Connecting to an External Monitor causes blank screen or windows 10 style blue restart screen

[chris1006]

Hi,

I'm using a HP Spectre x360 Convertible running Windows 10.

If I connect my laptop to an external monitor using a HDMI cable the laptop screen flicks to black. The screen is still on but it's completely black. Unplugging the monitor does nothing and the only way to use it again is to hold the power button to manually turn off. However, this only happens sometimes and not all of the time. So in the scenario described above, if I've had to turn it off, I then press the power button to boot up again but this time everything works correctly and the display shows on my external monitor. Unfortunately, this isn't the solution as I can shut the laptop down properly, leave everything connected and when I boot up I get the black screen.

Here's what I've tried to date:

1. Downloading HP Support tools to look for updated drivers and BIOS settings
2. Updated all latest windows hotfixes and updates
3. Used the HMDI port
4. Used the Display port
5. Connected to HMDI while the laptop is on
6. Connected to HMDI while laptop is hibernating and then pressing the power button
7. Connected to HMDI while laptop is sleeping and pressing then power button
8. Connected to HMDI while laptop is off and pressing then power button
9. Connected to HMDI while laptop is sleeping and pressing then power button
10. Done all of the above with the power cable plugged in and also on battery power

The strange thing is that I can do any of the above and it will work, the screen flicks black ever so briefly, before coming to life on the external monitor or I can try these and it doesn't work and it's only started to happen in the last few months. Same monitor and laptop.

I've done a search and found some issues similar but nothing which describes this issue.

All tests done with laptop lid open. There was another issue (HP or Windows problem, I'm not sure) last year where closing the lid and using only the monitor would have sort of permformance issue where the laptop would need to be restarted for it all to happen again later.

Any practical and useful suggestions out there please?

Many Thanks

Chris

[erico]

Hold down the Windows key and tap the P key once.

That will invoke the Windows presentation mode selection on the right-hand side of the screen.

Is second screen only selected? 

That would certainly produce the result you have described.

[chris1006]

Hey - thanks for the response.

I have two monitors but to keep the explanation short, let's stick with one montior for now. This monitor is a duplicate of my laptop screen. However, when I get black screen on my laptop, it's "No Signal" on the monitor.

The Windows key and P didn't work unfortunately. I can't even see the menu.I've tested it just down by putting into hibertnate while I'm connected to the monitor. Hit the power button to boot back up and.... blank screen. So I tried the windows key and P but with no success. I had to manually power down (all still connected). Power button pressed and everything booted correctly, with the external display mirroring my laptop.

As I said, I have 2 screens so I've tried these in different configurations and well as independently. Also tried different cables. The issue is definately down the laptop / windows. The other thing I didn't mention was that sometimes (but less often than complete blank screen) I get a Windows Blue screen error which tells me a problem has occured and windows will restart on my behalf... this happens as I plug in, which makes me thing it's part of the same problem. Otherwise, my environment is in good health: no viruses, regularly scanned, no unnecessary installations, etc

Any other ideas??

[erico · Accepted solution]

Have you considered reinstalling the video driver software?

[chris1006]

Hey Erico,

Sorry for the delay. I think this fixed it! Just went into Device manager and started updated all drivers for everything I could find monitor or display related.... so far so good. I'll mark your answer as the resolution.

Cheers!!