Computer has a black screen and will not Boot
or Startup
Free Computer Help By Mitz
Rarely do I come across a problem with a
computer that I cannot diagnose, however getting a black screen on boot can
stump me sometimes. I always try to trouble shoot the problem manually, without
using those fancy programs, because I believe it is the only way to learn.
There are two types of black screens that can
appear. One that will have a beep sequence sounding to let you know what the
problem could be, and the other has nothing at all. No beeps, no cursor, no logo
screen, and no choice to boot to safe mode or access the bios.
If you get a beep sequence, I am not saying it
is good news, however it is a step in the right direction towards solving this
problem. This is a message from your computer that can be understood by looking
up your bios (the brand) beep code. For example you may have an Award Bios, Ami
Bios, Phoenix BIOS, compaq, Dell, or Acer Bios. This list goes on and on.
You can search for Bios beep codes in google. Here is an example of results in
google search
Search results for "bios beep codes"
If you heard a single beep, then the computer
posted, and the CPU is ok. POST= Power On Self Test A procedure the
computer goes through on starting to ensure all is well.
When you get the black screen, and absolutely
nothing else, this is where the challenge begins. Sometimes the fans and the cpu
seems to be running.
When this happens to me, I have an instant
advantage as I have a replacement part for basically any computer component at
my fingertips.
Common things that can happen
when your computer has a
black screen:
- At boot up, it sound like it is booting as
the cpu fan is running and the lights are on. It also finds the cd rom but it
won't boot from a cd either.
- Sometimes it will boot to a black screen and
the power switch light will be green and then turns to orange or amber.
Everything is running.
- Everything seems to be running but you can't
see anything on the screen, not even a flashing cursor.
Some common
causes for a computer to have a black
screen at bootup:
Where is your Monitor plugged in?
The
first and most obvious reason for a computer appearing to run but you cannot see
the video is the monitor. A common mistake is to plug the monitor into the
onboard video plug when you actually have a PCI or AGP video card installed. Trust me I
have done this myself. Simply move the plug to the correct position.
Failing Display adapter or
video card can cause a black screen:
Most of the time you can tell
if your computer video card is deteriorating by seeing little tell tale signs.
Lines appearing or flashing can sometimes occur, however sometimes nothing
happens at all. You might turn your computer on and have the dreaded black
screen. You can try removing your video card and using onboard video, or
replacing the video card to see if that is the problem.
The next reason is RAM...or memory: This can
cause a black screen on your computer.
If your memory is not seated properly (not in),
is damaged, or even absent altogether, this can cause major problems.
- If you have no memory installed at all,
some computers make no sounds and just show a black screen. Other computers go
crazy and beep their head off. I am an expert at this one, as I build so my
computers.
- When your computer gets a black screen only
sometimes, it usually means your ram is on the way out..For example if you
boot your computer and it doesn't work, then go back an hour later, and it
does work, your memory is playing up. You can try taking the ram out, gently
cleaning it with an antistatic cloth, and replacing it. This may solve your
problem. If it does not, then you should try running your computer with
another compatible stick of ram installed.
If you plan to open your computer case and
remove the ram please read these articles
How to open a
computer case safely and
Upgrade Memory
Installing new hardware
Often when computer users install hardware in
order to upgrade their own computers they run into problems. If you have just
performed an upgrade and then get a black screen, the answer is obvious. Some
hardware components may not be compatible with the others in your system. And of
course there is always the risk of static electricity damaging
your components when you are not an experienced computer
repair person.
Leaving a bootable usb flash drive connected
to your computer.
Yes this can confuse your computer and it won't
know where to boot up. I have had a black screen from doing this and have
realised and removed the usb and the computer just continues to boot normally..
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