How to Fix Black Screen Errors on Windows Laptops

Among the many Windows-related errors, Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) is one of the most dreaded issues. Sometimes, errors occur in the form of a pitch-black screen without any text. The black screen appears either before or after the sign in screen.

Why Black Screen Errors Occur On Windows Laptops?

There are various reasons that account for black screen errors on Windows laptops. Some of these reasons are shared in the image below.

There are various reasons that account for black screen errors on Windows laptops. Some of these reasons are shared in the image below.

Due to such reasons, the system may crash or shut down abruptly, causing damage to unsaved files or sensitive hardware. In worst case scenarios, it may also lead to data loss as sudden system crash or abrupt shutdown can also cause hard drive corruption. In an event of data loss on your HP, Dell, or any other Windows laptop, you can restore lost data and files using a professional data recovery software, such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional.

Methods to Fix Black Screen Errors in on HP, Dell, Lenovo etc. laptops

When a black screen error occurs, the Windows display no error code or message. Hence, it becomes puzzling for the users to troubleshoot and difficult to fix black screen errors in Windows.

However, you should not worry as we have compiled a list of effective methods for you to employ and solve black screen error on your Windows laptop.

Method 1: During Windows Installation

While installing Windows, black screen comes multiple times as laptop starts and shuts down a number of times. However, if there is an issue with the installation media or installation files, it can cause errors like black screen, which could stall Windows installation progress.

If this happens, the only solution is to force shut down the laptop by pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds. Unplug the power cable or remove the laptop battery. Disconnect all non-essential peripheral devices and reboot the system.

The installation may resume and finish. However, if it doesn’t, restart a fresh installation by using the installation media.

Method 2: Check Connections

Check various connections like power supply and display connections (If you have connected an external monitor) HDMI/VGA/DisplayPort/Thunderbolt port cable for firm connection. Tighten the loose connectors.

If your HP, Dell, or any other branded laptop shows a black screen, unplug the external monitor or TV connected to it. You can also try pressing Windows + P, then P again followed by pressing the ‘Enter’ key to select the Duplicate option.

Method 3: Wake up the Display

You can restart the Graphics driver with Windows + CTRL + Shift + B key combination. This shortcut will wake up the Laptop display. Your laptop’s display going black suddenly could be a result of an underlying problem with system files or graphics settings.

Method 4: Disconnect Unnecessary USB devices

Sometimes, peripherals connected with the laptop can conflict with the display, causing it to go black. You can fix this by disconnecting all unnecessary and non-essential connected devices and cables from the laptop. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force shutdown the system and then turn on the system.

Method 5: Reinstall Display Driver

If the black screen error on your laptop is frequent, it could be due to outdated or problematic display drivers. You can update or reinstall the display driver to fix it. Here’s what to do –

• Press WINDOWS + X and click Device Manager.
• Expand Display Adapter.
• Right-click on the display device and choose ‘Update driver’. If an update is not available, click ‘Uninstall device’.
• Uninstall or Update the Graphics Device Driver.
• Then download the graphics driver from the laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s support page and install.

Method 6: Uninstall Recent Windows or Device Driver Updates

A problematic Windows OS or device driver update can cause various problems like black screen errors on your laptop. You can uninstall any recently installed Windows or device driver updates. You can also use System Restore to quickly revert to the state when the system was stable and working fine.

Conclusion

Black screen error on HP, Dell or any other branded Windows laptop is an annoying issue, which seems unsolvable, but can be fixed. Reasons like corrupted system files, unexpected power surges or unresponsive display drivers can cause black screen errors on laptops.

However, the fixes explained in the post will help you safely fix the issue and get your laptop up and running in no time. However, as severe case of black screen errors can cause data loss, you can use a professional data recovery software to recover lost data from an unbootable Windows computer.

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About The Author

Satyeshu Kumar

Satyeshu is a Windows blogger and data recovery expert. He is having good technical knowledge and experience in Windows data recovery. He writes about latest technical tips, Windows issues and tutorials.