Elitebook 1040 G3 dual monitor HDMI and VGA intermittent blank screen

[teddychu822]

Hello,

I just got this HP Elitebook 1040 G3 laptop. I have it set up at home connecting two external monitors. One is connected via HDMI, and the second one via the VGA adaptor (see picture). I can see images on both monitors, and even enable the laptop screen as the third screen as well. However, the monitor connected with HDMI turns blank intermittently and seamingly randomly as well. The screen goes blank for about 2 -3 seconds and then comes back to life. I have tried swapping the cable and the monitor to see if there is problem with the monitor or the cable.  I came to the conclusion that the problem is not with the cable nor the monitor. Whichever monitor is connected via HDMI cable to the laptop is the one experiencing the problem. The other monitor connecting via VGA does not have such intermittent blank screen issue. Finally, I tried using only one HDMI connected monitor without the VGA monitor. Without the VGA monitor, the sole HDMI monitor stays on and intermittment blanking did not occure.

Does anyone know how to fix this intermiteent blank screen problem? I have already tried updating to the latest Intel display drivers and the problem persists. I really would like to use dual external monitor without adding additional adatptor or hardware.

System Config:

HP Elitebook 1040 G3

Windows 7 64 Bit professional

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6600U CPU @ 2.60GHz, 2701 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)

Intel Graphics 520 (Driver Version 20.19.15.4483)

8G RAM

Thank you

[adamcc]

I am having the exact same issue with my EliteBook 1040 G3. The external monitor that is connected to the HDMI socket to the right of the keyboard keeps losing it's connection => the screen goes black from time to time for a couple of seconds.

I am running Windows 10, and my EliteBook is equipped with 16GB of RAM.  BIOS video RAM is maxed at 512MB.

I updated the BIOS and the graphics card driver to the latest versions today. SoftPaq download manager shows everything is up to date.

I have tried multiple different displays and multiple HDMI cables - all the same.

I also have an UltraSlim docking station, with 2 HP monitors connected, using DisplayPort cables.  These sometimes have trouble connecting, but once they are connected, they stay that way, with no further problems.  The HDMI problem is independent of the other monitors.  (The docking station with the 2 DisplayPort monitors is at my work desk, the HDMI monitor is in a meeting room.  I do not use them at the same time.)

I would be grateful for any solution.

Thanks,

Adam

[adamcc]

Link to same issue: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Touch/External-display-flickering-sometimes...

[adamcc]

Update: I submitted a support ticket and the next day I got a phone call to arrange a date for on-site service.  The following day a service technician showed up and replaced the motherboard in my laptop.

Last Friday I tested the HDMI output in a 1 hour meeting, and it performed perfectly.

Problem resolved. 

[Robert_Tx]

Adam - was the problem occuring when service got there, or were they able to diagnose the problem when it was behaving.  Thanks.