Omen starts then screen goes black with a loading cursor

[MrRager]

So my computer will start but then the screen goes black with only a loading cursor. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @MrRager 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

It sounds like your Omen laptop is experiencing a frustrating issue with the black screen and loading cursor. This often points to a problem with the operating system, drivers, or startup processes. 

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

Step 1: Restart the Laptop

1. Press and hold the power button until the laptop turns off completely.
2. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on to see if the issue persists.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

1. Turn off the laptop and then turn it back on.
2. As it starts, press F8 repeatedly (or Shift + F8 for some systems) to access the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking.
4. If the laptop boots successfully, update your graphics drivers and check for any recent changes that might have caused the issue.

Step 3: Restart Graphics Driver

1. If the screen is still black with a cursor, try restarting the graphics driver:
   • Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.
2. You should hear a beep, and the screen may refresh.

Step 4: Perform a System Restore

1. Boot into the Advanced Startup Options menu:
   • Turn off the laptop, then turn it back on while holding the Shift key.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
3. Choose a restore point from before the issue began.

Step 5: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

1. If you can access Safe Mode, open Device Manager:
   • Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display Adapters and right-click on your graphics driver.
3. Select Update Driver or Uninstall Device (then reinstall it from the manufacturer's website).

Step 6: Run Startup Repair

1. Boot into the Advanced Startup Options menu as described in Step 4.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair startup issues.

Step 7: Check for Hardware Issues

1. Connect an external monitor to rule out display problems.
2. Run HP Diagnostics:
   • Turn off the laptop and press Esc repeatedly during startup.
   • Select System Diagnostics and run the tests.

Step 8: Reinstall Windows

1. If none of the above steps work, consider reinstalling Windows using a bootable USB drive.
2. Download the Windows ISO file from Microsoft's Media Creation Tool and follow the instructions.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye