HP Monitor Not Turning On, How to Fix?

A monitor is the most important output device of a computer, and for some newer monitors with touchscreens, an input device also. It’s annoying when you start your computer, and the monitor remains black. Apart from these, a monitor plays an essential role in productivity. A bigger monitor with more space will allow you to use various tabs with different content to work better.

HP is one of the largest tech manufacturing companies. HP produces some of the best monitors with options for every budget range. They are quite reliable. But they are electronic peripherals, and electronics can always fail. So, it is a common problem if a monitor does not turn on.

Why Does the HP Monitor Not Turning On?

A wide range of issues can lead to a monitor not turning on, and some of them can be difficult to diagnose. It may be because of failed power supply, issues with the connected cables, wrong monitor settings, or incorrectly connected input. Or maybe the monitor is just fine; the issue may even lie with the computer hardware. All sorts of problems can make the monitor fail to turn on.

How to Fix HP Monitor Not Turning On?

Check the power supply

So, first things first, the problem can be caused by your power supply, and your monitor may be working just fine. If you haven’t already, then check the following points.

• Though it may sound silly, it’s good to check if your monitor is connected to the power line and the switch is turned on.
• There may also be a possibility of an electrical problem; you can try plugging the monitor into a different outlet. 
• Make sure the AC Adapter is working fine.
• See if the monitor’s power button is turned on, you can find it either on the side panel or front of the panel, find it and be sure that it is turned on.

Check the next steps if you see signs of power or the power lights blink, and nothing is still shown on the display.

Look for cable connectivity issues.

Now that we have checked the power supply and the monitor is properly plugged in, the connections come next. It can be expected for the cords to loosen up over time and under repeated usage, especially the ones with multiple input support.

You can likely find your monitor cords on the back of your monitor. Have a look at the power cord and connected cables. 

• Check that all the connections are well secured and firmly held up.
• Disconnect the display cable and reconnect again.
• Also, check if any of the cords are damaged. You can also try a different chord if you have one extra lying around.
• If your cable has any screws, tighten them to secure the connection.
• You can check with a different connection. For example, you can check with a VGA cable if you use HDMI. 
• Make sure you use the right connection mode with your PC and monitor.
• If your PC has an onboard GPU, ensure the monitor cable is connected to the graphic card outlet.

Hard reset your monitor

To reset your monitor:

1. Power off the monitor.
2. Then, unplug the monitor.
3. Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds until the capacitance is released.
4. Power on the monitor after reconnecting it.

Confirm if the issue is with your monitor

You can connect your monitor to any other device to check if the issue is really with your monitor. If the monitor functions properly with other devices, then the problem is with your PC. There may be a wide range of problems related to your hardware, but here are a few common ones.

You will need to open your PC case for some of the following fixes.

To open your PC case:

1. You should turn off your computer before you begin.
2. Remove the power outlet from your PC.
3. Make yourself grounded to remove any static electricity build-up in your body.
4. Open up your PC case. You can open up one side of the case, identify it and remove the screws behind the side panel and then slide it to open the case.

Follow these instructions to open your PC for the solutions which require opening it.

Check and reinsert your RAM sticks

RAM sticks not making a proper connection is a common hardware issue that may result in a black screen. In that case, removing and reinserting the RAM sticks can help solve the issue.

To reinsert the RAM sticks:

1. Open your PC by following the instructions, and then ensure you’re grounded.
2. You can find the RAM sticks connected to the motherboard; they are generally located next to the processor in the RAM modules.
3. To remove the sticks, look for the tiny clips at the end of the RAM slot. Unclip it by gently pushing the clip downwards.
4. In case of multiple sticks, try exchanging the position of the sticks, and for a single one, change the slot.
5. While reinstalling the RAM module, remember to look at the small notch and match the direction with the RAM slot. Match the notch and install the module by carefully pushing it until you hear a click.
6. Clip the RAM again and install the side case.
7. Turn on your PC by plugging it back in.

Reset the BIOS

The basic functionalities of the computer are controlled by the BIOS (Basic Input or Output System). It interfaces between the computer hardware and the installed operating system. This BIOS firmware is embedded in the motherboard and is powered by a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) battery. 

Resetting the BIOS settings loads the system’s default configurations and can solve many issues. You can reset the BIOS by going into the setup screen, but in this case, we don’t have a display to look at it. We can still reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery.

To reset the BIOS without a display:

1. You need to open up the PC. So, follow the same instructions mentioned above. Please ensure no power cables are connected and that you are properly grounded.
2. Now locate the CMOS battery. Generally, it is a small coin-sized flat component and can commonly be found near the PCIe slots. It’s quite distinct among the other components, so hard to miss. Check for an insulated plastic wrap containing the CMOS battery for smaller motherboards. If you still can’t find it, you can refer to your motherboard’s user manual.
3. Now we need to remove the battery. For most people with a coin cell battery, press the lock on the battery slot to the side. This will easily pop out the battery. Keep in mind the polarity of the battery; generally, the +ve sign is on the top.
4. If you have a smaller motherboard with a CMOS battery attached to it by a wire, then detach the cable connecting it to the motherboard. Note down the polarity of the color code before removing it.
5. Now that we have removed the battery, press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds to discharge the capacitors holding charge.
6. After some time, reinsert the battery by gently pressing it down and for the wired one, reinsert the header. For both cases, keep in mind the polarity.
7. The BIOS should be reset. You can now power on your PC and check if the display works.

Fix any heating issues 

An improperly cooled CPU can lead to a black display problem. Especially if your display goes black after booting up. Here are some common issues with the cooling system.

1. If your PC is quite old and the CPU fan runs for a long time, then a failing fan can be the issue. If the fan is not running properly or not running at all, then find a replacement for it and install the new fan. You can try reinstalling it.
   i) Open your PC case.
   ii) Look for the fan on your motherboard.
   iii) Remove the fan header.
   iv) Re-attach the header and secure it properly.
   v) Reboot the PC and see if the fan runs properly and the display turns on.
2. The heat sink of the PC can get clogged up over time, which may lead to heating issues. Opening it up and removing the dust can help solve that case.
3. A newly upgraded cooling system not properly installed can lead to many problems.

Fixing the heating issues can solve your display problem; ensure following proper PC maintenance protocols to prevent such problems, and keep your PC components cool.

Update the device drivers

Running outdated software can lead to all sorts of compatibility issues. If the monitor fails repeatedly, the problem may be caused due to incompatible graphics drivers or device drivers, which can be solved by updating them to the latest version. This guide considers Windows OS as it is the most commonly used. 

The drivers can either be updated from the windows device manager, by updating windows, or by manually downloading them. The latest drivers are updated automatically while updating windows. 

Goto Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates

If an update is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. Restart your PC after that. If the problem persists, consider updating the drivers manually.

Updating the drivers using device manager:

1. In the windows search bar of the start menu, search for “device manager.”
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Find your graphics driver from the list. You can find it with the name “Display adapters.”
4. There may be multiple options like Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA. Right-click on one of them. If there are multiple options, repeat these steps for each one.
5. Click on “Update Driver.”
6. Then select “Search automatically.”
7. If windows can find the new driver, it will be installed. 
8. If the drivers were installed, restart your PC. 

For manually downloading the drivers:

1. Check for the serial number of your graphic device. 
2. Search for the latest version of the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
3. Install the driver like any other program.
4. Restart your PC.

Update your BIOS

Updating the BIOS may be complicated compared to installing software or device drivers. Depending on your motherboard manufacturer and model number, the process varies. No fixed universal set of instructions can be followed for every device. Please refer to your motherboard manufacturer’s support website for the instructions for updating your particular model.

Here is a basic outline of common steps for almost all motherboards.

1. Go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of your model-specific BIOS.
2. Make a flashable USB drive with the firmware by unzipping and copying it to the pen drive.
3. Restart your PC, and while the lights blink up, keep pressing the right key to enter the BIOS; generally, the key is F2, F12, Esc, or Del. Please check the manufacturer’s website to find it.
4. Once in the BIOS, find the BIOS update option, select the file on the drive and update the BIOS.
5. Restart the computer.

After successfully updating the BIOS, reconnect your original monitor and see if the problem persists. 

Conclusion 

Hopefully, one of these cases helped you successfully solve the issue, and your monitor is now turning on. If you have tried all the solutions and the monitor is still not turning on, consider repairing your monitor, which can be overwhelming to do yourself; you can always go for a repair service. 

If your monitor is under warranty, contact HP support, and find their contact details for your area on their website.