Acer Nitro 5 GTX 1660 Black Screen on Windows Login after Geforce driver update.

JJamesH

Hi, after recently having the graphics drivers updated on a Acer Nitro 5 to Nvidia's latest drivers(517.48 Tue Sep 27, 2022), the laptop no longer wanted to show the windows login screen and instead remained black even after multiple reboots.

After resetting the PC and installing an older driver (516.94 Tue Aug 09, 2022) it seemed to work again temporarily for a few reboots and then repeated the same problem of having a black screen. I attempted another reset but this time I did not keep any personal files. Normally I'm used to reinstalling drivers after a full reset but Windows either updated the graphics drivers automatically or they were kept after a full reset but either way, the latest version of the drivers was installed (517.48) and the Laptop was now properly showing the login screen half the time now while the other half would be the black screen again.

I looked up the issue here and on other forums and found that one band-aid solution was to set the computer to sleep with Function + F4 and waking it up again would then properly show the login screen.

Here are the things I tried while troubleshooting.

*Bios settings to default. /// Didn't work

*Safe Mode - Uninstalling Geforce Drivers. /// Didn't work

*Safe Mode - Updating Geforce Drivers to older version after latest didn't work. /// Didn't work

*Resetting the PC - Keeping personal files. /// Worked Temporarily.

*Resetting the PC - Full Reset. /// Worked Temporarily.

*Function + F4 when on black screen. /// Worked as a bypass but not overall solution to it.

Is anyone here familiar with this issue in particular where having the computer wake up from sleep "fixes" it?

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/672124/acer-nitro-5-gtx-1660-black-screen-on-windows-login-after-geforce-driver-update

Basically, in instances like you have experienced of a black screen after an NVidia graphics driver update, that you can’t get out of, its best to do a “Hard Reset” not a PC rest as that will do nothing, as your problem is a hardware problem not a software problem. And by taking the back cover off and disconnecting the main battery and the RTC/bios battery, ram and leaving them disconnected for 5 min and reconnecting them all, and rebooting your laptop, should work and boot your laptop properly, as your laptops could have experienced a super IO or a bios chip that have frozen and doing this hard reset, will reset these chips and make your laptop boot properly.

It's also best practice to completely uninstall all the NVidia graphics drivers, if you have these sorts of problems, use a software called DUU and completely uninstall all Nvidia graphics drivers offline, then install the new version 516.94 offline goo. Then and if WU updates to their Nvidia older version drivers (which it will do) you need go to Device Manager adaptors>Nvidia GTX 160>right click>Update drivers>Browse my computer for drivers>Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer>and pick the 516.94, as by doing all this the WU NVidia older driver will not be updated/installed or rolled back. This what I do and I’ve never ever had any problems with any Nvidia driver updates. 

JJamesH

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1150366#Comment_1150366

Hi, I apologize for the late reply.

When referring to the black screen, the only instance of the screen being black is only on the windows login screen. Setting the computer to sleep with Fn-f4 and waking it up again would resolve the problem and the computer would function normally only until the computer restarts or powers down, then up. In this case I still see the Acer logo and windows loading dots. I can also access the bios normally as well as any windows repair screen setup or configs for windows.

I've also uninstalled the latest drivers properly by updating to an older version from 517.48 > 516.94. Confirmed after multiple restarts that it wasn't rolled back to the latest version and was still 516.94 when it worked normally for several reboots until the problem appeared again on that driver version sometime later. Currently the computer is functional with the band-aid sleep method while using the latest drivers 517.48 again with no other problems, so are you still recommending I preform a hard reset on it?

Model number is N20C1

JJamesH

Hi I'm just following up with this thread and would like to ask if anyone knows anymore information regarding the black screen or fixes for it, short of replacing the laptop itself, I would would be very much appreciative, thank you!

JJamesH

Hi, just reaching out one last time to see if anyone has any insight or idea on how to resolve this issue as it is still intermittent and I would appreciate it!

William_mk2

@JJamesH

I am really sorry for the inconvenience..  Let us do the basic steps first..

Doing the power drain and bios defaults will really help. Kindly follow the steps given below:

Turn off the laptop. Disconnect or unplug the charger cable, devices or any other cables connected to your laptop. Close your laptop. Turn it upside down. On the bottom of the laptop, you can find a pin hole. It is a tiny hole. You can a find a battery symbol indicator next to the hole. It is like a + and – sign symbol as though somebody is trying to shift the battery out. Insert the pin on to the hole for 30 seconds. Remove the pin. Flip the laptop. Connect the charger cable, turn on the computer. Only on laptops where the battery is inbuilt you can find the battery reset hole on the back of laptop.

If you don’t find a pin hole on the back of laptop then you might be using removable battery. There is no need to unscrew anything to remove the battery. Turn off the laptop. Disconnect or unplug the charger cable, devices and any other cables connected to your laptop. Close your laptop. Turn it upside down. On the bottom of the laptop, please look at the top or bottom depending on the way you look at it. You can find a long door. It is a battery removable door. Just below that you can find a latch. If you move the latch you can remove the battery door. Once the battery is removed, flip the laptop. Open the top cover, press and hold the power button for 1 minute. Connect the battery back on the back of computer. Connect the charger cable back and then turn on the computer. 

 

If you don’t see a reset pin hole on the back of laptop or if you are not able to remove the battery (if it is inbuilt) then please unplug all the cables and devices out of laptop.  Hold the power button for 1 minute. After releasing the button you should wait a while before plugging in power. Just because the button has been pressed doesn’t bleed off all the residual electricity on the motherboard. Wait 15-30 minutes before plugging in power. Then once power is connected wait for a full battery indication before turning the system on. That allows the battery to fully reset it’s internal statistics.

Connect all the cables back and restart the computer.  

While turning on the computer, tap f2. It will go to bios. Press f9 once. It will show load bios defaults with a yes or no popup. Press enter. Popup screen will disappear. Press f10 once. It will show save changes popup with yes or no. Press enter. Computer will restart and it will load into windows.  

 

It might also be the issue with battery, charger or power outlet.  Try to use the charger in a different room on a different power outlet. Try to bypass the surge protector and connect it directly to power outlet.  Try to use an alternative charger if possible.  Try to turn on the computer without the charger and check it ( as long as the battery is not drained out )  

Try windows x 

go to device manager 

expand Battery

right click on all the items below battery – uninstall 

Restart the computer 

 

It should work fine.. 

William_mk2

@JJamesH

If it is still not working then we have to do a refresh and reset

I undestand you already did the keep my files. This time please try the fully clean the drive.

click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started 

or 

on start - type here to search - type reset this pc - click on reset this pc on the top - click on get started 

It will show you keep my files and remove everything

chose remove everything 

click on local reinstall

It will show you two options Just remove my files and fully clean the drive

click on Fully clean the drive

It will be in progress

Note:

If you do refresh ( keep my files ) - all your personal files like pictures, music , documents , videos will still be intact.  Only the applications will be lost

If you do reset ( remove everything ) - you are doing a factory default.  It will become like a day one computer.  It will wipe out everything and take your computer to day one like a new computer. 

You can also do the recovery in an alternative way..

There are two alt keys on the keyboard. If you look at the bottom row of keyboard you can see the one on the left side of space bar and the other on the right side of space bar. The alt key on the right side will be looking like alt, alt gr or alt car. Turn off the computer. Hold the alt key on the left and tap f10 continuously.  It will go to repair mode. It will show you chose an option, continue, troubleshoot.  If it is not going to repair mode, turn off the computer. Turn on the computer. Hold the right alt key ( alt gr or alt car or alt ) and then tap f10 continuously. It will go to chose an option continue and troubleshoot..

It will show you chose an option, continue, troubleshoot

Go to troubleshoot - click on reset this pc

Go to troubleshoot - click on reset this pc – click on remove everything – click on local reinstall – just remove my files – click on reset 

It will reinstall windows. 

If the just remove my files is not working.. 

Go to troubleshoot - click on reset this pc – click on remove everything – click on local reinstall – Fully clean the drive – click on reset 

It will reinstall windows. 

Note: You can also go to chose an option , continue , troubleshoot by holding the alt key + tapping f10 or alt gr + tapping f10 on the keyboard while turning on the computer.  Once you see the troubleshoot option, you can stop tapping the f10 and stop holding the alt key.  Then you can try the keep my files and remove everything ( just remove by files and fully clean the drive ) by following the steps which was mentioned above. 

William_mk2

@JJamesH

If it is still not working..

you can download windows 10 from another working computer using a 8 gb blank usb flash drive.  

Try this method..

On a different working computer. 

Go to the website 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10

Below the info Create Windows 10 installation media

click on download tool now.. 

It will download the windows media creation tool - click on media creation file on the lower left corner.

Insert a blank 8 gb flash drive 

it will download and install the windows 10 on the blank flash drive.. 

Now insert the flash drive on the broken computer

go to bios by tapping f2 - go to main - f12 boot menu - enable it

go to boot option

Boot mode : uefi

secure boot - enabled

f10 save the changes

Try f12 while turning on the computer.

chose usb flash drive

Boot it using usb flash drive..

click on install

chose custom

on where do you want to install windows screen - remove all the partitions

It will become like one single unallocated space  

There is no need to format it.. 

chose the unallocated space 

click on next 

It will install the operating system. 

If it is still not working you can order the recovery media which is designed for your computer.

 How to order acer recovery media

Please visit the website - support.acer.com - chose your country - click on shop.  scroll down - click on eRecovery media on the bottom of page.  Enter the snid no - you can place the order for recovery media.  It might be a set of disks or recovery usb flash drive.  Alternatively, on the top right corner you can find the phone no to contact Acer store.  You can also order it from Acer store. 

Recovery media is a unique media which is designed only for your computer.  It cannot be used on any other computer.  It comes with operating system drivers and applications which is designed for your computer.