Notebooks & Netbooks

[cdestratis]

Hello,

A friend of mine has recently given me their laptop to fix and after many hours of researching I couldn't find a direct answer to the issue.

Basically, after turning it on it will display a black screen and nothing else, my friend explained that this started happening after install windows updates, so I'm suspected a correct BIOS update has caused this because multiple other users on other forums have reported similar issues.

Where and how do I restore the BIOS?

Regards,

Chris

[Vince53]

Chris, maybe it's me, but I believe that when you get a black screen, you have a hard drive failure. Try to get in through Safe Mode, and if you can, run a deep scan with the anti-virus. If that doesn't work, try to borrow a legal copy of the OS on a DVD, and that MIGHT take you to a repair screen.

[cdestratis]

I'm sorry, I don't think I explained myself quite clearly.

When I say it's getting a black screen, I meant that when you turn it on the screen is black and nothing else, the power light and front panel lights are on but it's as if the laptop is off, there is no writing or movement on the screen at all, therefore I cannot get into safe mode or access any other recovery options.

And before anyone asks, yes I've flashed a bright light close to the screen to see if the backlight is working and there's nothing.

Another thing I forgot to mention is it's running Windows 7, and the laptop itself is only <2 years old with very little use.

[Vince53]

Chris, it would then be a hardware problem. If your monitor cable has failed, it's not too big a deal to have a reputable computer shop repair it.

[cdestratis]

Could you explain how you came to that conclusion?

I honestly do not think it is the hard drive, purely because nothing points to it. Who said anything about a monitor cable also?

[Vince53]

Elementary.

When you turn on your laptop, the electricity has to work. You have to see if the lights are flashing.

If the electricity is working, it turns on the BIOS chip. The BIOS chip will then turn on the CPU and send an image (usually an advertisement) to the screen, showing that the monitor cable and the monitor are both working.

Since nothing appears on the screen, either your BIOS chip or CPU have failed (very unlikely) or your monitor cable or monitor have failed.

[cdestratis]

I'm not quite understanding what you're trying to suggest.

I've plugged in an external monitor and that does not display anything, so it has nothing to do with the laptop's screen.

It's quite clear that it's a corrupt BIOS, I just need the correct tools/instructions in order to restore it.

[Vince53]

You're right; it's not the monitor cable.

You can try borrowing a legal copy of your operating system and see if that will get you to a repair screen. But if your CPU has failed, that won't work. If it is a BIOS problem, it might work.

Did you do something to your BIOS before this happened?

[cdestratis]

I don't think I'll be able to get to a repair screen, and even if I could I wouldn't be able to see it.

I was told that this started happening after Windows automatic updates were installed, so perhaps it was accidentally turned off while it was updating, corrupting the system?

[Vince53]

That can happen. I would take it to a reputable computer repair shop and see what they say.