windows get half way thru and then sacreen goes black

Don Campbell 40 Reputation points
2026-09-05T16:48:43.1533333+00:00

i have a hp 22-df0023w and the screen is broke i can boot and start windows media and screen stays blue for a long time and then screen goes black, i think the sscreen is high jacking the pc. how can i stop this

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics
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TaoLi 110.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-09-05T17:23:50.8333333+00:00

Hi, does the screen go black while Windows is starting, or halfway through an installation/update? Can you still see the mouse pointer?

If this happens during normal startup, I suggest pressing Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. If nothing changes, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and let me know whether a menu appears.

Microsoft’s guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/display-graphics/troubleshooting-blank-screens-in-windows

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AI answer

2026-09-05T16:49:00.08+00:00

Because the built-in screen is physically broken, first rule out a display-output problem and then try recovery steps.

  1. Try switching display output:
    • Press Windows + P, then press P again and press Enter.
    • Repeat a few times to cycle display modes.
    • This can move output away from the broken internal panel.
  2. Reset the graphics driver:
    • Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.
    • A beep or screen flicker indicates the reset worked.
  3. If there is a black screen with a cursor, try Task Manager:
    • Press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
    • If the security screen appears, open Task Manager.
    • Restart Windows Explorer.
    • If Windows Explorer is not listed, use File > Run new task, type explorer.exe, and press Enter.
  4. Disconnect anything not required:
    • Remove external peripherals and extra displays if connected.
    • Then try booting again.
  5. If Windows still goes black, boot into Recovery Mode:
    • Hold the power button for about 10 seconds to force shutdown.
    • Repeat this 2–3 times until Windows enters Recovery Mode.
    • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
    • Press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
  6. In Safe Mode, check the display driver:
    • Open Device Manager.
    • Expand Display adapters.
    • Right-click the GPU and choose Update driver.
    • If the problem started after a driver update, choose Roll back driver instead.
  7. If the issue started recently, use System Restore:
    • In Recovery Mode, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
    • Choose a restore point from before the black-screen problem started.
  8. If the black screen happens only after sign-in, check the shell setting.
    • Warning: registry changes are risky if done incorrectly.
    • Open Registry Editor and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • Verify the Shell value is explorer.exe.

If the screen goes black before sign-in, that points more to display, driver, or startup problems. If it goes black after sign-in, the shell or startup apps are more likely.

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