the graphics driver manually or automatically. We have discussed both the methods here. You can pick the one that you like better. Most computer users prefer the automatic method since it requires no technical knowledge and is many times faster than the manual method.

Updating graphics driver manually

To manually update the graphics driver, follow these steps:

• Go to Windows Start bar, type device manager, click the Device Manager application
• In the Device Manager window, expand the Display adapters entry
• Now you will see the display adapter on your computer
• To update the driver, right-click the graphics card, and select Update driver
• In the Update driver dialog window, click Search automatically for drivers
• Windows will search the Internet for the latest driver and automatically install it
• Restart Windows after the new driver has been installed

Update graphics driver automatically

If you would rather not jump through hoops to install the latest driver, we recommend using a reliable driver update software tool such as DriverUpdater. It will update your graphics card driver (and other device drivers) with just a few mouse clicks.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

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