How To Fix A Powered-On Laptop That Won’t Start

By: Editorial Team

Has your laptop’s display ever failed to show anything even after turning your gadget on? If this has ever happened to you, you understand how frustrating it can be. Your screen remaining black when you need to do something urgent can be a disappointing occurrence that needs to be avoided. Fortunately, you don’t have to look further because our article will look at some of the proven ways of dealing with such an occurrence.

However, before we focus on our subject of discussion, let’s look at why your laptop may refuse to start or display anything even after pressing the power button.

Reasons Why Your Screen May Remain Black Even After Powering Your Laptop On

1. Battery Issues

Did you know that a faulty battery can make your laptop’s screen remain black even after powering it on? Most people don’t know that a damaged battery may hinder booting preventing your device from displaying anything on the screen. This can still happen even if you dedicate your time and charge your device to full capacity. However, worry not because we will look at some ways to fix this.

2. Os Issues

Your laptop’s operating system dictates what it can do and cannot. To establish if it is the main reason contributing to our subject of discussion, check if the screen comes on and immediately goes blank once you log in or if the cursor is visible on the screen, while nothing else points to operating system issues. Note that such an occurrence is mostly caused by a corrupt system file that hinders loading, giving you a blank screen.

3. Overheating

Even though most people don’t see an overheating laptop as an issue of concern, it is, by all means, something that should raise eyebrows. Several laptops (and even some phones) go off whenever they overheat, while some cut the power transferred to the graphic processing unit, thereby turning off the display. Some of the reasons why these devices overheat include accumulation of debris on the vents, fans, or heat sinks or lack of proper ventilation. Try using canned air to eliminate the dust and dirt and get your laptop in perfect working condition.

4. Low Brightness/ Power Setting

Did you know that your laptop’s screen may fail to display anything when the brightness is too low? The same also happens when you have the power-saving mode on. You can plug the laptop into the wall and let it charge, remove it from the power-saving mode and then adjust the brightness settings to avoid such an issue.

5. External Display Connection

Your laptop screen may not show anything if you connect an external display such as a computer monitor. This is because some laptops are wired to display no images when connected to external screens. When such an issue happens, locate the function key with the secondary action that dictates the place and how your laptop displays an image. Pressing this key may help solve this issue.

6. Graphics Card Issue

Your laptop’s screen may not light up if there is an issue with the graphics card. To diagnose this, connect a monitor or an external display to it, and if the connection works, there is an issue with the screen or the motherboard-LCD screen connection.

If it doesn’t work, there might be an issue with the video cable, motherboard, or internal graphics card, which you may want to check or replace. A visit to the repair shop may come in handy.

7. Hardware Issues

Your laptop’s screen may refuse to fire up because of a hardware issue. Common causes include a bad LCD power inverter, a loose or disconnected cable, a poor LCD screen, a bad backlight/ CCFL, or a shorting-out motherboard. If you think the issue is caused by any of the following, contact your laptop manufacturer if you still have a warranty and get them to fix it. However, note that you will have to foot the bill if your laptop is not under warranty. Alternatively, you can replace the screen yourself. Let us now see some ways you can fix such a laptop.

Solutions To Fixing A Laptop That Won’t Turn On Even With The Power Light On

1. Cleaning The Ram

A dusty/ unclean RAM may make your laptop fail to display anything, even if the power light is on. To deal with this, turn off the laptop, open the RAM slot located at the backside of your laptop and clean the RAM. Note that you must have an eraser and screwdriver to clean and reinsert the RAM connecting plate to your laptop. You can also watch a YouTube tutorial to learn how well you can clean your RAM without destroying anything.

2. Work On The Battery

An alternative solution to getting your screen to light up is refixing the Battery. This is pretty simple since you only need to take out the Battery and reconnect it. Also, try using the laptop with the Battery alone without it being connected to a power source to see if your reconnection worked. However, no amount of refixing can work if your battery is damaged. Also, note that your system can be in a power state that inhibits it from booting. In that case, disconnect the power cable and the Battery for at least a minute.

3. Unplug The Laptop

You can fix your laptop’s display by unplugging it and pressing the power button for at least 30 seconds. Afterward, remove and replace the memory modules and power your laptop up. If it doesn’t work, try every module in every socket until you locate the bad module or the non-functioning socket.

4. Remove The CMOS Battery

Removing the CMOS battery and attaching it back can solve your laptop’s screen issue. However, if it doesn’t work, there is a problem with your motherboard that needs to be fixed.

5. Check Your Laptop Adapter

Your laptop’s screen may fail to come on because of an issue with the AC adapter. Therefore, try to reconnect your AC adapter and check if the charging port is okay. Once your laptop fires up, check your adapter’s status in the BIOS. First, switch off the system, turn on the laptop, and immediately press the F2 button. Continue pressing it until the BIOS menu displays.

If the adapter’s status comes up as unknown or none, your PC will receive power, but the Battery won’t be charging. Check if the adapter is plugged in correctly on both ends.

6. Remove Any External Devices

Detaching the external devices connected to your laptop can solve your screen’s issue. Please turn off your screen, remove all the external devices connected to it, then reboot it. Some devices you can disconnect include the keyboard, USB, and printer.

7. Connect An External Monitor

If your screen won’t work and you need to do something urgently, try connecting it to an external monitor through an HDMI cable if you have one. If the external monitor works, your screen has a problem. However, you may not have to press the external monitor button for such a connection to work, which is mostly an f4 button with a two-monitor button.

The ribbon wire or the attached display may be the problem if it doesn’t work. Also note that if the external monitor refuses to work, your GPU or graphic card may be the problem, meaning that you may have to change the motherboard.

8. Check For A Bent Pin

You should check the power port for a bent pin if your laptop’s display doesn’t work. A broken or malformed pin means your PC won’t get any power since there won’t be a solid connection to the AC adapter. The best way to solve this issue is to change or fix the power port. However, depending on the model, you may also have to change your laptop’s entire motherboard.

Conclusion

These eight solutions should help you turn on your laptop’s screen if it doesn’t display anything, even with the power on. However, if it persists, contact your laptop’s manufacturer or a great repair shop and get your screen fixed.

FAQ’S

1. Do Laptops Come With An On-Off Button For The Screen?

No. Laptops do not come with a screen On-Off button. When you turn on your laptop, the screen comes on automatically and vice versa.

2. What Should I Do If My Laptop Won’t Turn On Even Though The Power Button Stays On For A Few Seconds?

This is a simple issue that shouldn’t stress you that much. Just disconnect the peripheral devices attached to your laptop, remove the battery and adaptor, then press the power button for a few seconds, 10 on the lowest. Lastly, plug the adaptor back and switch on the laptop.

3. My Windows 10 Laptop’s Screen Won’t Turn On. What Should I Do?

Don’t freak out when such a thing happens. Just try booting your operating system in safe mode to get access to the essential services and drivers. Your laptop not turning on may result from an issue with the drivers, which one of the options we discussed should fix.