Laptop Screen Flicker then goes black upon start up.

[OhBeWan]

Start up laptop.  Use camera to log me in, so I have not touched the keyboard or touchpad.  No flickering until you touch the keyboard.  Flickers a few times, then goes black. Touching keyboard will bring up the normal screen for a few seconds, then back to black. Hold down power button and wait for it to shut off.  Hold down power button so that it starts up, again.  It will now boot up without the problem.  At all.  Will now run forever without any problems until you shut down. Then upon startup you will have the same problem.  This problem first started about a month ago.  I cannot link it to any new hardware or software update.  

What have I done to diagnose? Went into Device Manager and updated drivers (keyboard, touchpad, monitor, graphics card).  Went to various manufacturers' websites and got driver update tools and used them. Updated Windows.  Recovered windows (a short, easy process).  Reinstalled windows (lengthy complete redo of windows).  Check my anti-virus.  Brought it to the local tech shop for analysis. They were able to recreate the problem but could not fix. I ran the HP diagnostics.  The Windows diagnostics.   This cannot be a hardware issue because I can temporarily fix by powering down and powering up. 

So, problem appears to be a conflict between the touchpad/keyboard software and the monitor software.  Any bright ideas?

[ub6424]

edited afterwards [ User is sure that it is a software problem ]

[OhBeWan]

I forgot to add additional steps I performed: Ran various checks in BIOS.  Made sure I had most recent BIOS.  Ran "sfc /scannow" from command prompt. Deleted various hardware and let windows find and reinstall. Changed the refresh rate of the graphics adapter.  Rolled back Windows.  Ran “Restore system files and settings.”   I ran troubleshooters from Windows, Intel, HP, Staples, and maybe a few others.

[OhBeWan]

Nope.  Can't be hardware as I can fix by rebooting - 100% of the time. A loose cable would be intermittent. 

[ub6424]

Hello @OhBeWan 

Let me check your current system configuration.

(1) Run    msinfo32

- Select <System Summary>:

--->>> Copy/screenshot/paste following key/value pairs:

OS Name

Version

System Model

System SKU ( equals HP product number (p/n) )

Processor

BIOS Version/Date

(2) Please report your results

[OhBeWan]

[ub6424 · Accepted solution]

Hello @OhBeWan 

(1) Create Windows system <restore point>

How to Create a System Restore Point on Windows 10 or Windows 11

(2) Download and install BIOS Update

HP Notebook System BIOS Update

F.16 Rev.A

14.0 MB

May 23, 2022

Download

Fixes: 

- Provides improved security.
- Provides improved system stability. 

Why should you install the update ?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4123786-2338478-16

Quote: "

Updating the BIOS is recommended as standard maintenance of the computer. It can also help resolve the following issues:

• An available BIOS update resolves a specific issue or improves computer performance.
• The current BIOS does not support a hardware component or a Windows upgrade.
• HP Support recommends installing a specific BIOS update.

"

(3) Reboot

(4) Let BIOS be installed until it's completely done !

(5) Shutdown notebook ( No Sleep / No Hibernate )

(6) Disconnect charger

(7) Press and hold <power> button for 30 seconds

(8) Connect charger

(9) Test your notebook

(10) Please report your results

[OhBeWan]

Thanks for noticing that I did not have the most recent BIOS.  I thought for sure that I had run something that said I had the most recent BIOS, but I guess not.  Anyhow, I ran the BIOS update tool, shut down the laptop, and brought it back up.

First time I rebooted, it still flickered, but now, 3 restarts later and the problem appears to be fixed.  Thanks. 

[ub6424]

---

@OhBeWan wrote:

Thanks for noticing that I did not have the most recent BIOS.  I thought for sure that I had run something that said I had the most recent BIOS, but I guess not.  Anyhow, I ran the BIOS update tool, shut down the laptop, and brought it back up.

First time I rebooted, it still flickered, but now, 3 restarts later and the problem appears to be fixed.  Thanks. 

---

So it's solved. The proposed bios update has provided stability.

You're welcome.

Good luck