My Computer Turns on But the Screen Is Black? Top Fixes for Windows

Computer Boots up But Doesn’t Display Anything

It’s a frustrating moment when you press the power button on your computer, and the system boots up, but your screen remains black. Whether it’s a desktop, laptop, or external monitor, a black screen issue can leave you wondering if your computer is working or if something has gone terribly wrong.

This issue, which might seem alarming, is not uncommon, and can be caused by a variety of factors. In this article, we will walk you through the common causes behind this issue, the troubleshooting steps you can take, and how to recover your data from the black screen computer if needed.

Common Causes of the Black Screen Issue

There are several common reasons why your computer may boot up, but the screen remains black:

🔔Hardware Malfunction: Issues with your monitor, graphics card, or RAM can lead to the screen not displaying anything.

🔌Cable and Connection Problems: Loose or faulty cables connecting your computer to the monitor could prevent the image from being displayed.

💾Corrupted Drivers: A problem with your graphics driver or other important system drivers may cause the screen to go blank during boot.

⚙️Corrupt BIOS Settings: Sometimes, a misconfiguration in the BIOS/UEFI settings can cause boot issues that result in a black screen.

🖥️External Monitor Issues: If you're using an external monitor or laptop, the issue might be with the monitor itself, or the laptop might not detect the monitor.

🔋Power Supply Issues: Insufficient power or power surges may also contribute to this issue.

How to Troubleshoot the "Computer Turns on But the Screen is Black" Issue

If you are also experiencing this issue, this section will provide several effective methods to troubleshoot the "computer powers on but screen remains black" problem based on the causes listed above, before you send your device to a professional repair service. Let's explore them each one.

1. Restart Your Computer

Sometimes, temporary conflicts or freezes may occur in system services or startup items, resulting in a black screen on boot. A simple restart might resolve the issue.

• Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to turn off your computer.
• Wait for 30 seconds, press the power button again to restart it.

2. Make Sure Monitor is Working

Check if your monitor is powered on. Nearly all computer monitors have at least one physical power switch (laptops excluded), which is usually located on the side or back of the device. Press the switch to ensure the monitor is turned on.

3. Check Cables on Connection

Sometimes, a loose cable can be the culprit. Ensure all cables, including the power and video cables, are securely connected. Check both ends of the cable and ensure the connection is firm, especially the power cable connection of the monitor. You can also try disconnecting and reconnecting the wires to verify a solid connection after the computer has been completely shut down.

4. Check the Monitor on Another Computer

If the screen still displays nothing, you may have to suspect the monitor is the issue. You can try connecting your computer to a different monitor to rule out the possibility of a faulty screen. This will help you determine if the problem is with the monitor or the computer. If the screen still remains blank, you can try replacing it with a brand-new monitor. If the new monitor works properly, proceed to the other methods below.

5. Restart Your Graphics Driver

Pressing the "Ctrl" + "Win" + "Shift" + "B" keys simultaneously will force Windows to restart your graphics driver. After you hear a short beep, wait a few seconds and the screen will return to normal display. This is a quick fix if your display driver has crashed and may resolve the issue without restarting the computer.

6. Reinstall RAM

The "computer turns on but the screen is black" issue could also result from incompatible or improperly seated RAM modules. Damaged RAM sticks or poor electrical contact can further trigger frequent blue screen errors. Try reseating the RAM or test each memory slot individually with a single RAM stick.

Step 1. Press and hold the Power button to shut down your computer.

Step 2. Disconnect the AC power cable from the PSU, and proceed to open your PC case.

Step 3. Remove your RAM modules from the slot and clean the golden contacts with a soft cloth.

Step 4. Plug the RAM back into the slot and reconnect the power supply to check if the screen works.

7. Enter Recovery Environment

If your monitor displays normally in the Windows Recovery Environment, you can be almost certain that the problem lies with the Windows system itself or the core drivers—not with the hardware.

Step 1. Press the power button to boot the computer, then force it to shut down as soon as the Windows logo appears on the screen. Repeat this process 2–3 times, and Windows will enter the Recovery Environment automatically.

Step 2. If your screen works normally at this point, you can choose to use Startup Repair to attempt an automatic fix, or perform a System Restore (if you have created any restore point) to revert your computer to its previous working state.

8. Replace a New Monitor

If none of the above steps worked, connect a brand-new monitor and start the computer to check if the screen displays anything. If it remains a black screen, seek help from a professional computer repair service.

9. Seek Professional Help

If all the troubleshooting steps fail, the issue could be related to internal hardware damage. If you're not comfortable troubleshooting further or suspect a hardware failure, it might be time to seek help from a professional technician. Professional repair services provide clean laboratories and precision instruments, enabling them to conduct a more comprehensive inspection of your computer’s issues.

How to Recover Data from the Black Screen Computer

If the screen still fails to display, you won’t be able to access any of your important files and data on the computer. Is there a way to retrieve data from the computer without fixing the black screen issue first? Absolutely! Use a professional data recovery software like MyRecover to extract the data you need.

MyRecover can scan all drives and storage devices on your computer, even if the drives are inaccessible. It features an intuitive and visual interface, allowing novice users to easily recover data from a black-screen computer without relying on any professional repair services.

Step 1. Remove the hard drive or SSD from the black screen computer carefully and connect it to a working computer with a correct cable. Make sure no any physical damage to the disk.

Step 2. Download and install MyRecover on a working computer.

Step 3. Run the app and select the drive to scan for your files, then click "Recover".

Step 4. After the scan is completed, preview and choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists, then click "Recover".

Step 5. Select a safe location (not the original drive) to save the recovered files.

Once the process is done, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. Then, you can verify the recovered files by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.

Summary

Ultimately, a black screen doesn’t always mean the end for your computer. With the proper troubleshooting methods and the right recovery tools, you can fix the "computer turns on but the screen is black" and even recover lost files. So, stay calm and follow the methods above to get your files back and computer run properly.

If you need to recover data, MyRecover provides you with an all-in-one data recovery tool. For IT admins, professionals or businesses, MyRecover also offers a Technician Edition, a comprehensive business data recovery solution that supports unlimited devices with just one license. This makes it perfect not just for personal recovery but also for MSPs and enterprises needing a reliable tool.