Here are some potential solutions for when your computer turns on but the display does not work:
Check Display Cable Connections
The display cable that connects your monitor to your computer could be loose or damaged.
- Check that the cable connecting your monitor to your computer is securely plugged in at both ends.
- Try connecting your monitor to another computer to see if the display works.
- Inspect the display cable for any damage or bent pins. Replace the cable if needed.
Loose cable connections are often the culprit when a computer powers on but the display is black. Reseating all display cables usually resolves the issue.
Toggle Display Modes
Your display settings could be incorrect or set to mirror monitors that aren’t connected.
- If you have multiple display outputs on your graphics card, try them one at a time.
- Boot into safe mode and see if the display works normally there.
- Press the Windows key + P and cycle through the display selection modes.
Toggling through display modes can force your computer to detect the correct display output. Issues with incorrect display settings can cause a black screen.
Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible graphics drivers could prevent the display from working properly.
- Go to the graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers.
- Uninstall the current graphics drivers using DDU.
- Install the latest graphics drivers clean.
- Check for Windows updates and other driver updates.
Keeping your graphics drivers up-to-date will ensure maximum compatibility and performance for your display. Driver conflicts often lead to display issues.
Check Display Hardware
If your monitor itself is powering on but not displaying, the issue could be with the display hardware.
- Test the monitor with another source like a gaming console to see if the display works properly.
- Inspect your monitor for any damaged ports or connectors.
- Reset your monitor settings to factory defaults.
- Verify the monitor input source is set correctly.
Ruling out physical damage to your monitor or settings mismatches can determine if the root cause lies with the display hardware. Test with alternate video sources.
Reset CMOS
Resetting your motherboard’s CMOS could resolve inconsistencies causing display issues.
- Power down your PC, switch off the PSU, and unplug power cables.
- Locate the CMOS battery and jumper on your motherboard.
- Remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes.
- Short the CMOS jumper pins for 10 seconds.
- Replace the CMOS battery and power on your PC.
Resetting the CMOS will restore your motherboard to default settings which should correct any problems preventing a normal display output.
Test Components with Another Display
Connecting your computer to another display like a TV can determine if the problem is tied to the original display.
- Connect your computer to a TV or spare monitor using an HDMI or DVI cable.
- Set that display as the active display output.
- See if the computer boots properly with the working display.
If the computer boots fine with the alternate display, then the issue lies with either the original display hardware or its cable connections.
Diagnose with Another Graphics Card
Swapping in a known working graphics card can identify an issue with the existing GPU.
- Install another graphics card that you know works properly.
- Uninstall current graphics drivers to prevent conflicts.
- Connect monitor display cables to the test graphics card.
- Power on and see if display works fine with the replacement GPU.
If the display works after switching graphics cards, your original GPU is likely faulty and should be replaced.
Hopefully trying these troubleshooting tips will help resolve your computer turning on but not displaying anything. Let me know if you have any other questions!
