Windows 10: Windows 10 black screen on startup problem

Hello

I'm writing this from my mobile and have some difficulty searching the forum for my issue. I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

I have a toshiba satellite c660 laptop (this pre dates Windows 10 officially supported equipment). I have an SSD which has been running Win 10 for several months. (64 bit)

The other day the laptop started to present a black screen on startup. The device powers up and the fan comes on. I assume that the ssd works as normal but of course it doesn't make any sounds to give me any clues.

I've waited sufficient time for the log in screen to appear. I have then entered my password (sometimes assuming the cursor is in the right place and sometimes pressing the space bar to activate it). I then wait sufficient time for the desktop to load and have pressed the Windows key + p several times on the assumption windows is trying to display my screen on a non existent projector. I have a small lcd projector with me (I am travelling) and have tried to display the screen on that.

None of these attempts have worked. I have seen other guidance which recommends using a start up disk which, of course I don't have and can't create.

Any suggestions?

Chris

:)

 

Windows 10 upgrade.

Are you able to see the BIOS screen or the Windows logo?

What is the make and model of your computer?

See the following:

Windows 10 Won't Boot? Fix it with Startup Repair and ... - groovyPost

If you are seeing a black screen, try the following:

How to Fix a Black Screen in Windows 10 - groovyPost

 

Clean Boot Windows 10 From USB - Stuck After Blue Logo

Look at the bottom of the laptop, it will tell you the model number for the Dell.

See the following for resolving black screen issues. Its possible the system is still functioning during the black screen, but you need to wait a bit.

How to Fix a Black Screen in Windows 10 - groovyPost

and

Windows 10 Won't Boot? Fix it with Startup Repair and ... - groovyPost

 

Hi Blueghoti and welcome to Tenforums.

Can you try using System Restore to a point in time before this started happening? See option #1 here:
System Restore Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

To get to the advanced options, you can simulate a failed boot three times (simply hold the power button down to shut off the system before it gets to what should be the login screen).

 

This is how I resolved a similar problem.

My client experienced an unintentional upgrade to 10 (seems quite common) and booted up to a black screen with arrow cursor. I was able to bring up the task manager (ctrl-alt-del) and start msconfig using run new task. I then set the machine to boot in safe mode from the boot tab and rebooted. This successfully booted to a desktop in safe mode. IIRC, I tried to revert to Win7 from there but it wouldn't do it from safe mode. I reopened msconfig, disabled safe mode and rebooted. This time it booted up normally and I was able to revert to Win7.

Since you've been running 10 for a while, this may not be directly applicable to your situation, but if you can get into safe mode at least you can try other solutions.

 

Hi simrick and MrWhoppee. Thanks for your feedback to my issue. I've tried both but I think the main issue is that I am flying completely blind with a black screen. No matter how precise and careful I feel I am with key strokes I'm not having any luck following your recommendations.

II am tempted to do a full reinstall. I have the original win 10 disk (although foolishly not a recovery disk) but I want to avoid taking this drastic step before I've exhausted others. All my data is backed up so I would lose time rather than data.

I am now back to a place where I can create a recovery disk on another win 10 machine. However I believe my laptop is set to boot from the SSD and I am not sure how - without a working screen and with the ssd being in working order - I could force it to boot from another source.

Thoughts ?

Chris

 

Hi Chris.
If the problem indeed lies with the OS, then you should have a working screen to enter the BIOS. This is usually done by repeatedly tapping the F12 or F2 key upon the initial Toshiba splash screen. If you don't have the initial splash screen from Toshiba, then it may be that your laptop screen has failed. In that case, connecting an external monitor to the VGA port will *may* give you a display, to get into the BIOS and/or the "one-time-boot menu" to set the optical drive or flash drive as the boot device. If it's a failure on the MB, it may not work.

I also troubleshooted this once for someone who had Teamviewer installed on their system, with an auto-login. I was able to log into their machine and see everything fine, while they had nothing but a black screen.

 

Thanks simrick. It's not looking good I am afraid. F2 and f12 don't seem to do anything for me. I have a small lcd projector which worked well the day before I got my black screen but now shows "no signal" from my vga port. I think I'll have to try a reinstall but am beginning to resign myself to there being a much more expensive fault.

Cheers
Chris

 

Sounds like MB failure. If it were the screen, or the backlight, or even the ribbon cable that runs from the MB to the lid, your projector would work. If you can't get into the BIOS and see anything, that's a major failure. Time for a new lappy. Sorry. *Sad

 

Sigh. Ok thank you for your help with various options.

 

You didn't mention if you get the Toshiba splash screen on startup. If you do, it's not a hardware issue.

edit: I was reading here
TOSHIBA Satellite C660-2C3: Cannot enter BIOS - TOSHIBA FORUM
that you may have to hold the F2 key while pressing the power button to start.
Also, if fast boot is enabled you won't see the splash screen.

 

Thanks MrWhoppee

Unfortunately it's a totally black screen, right from power up. No sign of life at all (fan spins, and I guess the SSD powers up, but I don't know if it boots.)

Does this mean a hardware issue? I guess it's an expensive one. The toshiba forum link suggestion didn't work either *Sad

Chris

 

Yes, unfortunately it looks like hardware. Since the projector doesn't work either (assuming you have tried FN+F5 to switch from lcd to external), it appears that the video adapter has failed. *cry It's rare, but it does happen.

 

Sigh, ok thank you. Is the video adapter replaceable, or do I have a big issue now?

 

Sounds like a new MB, which is not worth the cost, as a replacement laptop would be a better use of the money. *Sad