Screen turns black but laptop still functions

weristich · 04-24-2009, 02:05 PM

Hi everyone,
About two or three weeks ago, I started to notice this problem. Every once in a while (often after I had been watching a lot of stuff on you tube or a movie) my screen will dim and usually go all the way black. The laptop is still functioning but it is like someone has switched off the monitor. I am living in Germany for another two months. I had an adapter for the currents. I don't think it is the adapter because the whole laptop should shut down instead of just the screen. It also could be the cord that connects into the laptop for the power supply. Part of it is starting to fray, not particularly safe, I know. I plan on getting a new cord and a new battery when I get back to the US. My battery life is down to like nothing, so I am always running my laptop on the AC Power supply. I am hoping that I can get this computer to last until then. It's only two years old and it's an Hp.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Since I am in Germany, I am a bit wary about taking it to a computer store because of language barriers.

Mikhalkov · 04-24-2009, 02:17 PM

Does it work on an external monitor?

weristich · 04-25-2009, 01:12 AM

Unfortunately, I don't have access to an external monitor to be able to test it. Logically, I think it should still work. When it happened the first time when I was watching a DVD, I could still hear the DVD, I just could not see any pictures.

04-24-2009, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
weristich Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: winxp	Screen turns black but laptop still functions Hi everyone, About two or three weeks ago, I started to notice this problem. Every once in a while (often after I had been watching a lot of stuff on you tube or a movie) my screen will dim and usually go all the way black. The laptop is still functioning but it is like someone has switched off the monitor. I am living in Germany for another two months. I had an adapter for the currents. I don't think it is the adapter because the whole laptop should shut down instead of just the screen. It also could be the cord that connects into the laptop for the power supply. Part of it is starting to fray, not particularly safe, I know. I plan on getting a new cord and a new battery when I get back to the US. My battery life is down to like nothing, so I am always running my laptop on the AC Power supply. I am hoping that I can get this computer to last until then. It's only two years old and it's an Hp. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Since I am in Germany, I am a bit wary about taking it to a computer store because of language barriers.

04-24-2009, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mikhalkov Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 415 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Screen turns black but laptop still functions Does it work on an external monitor? __________________ "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -1957 "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." -1949

04-25-2009, 01:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
weristich Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: winxp	Re: Screen turns black but laptop still functions Unfortunately, I don't have access to an external monitor to be able to test it. Logically, I think it should still work. When it happened the first time when I was watching a DVD, I could still hear the DVD, I just could not see any pictures.