Consistent issue with powering on computer

Question

A few times a week when I try to use my computer it will not turn on. The keyboard will light up and the power button with light up, but the screen remains black and I can't do anything. I can bypass the issue by pressing the little reset button on the bottom, but I feel like I should not have to do that multiple times a week? I am worried about messing up my computer or losing data. I have a Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8.

Answer 1

When you start your laptop, if you does not even see the Lenovo screen before the spinning dots appear to indicate Windows is starting, then this is not a Windows problem, the best option is to go to the support page for your laptop on the Lenovo website to check for any BIOS update that may be available and not yet installed.

Answer 2

Since the keyboard lights and power button light come on but the screen stays black, start with blank-screen and firmware/power-state troubleshooting before assuming Windows is damaged.

1. Try the non-destructive display resets first when the black screen happens:
   • Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. A beep or screen flicker indicates it worked.
   • Press Windows + P, then tap P again and press Enter to cycle display modes.
   • If possible, press Ctrl + Alt + Del. If the security screen appears, open Task Manager and restart Windows Explorer.
2. Check for a stuck external display or connection issue:
   • Disconnect any external monitor, dock, or peripherals.
   • If available, test with a different monitor or cable.
3. If the screen remains blank, boot into Safe Mode:
   • Hold the power button for 10 seconds to force shutdown.
   • Repeat this 2–3 times until Windows enters Recovery Mode.
   • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
   • Press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
4. In Safe Mode, check the graphics driver:
   • Open Device Manager.
   • Expand Display adapters.
   • Right-click the GPU and select Update driver.
   • If the problem started after a recent update, use Roll back driver instead.
5. Install Windows updates:
   • In Windows 11, open Start, type settings, select Windows Update, then Check for updates.
   • Install available updates.
6. Update device drivers that commonly affect startup/display stability:
   • Check for updated video card, mouse, keyboard, and printer drivers from the manufacturer.
   • For a laptop, also check the laptop manufacturer site for model-specific updates.
7. If the issue started recently, use System Restore:
   • Boot into Safe Mode or Recovery Mode.
   • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
   • Choose a restore point from before the issue began.
8. Because this is a Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 and the problem happens at power-on, also check firmware behavior:
   • Update the laptop BIOS/UEFI and Embedded Controller firmware from Lenovo support for that exact model.
   • Disable Fast Boot/Quick Boot in BIOS and test cold starts.
   • Perform an EC reset by powering off, disconnecting AC power, and holding the power button for 60 seconds, then reconnect power and test.

Important: avoid using the bottom reset button as the normal workaround. Repeated forced resets can risk unsaved data loss.

If the problem still occurs after BIOS/EC updates, disabling Fast Boot, and updating the graphics driver, the pattern points more to a firmware or hardware issue than a Windows-only issue. At that stage, Lenovo service is the appropriate next step.

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References:

• Troubleshooting blank screens in Windows
• I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
• laptop keyboard not working after cold boot and in BIOS setup - Microsoft Q&A