HP laptop screen periodically goes black.

Good day,

 

Just recently my HP laptop screen will go black but the computer will still stay on and running. I have the computer set right now that when I close the laptop screen and open it back up (no hibernation mode) the computer is already on and the screen will be lit and I can continue working right away. Now when I open the laptop the screen is black but there is power applied to the computer as I can see its on. Also when I am working on the laptop it will just go black the screen as well. I will need to hold down the power button to fully shut the computer off. I then will need to press the power button on to hopefully get the screen to come back on after I power it back up.

 

Sometimes when I power it back on, you will see the HP logo come up, then it goes away like it usually does, and the screen will still stay black. I will have to repower it again and usually after the second or third time the screen will come alive and I will be able to put my password in to log onto the computer.

 

Any information and help would be great.

Hi:

Thank you for the detailed problem description.
We need more information about your system in order to better assist you.

FIRST:

1. Please download, install and run the Free version of Speccy from here: https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy.
2. Then, go to File > Publish Snapshot
3. Click YES > Copy to Clipboard
4. Then please post the LINK to the report by pasting it into your next reply.

NEXT:

1. Please download and run MiniToolBox from here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/minitoolbox/
2. Place a checkmark in the following boxes:

List Last 10 Event Viewer Errors
List Installed Programs
List Problematic Devices
List Users, Partitions and Memory size

3. Click “GO”
4. Please post the text results here by pasting them in your next reply in this thread.

Thanks

please see attached.

 

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/GDPmsa5mn1B7K2LvAI7iXon

 

You seem to be running 2 AV's. Or at least you have Malwarebytes installed on this PC.

 

You have 6GB RAM and a fairly slow processor yet you place a high demand on the PC do do multiple tasks.

 

My first suggestions are:

 

Cut back to a single AV. Microsoft Defender is more than good enough nowadays.

Uninstall any programs that you don't use or don't need.

 

Some programs are hard to uninstall completely so you may need to use a tool like REVO uninstaller. It can be obtained for free. Come back if you need more detailed instructions.

This computer is ~10 years old & was therefore updated to Win10.

In addition to @@aldfort's excellent advice, it might help to:

1. Uninstall some of the HP bloatware that's throwing a lot of errors.

2. BACKUP YOU DATA to an external storage device and then use your HP device serial number to check for BIOS & driver updated at the HP support site. (According to the Speccy report, You
your BIOS dates back to 2015.)

Consider adding more RAM - IF your hardware supports doing so.
OR moving to Linux...
OR upgrading to a modern system with more robust specs.

@aldfort,

 

I have had Malewarebytes installed on this computer from the time I got it. I run it at least once a week. Are you suggesting that I dont use this anymore and just use windows defenders? whats the downside of having both on the computer?

 

 

@MoxieMomma

I have been pushing this computer hard over the years and I know it doesn't have the Ram most newer computers have. Are you guys saying that its now an issue like a video card that maybe going but more of a hardware issue?  Has the processor been pushed to hard over the years and its finally catching up and giving me issues?

 

looking at the error report, I cant really make out what needs to be uninstalled.  

 

only errors that I can make out that needs to be uninstalled would be malewarebytes and spybot.

 

Just to add/clarify:

It's normally OK to run Windows Defender alongside Malwarebytes Premium, especially if one sets mutual exclusions between the programs and if one DISABLES the MB setting to "register" MB with the Windows Security Center.

https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039024313-Register-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4-with-the-Windows-Security-Center

https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039024293-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4-as-an-Anti-Virus-software-replacement

https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038479234-Manage-the-Allow-List-in-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4

To answer your other questions:

I'm not a hardware expert, but I suspect that it's entirely possible that your GPU could be failing, or it could be a thermal issue?

I'll defer to others more expert in these matters to provide additional suggestions.

FWIW You also have several very obsolete, potentially vulnerable software applications. While they likely are NOT causing your current problem, they do put the system at risk for malware infection or other security mishap. Two notable examples: 7-Zip (free, open-source and currently on version 24.x - you have v. 19) and MS Office 2013 (support ended a long while ago; if you cannot update to a supported version, it might be advisable to uninstall and move to a free alternative, such as LibreOffice.)

Respectfully submitted

A 10-yr-old, relatively low-spec laptop is well past its expected lifespan, especially if it's been pushed to the limit, e.g. by gaming, etc.

I suggest definitely uninstalling Spybot - it's outdated junk.
I also suggest uninstalling the HP bloatware.
You probably don't need to uninstall MB, *IF* you ensure that it is properly configured to run alongside Windows Defender. But you could temporarily uninstall it, just to see if doing so resolves your issues.
https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038984753-Uninstall-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4

And, unless the hardware experts suggest otherwise, updating your BIOS & drivers via the HP site *might* help.

Final suggestion for now:

There's evidence of at least remnants of HP, Canon and Epson printer software/drivers.

If you're no longer using any of those printers, it might be advisable to uninstall the software.

That's it for me for now....

I agree with Moxiemomma.

 

There are hints that you might have thermal issues but that's not certain.

 

All of the processes that run at startup are not helping you, nor are the games or the redundant printer software.

Everything that "phones home" also takes up resources.

 

If you decide to use Revo you can follow this YouTube video

 

Again my suggestion is take out one or two things at a time. Then shutdown and reboot.

 

Once you've had a cleanup then see if the problem persists.

 

(I've just run update on my old backup laptop, also with 6GB RAM and a slow processor, much the same age as you device. It took all afternoon. On my main PC, newer with 16GB it takes about 20 mins. So I would start saving the pennies as well. )

 

Do you use this laptop on a desk or a soft surface? If the latter then at least vacuum all of the vents you can see on the outside.

@aldfort

 

Im in the process now of uninstalling some of the programs. I do have a heat problem with this computer. a few years back a bought a fan that the laptop sits on. so its always blowing cool air under the computer. It does get hot at times still and you can feel it.

 

Save my pennies for a new computer??

 

 

@sbestsoftware

 

I had an issue a couple of years back with a hibernation issue where the computer kept going into hibernation by itself out of no where. I have this laptop setup now that it never goes into hibernation even if i shut the cover close to it. As soon as I open the cover its already on. This laptop is pretty much on from Monday mornings till Friday afternoons and just gets shut off for the weekends.

 

I will have to also look into updating the graphics driver.

Definitely: a good blow through, would be a good idea and could cost nothing if you have a hair drier

@sbestsoftware was a spammer.
Disregard advice from the now-deleted spam post.

I just uninstalled a bunch of programs/apps I never used like the printers, WildTangent games and few programs that got downloaded that I have no clue to what they were.

 

I will see if the screen goes black again and let you know.

 

@wee-eddie

 

under the laptop looked clean. and dont see any dust. I am guessing the laptop fan helps keep the dust away.