have screens on startup, but goes black when gets to desktop

demonikal

demonikal

New Member
My HP Pavilion dv2000 (Windows Vista) laptop is having issues with the LCD monitor. Upon pressing the power key, the monitor looks as it should all the way until just before and sometimes right after the desktop appears. Then the screen goes black. Also, strangely, when I hooked up my external Acer 22" Widescreen LCD monitor to the VGA port on the laptop and configured the resolutions settings, the screen will re-appear on the laptop monitor and then yet again disappear to black.

I troubleshooted the specific problem via HP support on their website, but the last thing that might be the problem is also a problem. It involves pressing <F10> repeatedly on startup. Goes into BIOS and I'm suppose to choose "Test hard drive for errors" or "Test hard drive." I did that, but since the LCD external monitor isn't recognized in BIOS, I have to depend on the laptop monitor. I clicked Enter for the test, it says will take ~82 minutes [for the test] and then of course the screen goes black, so I can't even determine if the hard drive is the problem even if I waited 82 minutes cuz of the black screen.

If this sounds like a somewhat common problem and likely is something having to do with the laptop monitor and not the hard drive, please let me know what I have to do...likely what I have to replace to fix the monitor and if it involves taking the whole thing apart [since I don't see any screws anywhere on the hinges holding the monitor on].

Thanks!
 
I want to throw the HDD out of the mix. I cannot think how that has anything to do with your issue at this time. Maybe later.

Does the external work? If so something wrong with your screen.

If it cuts in and out your GPU/MoBo.

If Both fail it could be HDD but not seeing it right now.

You need to tell us more.
 
powerpack said:
I want to throw the HDD out of the mix. I cannot think how that has anything to do with your issue at this time. Maybe later.

Does the external work? If so something wrong with your screen.

If it cuts in and out your GPU/MoBo.

If Both fail it could be HDD but not seeing it right now.

You need to tell us more.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought it was weird that the hard drive would have anything to do with the laptop monitor not functioning 100%.

Yes, the external works just fine. No cutting in and out with the external. 100% efficiency.

Also, while I was typing my post, the laptop screen appeared just the same as the external Acer monitor for about 20 seconds and then cut out again. I didn't think at the time that it was worth mentioning. But yeah, it does that once in a while.

Everything else with the laptop is working just fine.
 
I suspect you have a hardware screen issue. From bad cords to inverter. I think very correctable if you can identify. Does moving/adjusting the angle placement allow the screen to display?
 
powerpack said:
I suspect you have a hardware screen issue. From bad cords to inverter. I think very correctable if you can identify. Does moving/adjusting the angle placement allow the screen to display?
Click to expand...

In all seriousness, when you say moving/adjusting the angle placement, is that an option in the Display options? Or do you mean physically opening the laptop monitor less than, equal to, or more than 90 degrees? Cuz if you meant the latter, that worked for a while (a few hours) the very same day that the problem came about (about one week ago). I would completely close the laptop and then open it and the screen would come back on. Then it would go black. And it the viewable screen would last about 20-30 seconds and then go black and I'd close it and open it again, over and over, until about an hour later opening and closing the laptop had no effect on it whatsoever.

By the way, this laptop is not like some others that automatically detect when you close it and then they go into sleep mode or stand-by mode. This one goes into stand-by exactly when it's specified in Power Options to do so.

Also, I tried "Roll Back Driver" and restarted the computer. Then the external monitor would occasionally go black every 30 seconds or so. So I immediately updated the driver to what it originally was by clicking on "Update Driver" and restarting the computer. The external monitor is behaving perfectly now as before, so I don't think it's the driver since it's now up to date.
 
What happens if you boot to safe mode? Does the screen still go black? I have a feeling either its a driver issue, malware issue, or windows is just corrupt.
 
is you external monitor working as it should, or does it have this issue?

It should work in the BIOS (unless it is S-video or HDMI). I got a G61 HP laptop that has a busted screen (dropped), that I use an external monitor through the VGA port, and it operates through the BIOS and GRUB all the way to the OS (then the HDMI to TV works and I turn off the VGA monitor (bad resolution of 1024x768).
If your external monitor is working 100% then I would look into the inverter or connections to your on-board LCD.
If your external is having the same issue, then I would try to reset the computer with a set of factory restore disk (you will need the COA from the bottom of the laptop to be visible). That will rid you of any virus/malware that you have and reset the drivers to factory status. If this fixes the problem, then it is a good chance that your problem was a virus or malware.
 
Could it have anything to do with your power-saver monitor settings? Instead of turning the monitor off after say an hour, perhaps it's doing it after a minute and won't quit. Other apps can also come into play (such as Wizmo monitor sleep) during startup.

The desktop does appear so it's not as if the GPU is overwhelmed. Could it be caused by an app starting up that has nothing directly to do with the monitor? Malware?
 
the minimum power saver time under Vista is 5 minutes inactive. Even then, if you were to mover the mouse, it comes back on.

Malware is the most likely.
 
wolfeking said:
the minimum power saver time under Vista is 5 minutes inactive. Even then, if you were to mover the mouse, it comes back on...
Click to expand...
In theory...but then, once the desktop appears the monitor continues to work normally. It does not. Point taken anyway.

I mentioned Wizmo. Occasionally that can do strange things e.g. it can be difficult to wake the monitor with the mouse after using Wizmo to invoke sleep.
 
wolfeking said:
is you external monitor working as it should, or does it have this issue?

It should work in the BIOS (unless it is S-video or HDMI). I got a G61 HP laptop that has a busted screen (dropped), that I use an external monitor through the VGA port, and it operates through the BIOS and GRUB all the way to the OS (then the HDMI to TV works and I turn off the VGA monitor (bad resolution of 1024x768).
If your external monitor is working 100% then I would look into the inverter or connections to your on-board LCD.
If your external is having the same issue, then I would try to reset the computer with a set of factory restore disk (you will need the COA from the bottom of the laptop to be visible). That will rid you of any virus/malware that you have and reset the drivers to factory status. If this fixes the problem, then it is a good chance that your problem was a virus or malware.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses everyone. I haven't been on the forum for a while cuz I've been working on my first PC-build from a barebone kit. Anyway, yeah, the external monitor works just fine. It's not my laptop, it's my mom's, and she's currently using my 22" Acer LCD external. I'm stuck with an old 17" CRT for now. So, I'll have to ask her if we can back up everything on DVD media and then I'll try doing a disastrous recovery (I think that's what it's called on my HP Pavilion PC and her laptop is an HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop) and restoring everything to factory and then I'll let you know what happens.

But out of curiosity, if it's the inverter or connections, I'm pretty much assuming that means I'll have to open it up, right? If that's the case, if you could give me some pre-cautionary measures, that'd be great...IF it turns out that the screen continues to go black after restoring the laptop to factory settings.

Thanks again.
 
johnb35 said:
What happens if you boot to safe mode? Does the screen still go black? I have a feeling either its a driver issue, malware issue, or windows is just corrupt.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I tried booting to safe mode after I read your reply and same thing happens...screen goes black either immediately before or upon the moment that the desktop appears on the external monitor. I thought maybe if I disconnected the external monitor and tried it in safe mode that it would work fine, but no dice.
 
Have you ever tried to check if the cord of the monitor if it is losing the connection? or the problem is the operating system. try to open your OS in safe mode.
 
demonikal said:
Thanks for the responses everyone. I haven't been on the forum for a while cuz I've been working on my first PC-build from a barebone kit. Anyway, yeah, the external monitor works just fine. It's not my laptop, it's my mom's, and she's currently using my 22" Acer LCD external. I'm stuck with an old 17" CRT for now. So, I'll have to ask her if we can back up everything on DVD media and then I'll try doing a disastrous recovery (I think that's what it's called on my HP Pavilion PC and her laptop is an HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop) and restoring everything to factory and then I'll let you know what happens.

But out of curiosity, if it's the inverter or connections, I'm pretty much assuming that means I'll have to open it up, right? If that's the case, if you could give me some pre-cautionary measures, that'd be great...IF it turns out that the screen continues to go black after restoring the laptop to factory settings.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
keep track of all of your screws, thats a biggie with laptops. Also... look for a repair manual online somewhere. HP has a bad habit of hiding screws under things, and it is bad if you warp or break one. Be sure to unplug it and remove the battery. May be a good idea to have a anti-static band on while you are doing it.
Have a camera around to take pics before you remove any wires or cables. This helps with reassembly.

And to answer your question.... yes, the inverter is internal. On my G61 it is in the low center of the bezel for the LCD.
 
wolfeking said:
keep track of all of your screws, thats a biggie with laptops. Also... look for a repair manual online somewhere. HP has a bad habit of hiding screws under things, and it is bad if you warp or break one. Be sure to unplug it and remove the battery. May be a good idea to have a anti-static band on while you are doing it.
Have a camera around to take pics before you remove any wires or cables. This helps with reassembly.

And to answer your question.... yes, the inverter is internal. On my G61 it is in the low center of the bezel for the LCD.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. This is gonna make sound even more stupid, but what is a or the "bezel"? And I'm assuming that's inside the monitor since you said "for the LCD"...?

Btw, that's how I first taught myself how to change my front disc brake pads and rotors on my car...taking picture after picture after picture :)
 
its the plastic that surrounds the monitor. should be black or silver. Look at the LCD.. all the plastic that surrounds it is the bezel.
 
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