Solved External Display is Black

[1LoveDrew]

I have been using my external monitor along with my built in display for my laptop. I have had it set to Extended Desktop and all looked well. Now all of a sudden I went to plug in the external monitor into my laptop and it won't work. It's detected, but it's black. I've tried changing the resolution, restarting the computer, uninstalling the monitor and re-installing it, etc. Things were fine until I updated my computer with Windows Update, but now NO external monitor works. I've even tried the FN+F2 option for my MSi A6200. I checked the VGA port and it is just fine. The cables aren't torn either. The laptop is detecting the monitors and even installed the drivers for them, yet the external monitors are black. I tried Clone Display, and I tried using only the external monitor. I could really use some help. I've identified that there isn't physical damage to my laptop's VGA port, so I'm really puzzled here. Please help me out! <3 Thanks in advance.

 

[Computer0304]

1.Try using a different cable despite the cable looking like it has no damage. If that works, it is a problem with the cable. If not, go on to Step 2.
2.Try another monitor. If this works, the 1st monitor is broken. If not, go on to 3.
3. Try switching to another port if possible. If you do not have a second port, or this does not work, go on to 4. If it does, the port is broken.
4. Try using another PC with this monitor. If this works, the laptop may have a physical damage in the GPU or the motherboard. Go onto step 5.
(If none of the above steps work, I'm not able to help you farther since my knowledge limits it)
5. Try installing/reinstalling the monitor drivers if there is any. Go to the manufacturer website for this. If this does not work, continue to 6.
6. Try reinstalling the drivers for the GPU. It is crucial to carefully do this step since if this goes wrong, it will create another bigger problem. Please wait for a person with better knowledge to help guide you through the process.

 

[1LoveDrew]

Tested the monitor on a different computer (an old IBM computer that I don't use) and it works just fine. Cable's not torn or glitchy in the least. Also, my laptop does detect the monitors still, but the screen stays black. This didn't happen until I did a Windows Update recently, and I'd like to think that there's nothing wrong with my GPU or motherboard.

Also, how do I reinstall the drivers for the GPU?

 

[Computer0304]

Before you reinstall any drivers, you should try another monitor. It may be a compatibility issue between the monitor and the laptop.

 

[1LoveDrew]

I did. I've tried three monitors now and they all turn up black even when I tinker with the resolution and change outputs. As stated, this didn't happen until I did Windows Update recently.

This wouldn't be the first time my laptop has acted up about something after a Windows Update.


PS: These are monitors I've used before and had no problem. Now all of a sudden this stuff happens.

 

[Computer0304]

Can you show the list of updates downloaded?

 

[1LoveDrew]

Those are just some of the updates. There was one update to my display adapter that was way back in July of 2013, I think, but I can't remember if that did anything to my laptop or not. Could I undo that update and see if it helps?

 

[Computer0304]

Can you post the name? It could been a Windows Update driver because there is a possibility that your computer was using generic drivers. Can you post the name of it? It should not be causing the problem because it has been a long time since that has been updated.

 

[1LoveDrew]

It's that. While I think about it, I was having some minor issues around the time it updated in regards to my graphics card. :/ I hope we can fix things.

 

[Sardonicus]

View attachment 313088

It's that. While I think about it, I was having some minor issues around the time it updated in regards to my graphics card. :/ I hope we can fix things.

Did you go to the Intel Graphics software?
You should be able to open the software from the taskbar (Intel Grahics icon).
While the monitor is installed, did you use the Intel Software to extend the monitor?

 

[1LoveDrew]

Yes, I did. I tried the Intel software and the external monitor stayed black.

Where you can right click it in system tray and go to "output to" didn't work. I even tried the setup wizard through the Intel Graphics software.

 

[Sardonicus]

See if this helps.
Boot into the safe mode (F8 key) and let Windows load the drivers.
Restart your PC.

 

[1LoveDrew]

So, basically, force my computer into safe mode and see if the computer will load the external monitor properly?

Alright, Let me try that right quick. Will post back what happens.

 

[1LoveDrew]

I am currently in Safe Mode. Intel Graphics won't run and thus my external monitors can't be detected in Safe Mode. Just my laptop's built in screen.

 

[Sardonicus]

I am currently in Safe Mode. Intel Graphics won't run and thus my external monitors can't be detected in Safe Mode. Just my laptop's built in screen.

Restart the PC.

 

[Sardonicus]

If that doesn't work, I found your driver.
It shows P6000 series in the release notes.

Just install it over the current driver.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=21776

 

[1LoveDrew]

Alright, I'll try installing the driver in the link now. Restarting didn't help. Will post back what happens with the driver!

 

[1LoveDrew]

It's still a no-go. (Although I think I've got a clearer picture since installing the update you gave me! Please let me know if it's just my imagination, but I swear the quality looks a heck of a lot sharper and prettier.) What gets me is it was working fine a few days ago... I didn't do any serious changes other than some Windows updates and then BAM--- no external monitors work. I haven't dropped the laptop or handled it roughly in any way, I've made sure to keep the CPU at a pleasant 29° C, and I've even been doing Disk De-frags routinely to make sure it stays nice and clean. The only other thing I can think of is I did have some harddrive issues crop up, but they were fixed with the disk check thing I scheduled to run when I rebooted the laptop. The laptop was running smoothly after that, then a random disk check showed up when I restarted my laptop recently and I knew I didn't schedule it. A fsutil dirty query c: check said C was dirty. Now it says it's not dirty.

I'm mentioning all this stuff NOW because I didn't recall it until this point, and it said that the issues were resolved and no more issues have cropped up since then except this thing with the external monitors not working. What I'm terrified of happening is my dad cracking my laptop screen again and my laptop being rendered useless due to not being able to display external monitors period right now.

 

[Sardonicus]

That's why we tell people to re-install the driver. My guess is that the link I gave you was a later version than you had installed.
Try the following again:

1. Look for the Intel software to adjust the monitor settings.
2. Go to the Windows display settings to adjust the settings.
3. Go to the BIOS and see if there are any LCD output settings.
I've seen some older laptops that had an Internal only, Internal and External settings.
It's probably rare, but I'd check it, anyway. Things get reset, all the time on laptops and computers,
even if you didn't reset them yourself.

 

[HoneycombAG]

Did you check in Device Manager to see whether there are any yellow exclamation marks :warn: all over your connected devices?