We expect our Dell monitor to work without any problems. Unfortunately, there are times when we may be facing a black or white screen problem that stops us from working. Here’s what to do.
A common reason why there is a black or white screen problem with a Dell monitor is due to a power issue. It could be the power cable that connects the monitor to the wall or it could be the power source. Unplug the monitor for one minute and plug it back in to refresh the internal memory.
Although power problems are to blame for most issues with a Dell monitor screen problem, it isn’t the only reason why it can occur. There may be other ways to correct the issue, and we have a list for you to choose from below.
Dell Monitor Black Screen
Since power is typically to blame when you have a Dell black screen problem, here are some things to check that will often correct the problem as quickly as possible.
Breaker – One reason why you may not be getting power to the Dell monitor is that the breaker has tripped. This will keep power from getting to anything in the circuit, so you may notice other items are also not working.
It may be the breaker in your breaker panel but it might also be a more local breaker if you are on a GFCI receptacle. Those receptacles have an internal breaker that may need to be reset directly on the receptacle.
In either case, resetting the breaker will restore the power. If the breaker continues to trip, however, it may be something that is plugged into it or perhaps an internal problem that needs to be addressed by an electrician.
Power Cable – If the power cable has become damaged, it may not be sending enough power to the monitor and a black screen may occur. Inspect the power cable carefully for any signs of cracking, splitting, or if there are any cuts. If you see any damage or if there are exposed wires, replace the cable.
It might not be a problem with a damaged cable but if the cable is not seated properly into the port, it is not going to work. Make sure that the cable is firmly in place on both ends.
Receptacle – Although a receptacle doesn’t typically fail, it is not out of the question for one to go bad from time to time. Test the receptacle by plugging something into it, such as a lamp.
If the receptacle isn’t working and a breaker isn’t tripped, make sure that the receptacle isn’t on a switch. At times, half of the receptacle can be switched and the other half can permanently be hot.
Power Strip – We all use power strips because they are a convenient way to plug in a lot of electronic equipment when we don’t have enough wall receptacles. They also tend to be unreliable and they aren’t the safest choice.
If you have your Dell monitor plugged into a power strip and are experiencing a black screen, try plugging it directly into a wall receptacle. You might also want to try taking the monitor to another part of the home and plugging it into a different circuit.
Try Cycling the Monitor Power
When you call tech support, the first thing they tell you to do is to turn whatever you are working on off and back on again. They tell you that because it refreshes the memory and often gets the issue resolved.
You can do something similar with your Dell monitor. Follow these steps to cycle the monitor power:
1. Unplug the monitor
2. Remove the cable from behind the monitor
3. Wait a minimum of one minute
4. Plug the monitor back in and choose a receptacle you know is working.
5. Push the power button on the monitor
This should refresh the monitor and resolve the black screen problem. You might want to try a different power cable if it does not work.
One other thing to consider is the possibility that it isn’t your monitor but rather, it is something with your computer. Here are a few things to check on your computer that could cause a Dell monitor black screen.
Drivers – Check the drivers and make sure they are up-to-date.
Graphics Card – If the graphics card is not working, it will not power your Dell monitor. At times, it may work with one monitor but if you are using a secondary monitor, it might not work.
Malware – Conflicts caused by malware can sometimes affect the drivers that run the Dell monitor. Scan your computer for malware and take the appropriate action.
Display Port – It is not out of the question for a PC to require a specific port for connecting a monitor. If you are not using the correct port, it may not work.
Battery – If you are using a laptop and the battery is at the end of its life, it may not have enough power to operate your Dell monitor. Try unplugging the laptop and seeing how long it takes for it to die. Replace the battery if necessary.
At times, restarting the computer may help to get things working again. This is more than simply turning the computer off and back on, it requires taking very specific steps. Try the following:
1. Unplug any cables that are connected to peripheral devices.
2. Remove the battery if you are using a laptop
3. Shut down the computer completely
4. Unplug the power cable from the computer and the wall
5. Unplug the power cable from the monitor and remove any additional cables
6. Press the power button on the computer and hold for 30 seconds. This will drain any residual power.
7. Push all buttons on the monitor, including the power button and any menu buttons
8. Reinstall the battery
9. Plug the power cables back in and re-connect the monitor to the computer
10. Turn the monitor on first and then turn the computer on second.
This will refresh both the monitor and the computer. It will also likely get the computer to recognize the monitor so it starts working again.
Dell Monitor Black Screen Blue Light
If you are having a problem with a Dell monitor black screen and you see a blue light, there are some things to do to correct the problem.
The largest issue that leads to a Dell monitor black screen while it is showing a blue light is a problem with the cables. Make sure that you are using DVI or, at the very least, HDMI.
Using a lower resolution cable may not be sending enough signal to the monitor. You can also run a self-test through the Dell monitor using the on-board menu buttons.
There may also be other issues that are leading to the black screen. The blue light itself is not necessarily a problem, but the fact that the LED is blue and the screen is black is definitely a problem.
Video Card – Sometimes an issue with the video card will cause the black screen to appear. You can test the video card by plugging in a monitor that you know works.
Test the Monitor – It is also possible to test the monitor by taking it to another computer and plugging it in. There may be some conflict going on between one computer and the monitor that needs to be resolved.
Drivers – It is always a good idea to check the drivers and make sure they are up-to-date. If they aren’t up-to-date, you can update them and see if the monitor starts working.
BIOS – You may need to boot into BIOS to check the settings on the computer. Each computer has a different method of doing this but it is typically one of the ‘F keys’ that is pressed when you see the Windows logo on startup.
After entering BIOS, you can navigate the menu to check on various devices, including the video card and monitor.
Power Cycle the Monitor – Fully cycling the power on the monitor may help. Turn the monitor off, disconnect it from the wall, and hold the power button for three seconds to discharge power. Turn the monitor back on to finish the process.
Dell Monitor Black Screen Green Light
If you are seeing green led lights but the screen on your dell monitor is black, try the following to get it working again.
The most common reason there is a green LED light and the screen is black is that the monitor is going through a self-test process. This is a feature that is built into monitors and at times, it can cause some concern if it catches you unaware. Otherwise, the monitor may need to be restarted properly.
Most people that have a monitor plugged into their computer never turn the monitor off. They simply allow the monitor to go into hibernation mode when the computer turns off.
Turning off the monitor properly on occasion helps to reset the memory inside of the monitor. It can also help to keep the connection between the monitor and computer fresh.
The first step in the process is to power the monitor down completely. You can typically do this by just pushing the power button on the monitor itself.
Disconnect the monitor from the power cord completely. Pull the cord out of the back of the monitor and then disconnect the cord from the receptacle.
Now that the monitor is off and the power cord is removed, push the power button on the monitor and hold it for three seconds. Doing so will drain any residual power in the monitor so you’re starting completely fresh.
Reconnect the power cable to the monitor and plug it directly into a receptacle. Bypass any UPS device or power strip you may be using.
Connect the computer with the monitor.
Push the power button on the monitor if it doesn’t start automatically.
At times, you may also need to shut down the computer during this process. The computer may not be recognizing the monitor, leading to the black screen problem you are experiencing.
Fully restarting the monitor and the computer will often get them talking to each other again.
Dell Monitor Black Screen Blinking Light
If you have a blinking light on your monitor, it can be a cause for concern. That is especially true if the screen is also black. Fortunately, it is usually easy to fix.
The most common reason why an LED is blinking on your monitor and the screen is black is because it is not fully connecting to the computer. It may not be receiving a signal due to a bad cable or perhaps the monitor has lost connection in some way or another.
Unplug all cables, shut down the computer, and plug the cables back in again before restarting.
The blinking LED light can also be a problem that is associated with the inner workings of the monitor. This could mean that the monitor needs to be replaced, but you can do some diagnostic testing before taking it to the curb.
First of all, turn the monitor off and remove all the cables from the monitor. Make sure that you also remove the power cable from the monitor.
Once the monitor has been powered down, push the power button on the monitor and hold it for at least 20 seconds. This will drain any power from the monitor fully.
After reconnecting the monitor to the power cable, it will turn on automatically. If not, push the power button on the monitor and see if it gives you a message.
Since you do not have the monitor connected to a computer at this point, it should give you a message that there is no cable attached. If you do not see that message, the monitor is likely defective.
If you do see a message saying that there is no cable attached, you can use the diagnostics routine that is built into the monitor. Push the buttons on the monitor for two seconds and a screen will pop up.
After you see the gray screen, push the fourth button and the screen will turn red. Press the fourth button again and it will change green. Continue to push the fourth button and the box will change blue and then another press will change the box black. The final press of the fourth button will change the box to white.
If you were able to cycle through the colors by pushing button number four on the monitor, the diagnostic test was a success.
If you are still having a problem with a flashing LED and black screen, check the cables and video card.
Dell Monitor Black Screen With Cursor
Has your Dell monitor screen turned black and you are seeing a flashing cursor? This could be a cause for concern.
One reason why you see a cursor flashing on your Dell monitor with the black screen is that there is not an operating system in place. This could be due to a problem with the computer or video card not sending a signal to the monitor.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on November 2, 2021.
Some people who have experienced this problem also have found that the battery in their laptop is not working at full capacity. Laptop batteries do have a limited lifespan and as they get older, they will not be able to power quite as much.
If you are trying to operate your Dell monitor with your laptop unplugged, try plugging it in so you have a greater amount of power. Otherwise, if the battery is not holding a charge any longer, it may need to be replaced.
If you have multiple monitors plugged into the computer, you might have to unplug some of them to get the Dell monitor working. Unplug all additional monitors and reboot your computer completely.
Dell Monitor Black Screen No Menu
Are you seeing a black screen on your Dell monitor with no menu? You may need to refresh the signal from your computer.
There are many ways that the monitor connects to the computer and if you are experiencing any problems with the connection, it can cause your Dell monitor to go black and show no menu.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 2, 2021.
Common connection issues include the graphics card, cables, and drivers. Inspect all visible parts of the connection, including the cables and ports. Check the drivers for updates and test the graphics card by plugging in a monitor you know works.
Fully refreshing the computer and purging the memory may help to get the black screen issue resolved. Power down the computer fully, remove the battery and hold the power button for 30 seconds. You can then restart the computer.
Finally, make sure you are connecting through the proper port and that you have the settings established to recognize that port. If you have DVI available, try using DVI instead of HDMI.
Dell Monitor White Screen Of Death Problem
A Dell monitor displaying a white screen can be due to a loose or damaged video cable connection. Check the cable connecting your monitor to your computer; ensure it’s firmly seated in the correct port and that there are no bent pins in the connector. If the cable is secure but the problem persists, try using a different cable to determine if the issue is with the cable itself.
Another issue that can lead to the white screen of death is a faulty graphics card. You can test the graphics card by plugging in another monitor that you know works. Make sure you unplug all other peripherals when testing the graphics card.
Is your Dell monitor screen black? It is likely a problem with the power. Check all cables, including the power cable for damage. Update any old cables, including HDMI and DVI. Bypass any power strip or UPS device and plug the monitor directly into the wall.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 2, 2021.