Upon shutdown, only laptop screen goes black but stays on


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Upon shutdown, only laptop screen goes black but stays on


    My laptop has been doing this for a while, whenever I go to shut down my laptop from start menu the screen goes black but the fans stay on and the keyboard lights still glow (I have an Alienware with the glowing keyboard). Only when I hold down the manual switch does it shut down all the way.

    This presents a bigger problem recently because when I install updates and then restart my computer, I must shut it down manually and on startup I must open in safe mode and then restore my computer to a point before I installed windows updates. (I am not completely sure that the fact I have to turn off the computer manually is the reason that my computer is telling me to restore to a point before I install updates, just to be clear.)

    Thanks for the help.
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Is this the original factory preinstall which most tech enthusiasts won't run, preferring to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to enjoy native Win7 performance?

    Stick with the tools and methods given and you'll get and keep a perfect install.

    In your case I'd first Run Built-In Diagnostics for Your Dell Computer | Dell US from it's partition to see if it will boot and run, give you a report on your hardware. If so then during the booted reinstall you'd want to leave the OEM Diagnostics partition but delete all others using the Drive Options in Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7 to create and Format New.

    Otherwise work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 starting with a Clean Boot, checking logs for repeat errors to resolve, utilitze System Resources to find solutions and Generate a System Health Report.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 11 Oct 2013 at 11:46.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,007
    Winndows 7 32 bit
       #3

    Daylighthours said:
    My laptop has been doing this for a while, whenever I go to shut down my laptop from start menu the screen goes black but the fans stay on and the keyboard lights still glow (I have an Alienware with the glowing keyboard). Only when I hold down the manual switch does it shut down all the way.

    This presents a bigger problem recently because when I install updates and then restart my computer, I must shut it down manually and on startup I must open in safe mode and then restore my computer to a point before I installed windows updates. (I am not completely sure that the fact I have to turn off the computer manually is the reason that my computer is telling me to restore to a point before I install updates, just to be clear.)

    Thanks for the help.
    Hi Daylighthours,

    Welcome to Seven forums.

    I understand that you are unable to perform a soft shutddown or restart from the system. Please boot the system to safe mode and let me know if you are able to perform the same:

    Safe Mode

    There could be some background applications as well causing the system to not shut down properly. So perform a clean boot and let us know:

    Clean Boot

    Kindly update your system specs here by following this.Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    @gregrocker: I am not sure if anything like that has been done to this computer (it wasn't always mine) but I would assume no. I ran the diagnostics and it passed all of the tests.

    @SandeepP: When I booted in safe mode and then shut down it completely turned off. Does that give a clue to what I should do next? (Clean boot/clean install) I have no files on the laptop I would really miss so doing that sort of thing isn't a problem for me.
      My Computer

  5.    #5

    If it has all the preinstalled Dell crapware in All Programs then it hasn't had a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

    I would do one soon so you can enjoy native perfect WIn7 performance which will never be experienced on preinstalled Win7.

    Until then you can Clean Up Factory Bloatware to regain some native performance.

    I also gave you Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to perform, report back so we can give you others indicated. I would also do a few Startup Repairs now to see if it finds anything wrong with the boot files or configuration. We can tell better about this to see a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,007
    Winndows 7 32 bit
       #6

    Daylighthours said:
    @gregrocker: I am not sure if anything like that has been done to this computer (it wasn't always mine) but I would assume no. I ran the diagnostics and it passed all of the tests.

    @SandeepP: When I booted in safe mode and then shut down it completely turned off. Does that give a clue to what I should do next? (Clean boot/clean install) I have no files on the laptop I would really miss so doing that sort of thing isn't a problem for me.
    Hi Daylighthours,

    I believe best would be to do a clean boot on the system to ensure there are no background programs causing this issue with the system:

    Clean Boot

    Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 19:38.
Find Us