Member Avatar for Wendy_4

I have two laptops that I'm having this problem with. Currently, though it's the old Vista laptop - a Compac Presario - which keeps fading to black no matter what I'm doing on it. I can view the screen on an alternate display without problems. I have placed a fan tray underneath the laptop to prevent overheating. I have changed the power settings so that the hard drive never turns off and that the screen never turns off either. I never had this problem with either laptop in the past. The Compac was recently formatted and worked for 1 week without problems, but now the screen is fading to black monents after it boots up - and stays black until I turn it off and then on again. Could it be a problem with the updated drivers that the laptop recently updated itself with as part of the Windows updates? I notice computers nearly always work better without the updates. Unfortunately, this is Friday evening so I can't contact HP for another three days.

Any ideas, please

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Dani AI

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Short summary and likely cause based on the thread: the behaviour described by and the observation from point away from a pure driver/OS fault and toward the internal display hardware or its power/connector. The strange effect when the VGA lead was connected/disconnected suggests a detection or power-toggle interaction rather than something that a driver rollback will fix.

Here are concise, practical checks to narrow the fault:

  • Shine a bright flashlight at the panel when the screen is “black.” A faint image means the LCD is receiving video but the backlight (or its inverter/LED driver) is not lighting.
  • Observe POST/BIOS text during boot. If nothing is ever visible (not even faint), suspect the LVDS/eDP cable, connector, or the panel electronics.
  • Change display modes (Fn+display key) and try booting with the external monitor connected and disconnected to see if detection changes the internal display state. Note the pattern you see.
  • Boot from a USB live system (Linux or WinPE) to rule out OS corruption or driver interactions.
  • Gently move the lid through its range and watch for flicker. Intermittent changes while moving point strongly at a failing hinge cable.
  • If comfortable doing basic hardware work: power down, remove battery/AC, ground yourself, and check the screen cable at the hinge and the connector on the motherboard for loose pins or visible damage. Do not attempt if the unit is under warranty.

Repair guidance and cautions: a faint-image result usually means replacing the inverter (older CCFL panels) or the LED driver/panel (newer screens). If there is no image at all, the LVDS/eDP cable or the panel itself is suspect. Because the external output works, the GPU is likely OK. Avoid powering the laptop while disassembled, take ESD precautions, and use a service manual for the exact Compaq Presario model. If uncertain, professional repair or HP support is the safest route; meanwhile continue using the external monitor as a reliable workaround.

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Member Avatar for rubberman

Since an external display works fine, it is not likely a driver or system problem, other than the fact that the display is probably failing. The controller also handles external displays, so it isn't the video controller.

Member Avatar for Wendy_4

Btw, I rolled back the drivers but this didn't help.

This problem with the screen fade came on gradually. At first it only happened randomnly and then it grew to the screen never coming on at all even during boot up.

But the amazing twist in the tale is this: this morning I booted her up, and of course black screen right from the start. I wondered if removing the vga cable connection to the external monitor would help, so I did, then powered up the laptop and it loaded Windows. But screen still black. I replaced the vga cable so I could at least see screen contents on the external monitor, and a moment later, the screen appeared on the Compac laptop!

Life with technology is never dull. There is something to be said for living in a forest, in a tent, beside a big ol' tree, and just enjoying the peace and calm and beauty of the place.

Member Avatar for Wendy_4

Thanks Rubberman.

yes, it might just be the display failing, especially as the screen has gone to black again. Seems hardware related at any rate.

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