Black Screen After Logo When Using Optimus (After AMD & NVIDIA Driver Update) on AN16-41-R9M3

Hi,
I have an Acer laptop with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. After updating both the AMD and NVIDIA drivers to the latest versions, my laptop stopped booting properly. It shows the Acer logo, then the screen stays black — no login screen or desktop. However, if I plug in an external monitor via HDMI, everything works fine.

I’ve discovered that the issue only happens when Optimus (hybrid graphics) is enabled. When I change the display mode in BIOS to “NVIDIA GPU only”, the laptop screen works normally again an

This makes me think that the AMD GPU (which is likely responsible for the internal screen in Optimus mode) no longer properly recognizes or controls the display after the driver update.

I would prefer to use Optimus for better battery life, but right now it makes the system unusable unless I use an external display or switch to GPU-only mode.

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

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reddnz

Nitro 16 AN16-41-R9M3

GeForce RTX™ 4050

AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS

amnimaher

It definitely sounds like the AMD driver update broke the internal display handling when running in Optimus mode. This issue happens sometimes when there’s a conflict between the AMD and NVIDIA drivers, especially with newer versions. A good first step would be to try completely uninstalling both GPU drivers using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in safe mode, then reinstall the AMD driver first, followed by the NVIDIA driver, sometimes the order matters. Also, check if Acer has a recommended version of the AMD driver specifically for your model, as OEM-tuned drivers often work better with hybrid setups. Hopefully, this lets you keep using Optimus without issues.”

Axxo

A black screen after the logo when using Nvidia Optimus after a driver update is a common issue, often related to driver incompatibility or issues with the Optimus switching mechanism. To resolve this, try rolling back to a previous driver version, using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove the current driver, or adjusting Optimus settings in the Nvidia Control Panel.

Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Roll Back to a Previous Driver:
Boot into Safe Mode (Power cycle twice during boot, then select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > F5).
In Safe Mode, open Device Manager, locate your Nvidia graphics card, and go to its Properties.
Under the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver.
Restart the computer.
2. Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU):
Download and run DDU in Safe Mode.
Choose "Clean and Restart" to remove all traces of the Nvidia driver.
Install a known stable driver version.
3. Adjust Optimus Settings:
Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
Navigate to Manage 3D Settings and select "High-performance NVIDIA processor" as the preferred graphics processor.
Alternatively, try setting the display mode to "regular Optimus" or explicitly selecting the Nvidia GPU for specific applications.

4. Check for BIOS Updates:
Ensure your system's BIOS is up-to-date, as it can sometimes cause driver conflicts.
5. Consider Kernel Updates (Linux):
If you're using Linux, consider updating your kernel to a more recent version, as some kernel versions may have compatibility issues with Nvidia drivers.
6. Report the Issue to Nvidia:
If the problem persists, consider reporting it to NVIDIA for their awareness and potential fix in future driver releases.

Additional Notes: Advanced Optimus:
If your system supports it, ensure that "Advanced Optimus" is configured correctly or try switching to regular Optimus mode, as automatic switching can sometimes cause issues.
Factory Reset:
If all else fails, consider performing a factory reset of your system and reinstalling drivers carefully, observing the recommended order (e.g., integrated GPU first, then Nvidia).
Driver Version:
Try different driver versions, both newer and older, to see if you can find one that works reliably with your system.
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