Laptop screen won't come on.

Amacey · 23 May 2013

When I boot up my laptop, the hard drive light flashes and then turns off and nothing comes up on the screen.

A few things going on with the laptop:
1) The power light stays on for the whole time, until I turn the laptop off.
2) I have tried an external screen and that doesn't pick up anything from the laptop either.
3) I have tested two motherboards and both are doing the same thing.
4) You can hear the laptop fans noise whilst the laptop is on.

What else can I do as I am completely stuck with what to do now

bobafetthotmail · 23 May 2013

Try disconnecting the HDD and the DVD drive. Do you see the POST's white text (either on its screen or on an external, try booting with its own screen disconnected if possible)? Can you enter in BIOS settings?

jeffshead · 24 May 2013

I encountered the same exact thing with a new Lenovo Z580 laptop that was used only a few times. Nothing on the screen or external monitor. I tried booting into the BIOS, booting from a DVD disc, USB drive, external monitor, etc. Nothing, not even POST info. I thought the monitor or video was bad.

I removed the HDD and tested it on another computer. It was bad. Sent computer to Lenovo (under warranty) they replaced ONLY the HDD! The paperwork that was included with my computer, when it was returned from repair, made no mention of any testing, reconfiguring of anything but the HDD.

Why a bad HDD would cause a black screen is beyond me. I could have sworn something was wrong with the video or monitor. If they fixed something else, they did not document it. The laptop uses UEFI if that matters. I have no experience with UEFI.

So check your HDD with HD Tune , Seagate Tools or some other diagnostic tool.

bobafetthotmail · 24 May 2013

Why a bad HDD would cause a black screen is beyond me.

The issue is actually caused by a crappy BIOS. Common on laptops or pre-built PCs in general.
It simply looks up for peripherals and if it gets weird signals (like from a failed HDD, DVD burner/player or even USB drive) it can get stuck in a loop where it asks stuff from the device and the device giving weird signals virtually forever.

Ruan · 24 May 2013

It could possibly be the GPU that lost some of it's connections. This happens quite a lot with the hp's

Amacey · 26 May 2013

Okay cheers for the information guys, what I will do is buy a new HDD and then throw out the old one, I'll let you know how I get on in a couple of days.

Thanks all!

Faladu · 26 May 2013

I would test that HD on another system via SATA/IDE to USB adaptor.

Normally you should still get into BIOS with a bad HD, since it ISN'T suppose to be in the picture until after the BIOS/POST routine is done.

That's some scary Q&A from HP if this is not uncommon and it's the HD causing it, good to know, just a specific series of HP laptops? [which, please?]

OP, what's the actual motherboard model, please.

Amacey · 26 May 2013

Only thing I can find on the motherboard is Hannstar J MV-4.

estXcrew · 26 May 2013

I've had a friend that had the same problem. Came out that a cable that is under the cover of your laptop that leads to the screen had gotten injured. Not sure if this is your case, but may be.

Amacey · 26 May 2013

Well the cable looks in perfect condition with no marks of scuffs on it at all.