Display/split screen problem

Question

The display on my laptop doesn't work right. To see a display, I have to plug into a separated monitor and then windows will recognize that at the laptop monitor... the laptop monitor is black and I cannot select a second display. If I leave the laptop on long enough (like for several weeks), the laptop display eventually comes back. It had been working ok for a month or so and then windows did an automatic 'upgrade' and rebooted and, bingo, I'm now back to no monitor screen. Help!

Thanks,

Doug Smith

Answer 1

FYI ....

Last night windows rebooted my computer again. This morning I had a message that there was a fatal error and a reboot was necessary to recover .... and, miraculously, the laptop monitor was again on. Hardware, I don't think so, but thanks for trying.

Doug Smith

Answer 2

My laptop is an HP dv4-2165dx and the most recent updates (that I just did)  are KB2858725 and KB2898785.

I cannot find any display drivers to update. When I ran a system diagnostic, it did not come with any driver problems or updates available (except the ones described above.

The laptop's monitor still does not come on ... it is totally black. I can use the laptop by pluggint it into another monitor and setting the display control on 1/2 multiple monitors. Any other setting gives me 2 black screens.

What's next?

Thanks.

Answer 3

If I have the external monitor plugged in I see the entire startup process. If it's not plugged in, I don't see anything on the screen, but I can hear it booting.

Answer 4

Do you see anything on the laptop monitor during start up, i.e. before Windows starts to load?

If not, it is a hardware problem rather than a Windows issue which sounds likely.

Answer 5

Hi Doug,

1.       What is the make and model of your computer?

2.       What are the updates installed recently (KB numbers)?

While you reply with above information, you try to start the computer by using Low-resolution video (640×480) mode and check if the display works fine.

---

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode#1TC=windows-7

If you can login, change the screen resolution and restart the computer.

To change the screen resolution, try the steps below:

Right click on the desktop, select screen resolution, set the resolution to 1024x768.

Restart the computer in normal mode, and update the display adapter drivers and check if it helps.

Refer to the steps mentioned under “Update driver” section.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/update-driver-hardware-isnt-working-properly#update-driver-hardware-isnt-working-properly=windows-7

Also visit the manufacturer website, download and install the latest display adapter drivers.

Please post here with the status of the issue and we will be glad to assist you further.