The "Computer Turns On But No Display Or Keyboard Not Working" issue is becoming increasingly common among Windows users. All tech forums seem to be flooded with people reporting this problem. It's time to tackle it.

But first, let's show you a typical user journey for this problem.

Hello everyone,

I recently upgraded my computer to boost its performance, replacing everything except the power supply, SSD, and hard drive. Last time I had a friend guiding me through the process, but this time I decided to do it on my own.

At first, everything seemed to be going well, but now I've encountered a major issue. When I try to boot up the system, the motherboard and fans turn on, but there's no display. Neither the keyboard nor the mouse LEDs light up. After several attempts, the problem persists.

Please advise on how to resolve this, as I'm feeling quite frustrated and overwhelmed right now. "

There could be many reasons behind it. The monitor might go black due to worn-out or damaged wiring. Other causes can include incorrectly configured display and BIOS settings, malfunctioning RAM, or any fault with the power supply unit. The problem might seem complicated at first glance, but worry not, as we have the perfect solution for you.

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Solving the issue of a computer turning on but with no display or unresponsive keyboard

When you encounter the "computer turns on but no display" issue, try these 8 solutions to get back on track. Let's dive into the details.

Solution 1: Force restart your computer

If you see your PC black screen while gaming or doing other activities, the first thing you should do is force-restart it. This will reset the program files and clear out any minor errors.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds. The system will turn off.

Step Two: Now turn on your computer and repeat this process 3-4 times.

Step 3: It should automatically run "Startup Repair". Let it do its thing.

Windows Boot Repair

Solution 2: Check the LCD/monitor screen

A black screen can also be caused by an issue with the LCD/monitor, so it's important to check if it's working correctly.

Step one: Check the power indicator light on the monitor to make sure it's on.

Step Two: Now unplug and then replug in your monitor's power adapter to reset it.

Adapter for restarting the display

Step 3: If the display does not turn on, you need to repair the display. If the display turns on normally, the display is not faulty.

Also read: Computer Won't Turn On? Causes and Fixes

Solution 3: Reconnect the LCD/monitor to the computer

A faulty or damaged cable between the monitor and computer can also cause display issues. Hence, it's advisable to disconnect and reconnect the monitor and computer to troubleshoot this problem.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button until the system turns off.

Step two: disconnect the video card from the monitor and the computer, and check it for damage.

Step 3: Check the status of all your monitors and master system ports.

Step Four: Reconnect everything and check that it works.

Reconnect all peripherals

5. If all the connections are normal, power up the system to see if it works properly.

Solution 4: Disconnect peripherals

Typical system peripherals are a mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, and so on. Sometimes, they might affect the system's display mechanism. So, if you see this error, try booting the system without these peripherals.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button until your system turns off.

Step two: unplug all external devices.

Disconnect all peripherals

Step 3: Restart your system. If it boots up normally, your system is fine. If not, move on to the next repair step.

Solution 5: Reinstall the RAM (Random Access Memory)

If the connection between your RAM and motherboard is loose, it can cause the screen to go to sleep. Since all application data is stored in RAM, any issues with it can cause the entire system to shut down. By reseating the RAM, you can reset it to its default state.

Step 1: Hold down the power button to turn off the computer.

Step Two: Disconnect the power cord from the back of the computer, and then open the case.

Step 3: Remove the RAM sticks from their slots on the motherboard.

Remove the RAM from its slot

Fourth, check its condition. If it's OK, put it back in the same place.

Step 5: Reboot your system and see if the problem is fixed.

Fix 6: Reset your BIOS settings to default

The BIOS is the program responsible for booting up the system upon power-up. Any corruption or damage to the BIOS file can affect the computer's ability to start up and display properly. Therefore, to resolve this issue, it is recommended to reset the BIOS settings to their default values.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button to turn off the system.

Step two: Unplug the computer's power cord from the wall. Then open its case.

Step 3: Use a screwdriver (or your nails) to pry the CMOS battery off the motherboard.

CMOS battery on the motherboard

Step four: Wait about five minutes, and then reinsert the battery into its slot on the motherboard.

Step 5: Plug in the power cord and turn on the system to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 7: Check and repair damaged files

Sometimes, damaged files can cause the display to stop working. In this case, Windows has a built-in process to look for and fix corrupted files.

Step 1: Go to the search bar and type "CMD"

Step 2: Right-click on “CMD.exe” and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 3: When prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.

Step 4: Type "sfc /scannow" in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

SFC /scannow (This image depicts the command "SFC /scannow" being executed in the Command Prompt. Running this command when your PC turns on with no display output or keyboard power can help detect and repair issues with system files.)

Step five: The System File Checker tool will scan all the files, and fix any corrupted ones that might be preventing your computer from starting up.

Fix 8: Update your display adapter driver

Display drivers are responsible for rendering video, images, and all other visual graphics. If your display driver is outdated or corrupted, it can affect how your system displays things. In this case, you'll need to update or rollback your display driver.

Step 1: Type “Device Manager” into the search box and launch it.

Step 2: In Device Manager, select Display adapters.

Display adapter

Step 3: Right-click on the adapter and see what options it offers.

Step 4: Choose Update Driver.

Update Drivers

Step 5: Windows will automatically search for and update your graphics driver.

Important! Regularly back up your computer to prevent data loss.

We all store our work and personal data on our computers. And, as with the “computer turns on but has no display or keyboard power” problem we discussed earlier, there are many software and hardware issues that can cause data loss. Nobody wants to lose years of work.

To avoid this, you should regularly back up your computer to prevent data loss. To efficiently and quickly store your data, you should always use a Todo Backup tool. You can create backups for disks/partitions, files, and a whole operating system image. Ease US also offers a cloud backup service, allowing you to access your data from anywhere in the world. Additionally, it provides disk imaging and instant recovery options.

Serving over 20 million users worldwide, the software stands as a testament to its high quality and world-class user experience. You can download the Free, Home, and Technician versions from the tool's official website.

Use this powerful tool to create an image of your system so you can restore your operating system if problems occur.

Step 1. On the main screen, tap "Select Backup Content."

Create System Backup Step 1

Step 2: Click on Operating System in the list of four options.

Create System Backup Step 2

Step 3. Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition; you just need to choose a backup destination.

Create System Backup Step 3

Step 4. You can choose to save the backup file on your local hard drive or NAS.

Create System Backup Step 5

5. After the backup is complete, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking on the backup task on the left.

Create System Backup Step 5

The Final Farewell

It's extremely frustrating to see a computer that's on but with no display or keyboard power. You're staring at a black screen and getting no response to any input commands. It can render work in progress useless and lead to data loss across the entire system.

This article provides 8 solutions to fix the issue. Each step is highlighted to help you understand the methods. To prevent potential data loss, we recommend using the Todo Backup tool for efficient and secure data backup and recovery. Download it now and solve all data loss issues once and for all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why won't my monitor turn on, but it has power?

There might be two reasons for this: cable damage or an issue within the display itself. Check the condition of the wires and connectors – if they look damaged, replace them immediately. In the second case, head to a repair shop.

Why doesn't my computer respond when I press the power button?

This issue might be due to insufficient power supply to the computer or damaged system files. For power-related issues, you can check the primary adapter, connection ports, and power cables for proper functioning. For software problems, you can reset the BIOS settings and perform a system repair.

How do I know if my power supply is failing?

Follow these simple steps to check if your PSU, or power supply, is faulty:

    • Shut down the computer.
    • Unplug everything from the power supply except for the main AC cable and the 24-pin ATX cable.
    • Locate pins 16 and 17.
    • Bend a paper clip so that it can plug into both of these pins.
    • Power on the supply and observe it.
    • If the fan spins normally, your power supply is fine. If it doesn't spin or spins erratically, your power supply is bad.

How do I force restart my computer?

The easiest way is to press the keys Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. This will bring up several options. Select the Power icon, then click "Restart". This will force your computer to restart.