Black screen with cursor

[graci17]

I had 2 hard drives on my computer. After windows update it stopped recognizing my 2nd hard drive. The first drive has Windows, but the second drive had my Users -> Documents, Downloads, etc folder.

Upon restarting the pc, now the system does not even come to bios or boots. I removed the second hard drive but it still does not come to the bios. The only thing I see on the screen is the mouse cursor after some time. I have tried removing CMOS battery, Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up task manager when I see the cursor, removing the battery and putting it back in.

Nothing comes up on the screen. I downloaded USB boot diagnostic from HP website and it still does not come to bios. I also tried using Windows boot USB and that still comes to a blank screen with cursor.

How do I narrow down what the issue could be?

[Raj_05]

Hi @graci17,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're dealing with a tricky issue. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you narrow down the problem.

Check Power and Connections

• Power Supply: Ensure that your laptop is properly connected to a power source and the battery is charged. If you have a removable battery, try removing it and booting the laptop with just the AC adapter.
• Connections: Double-check all internal and external connections. Ensure that the RAM, hard drives, and any other internal components are securely connected.

Perform a Hard Reset

• Disconnect All Peripherals: Remove any connected peripherals (USB devices, external drives, etc.).
• Power Off: Hold the power button down for 10-15 seconds to perform a hard reset.
• Reboot: Try turning the laptop on again.

Try External Monitor

• Connect your laptop to an external monitor to rule out screen issues. If the external monitor displays correctly, the problem might be with the laptop’s display or related components.

Reseat Components

• RAM: If you're comfortable, try reseating the RAM modules. Sometimes, improperly seated RAM can cause boot issues.
• Storage: Since you removed the second hard drive, make sure the remaining drive is properly connected.

Check for Error Codes or Beep Codes

• Listen for any beep codes or look for any LED blink patterns that might indicate specific hardware errors. Consult your laptop’s manual or HP’s support website for information on what these codes might mean.

BIOS/UEFI Reset

• Access BIOS/UEFI: If possible, try accessing the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, ESC, or DEL) during startup.
• Default Settings: If you can access it, reset the BIOS/UEFI settings to default values.

[Raj_05]

Boot from USB

• If you have a bootable USB with diagnostic tools or a fresh copy of Windows, try booting from it again. If the laptop does not boot from USB, the issue might be with the laptop’s internal components or motherboard.

Check for Signs of Hardware Failure

• If you’re still seeing only a cursor and nothing else, and the laptop doesn’t respond to attempts to boot from external devices, it might indicate a hardware failure, such as a problem with the motherboard or CPU.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support