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General discussion

Laptop has black screen, what are my options?

Sep 8, 2017 5:14PM PDT

My laptop got a black screen and was wondering if it is costly to repair or should I just forget it. I do have some information and programs that I would like to retrieve from it. I have 2 laptops, one was for pictures and the other was for information and records. I have it set up like this as pictures and picture programs usually take a lot of space. I also like keeping the 2 separated. The laptop seems to come on and run as all the lights light up and it sounds like it is running. I did try disconnecting all power for a couple of days and when I plugged it back in, the screen came on but it was short-lived. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. I should mention that I have an HP Pavilion Entertainment PC, SD-MS/Pro-MMC-XD. Thank you!

--Submitted by Edward D.

Discussion is locked

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Laptop has black screen Options
Sep 15, 2017 7:59PM PDT

Hi,
1/. Try Fn key and Screen Key to scroll between screen modes. (Nothing happens try option 2)

2/. Attached a monitor to your laptop, reboot it and it should find the attached screen. If nor repeat optoin 1. (If you get a good image on the monitor then it could be a cable or the LCD.)

Next steps

3/. Check out You Tube for your make & model laptop and add replace lcd (I find mostly that some one has posted a video showing you how to do it). The process should show you how both ends of the display ribbon attach. If you feel you can do it unclip both ends and reincert ribbon then try laptop again.)

4/. If none of the above work search Google & eBay for replacemnt screens for your Laptop. Depending on the style of screen you will see prices between $100 to $300.

I upgraded my Dell Latitude e6520 to a full HD screen when it's pannel died for $120.00.

Otherwise if you don't feel lke you can do it add the cost of parts & labour to repair it and consider repair or replace with new laptop.

A usb 2.5 Hard Drive Case with cable costs $15 - $20 so when you have all the info of the old hd format it and you now have a usb backup drive.

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Possible
Sep 15, 2017 11:27PM PDT

Pci,video card? As on a desktop, what has happend on mine last week, video card was bought 10 years ago , finnaly done its time.

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Could be GPU failure due to poor cooling.
Sep 16, 2017 12:00AM PDT

A few years ago my son gave me an HP Pavilion Entertainment PC with a black screen. It also was not outputting video on its' VGA port so I was reasonably sure the problem was not the backlight. I Googled the exact model number of the PC along with a description of the issue and discovered that there was a known issue with poor cooling of the GPU causing failure of the chip itself. There was a computer shop that actually was offering to repair the issue via a listing on eBay if you were able to send them the laptop motherboard, which I did. They replaced the GPU and offered to cut a trace which caused the cooling fan to run continuously to prevent future GPU failure. The laptop has worked flawlessly ever since. The actual cost of the repair was on the order of $75. I thought that this was a pretty good return on investment. Hope this helps.

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Possible free answer
Sep 16, 2017 3:58AM PDT
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Black screen on HP pavilion
Sep 16, 2017 4:21PM PDT

Screens are easy to replace and most models are posted on Youtube as to how to do it. That being said and having thrown one HP away after stripping it of parts and getting a different manufacturers laptop to work after a screen replacement I would google the specific model to see what others have said. Some get fixed easy with a screen replacement and others are a boat anchor with HP offering zero support. Looking at the posts on the HP I had they all said changing the screen had zero effect and HP's response was "buy a new one rather than fixing the old one or we can fix the old one for $300". I always research out any laptop for troubles like bad keyboards and screens before spending , time . money and effort on them.

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Laptop has black screen
Sep 16, 2017 5:25PM PDT

If portable has a battery back take it out, put it back in of course plug in power source worked for me

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Use an alternate screen
Sep 17, 2017 10:48AM PDT

On the back of the left hand side of your lapotp there is a VGA port. Three rows of 5 pins. Use this to connect the laptop to an external PC screen, maybe borrowed from a friend. Bot the laptop and if anyting is working at all it shoulkd be displayed on the external screen. If this works then the problem is the laptop screen which can be replaced easily.