Blank Laptop Screen

[phillpower2]

Back up all important data.

Save all your drivers to a USB thumbdrive.

Create a new system restore point.

See info here please be sure to read the Q & As at the link.

The reason why you need to try and upgrade from 7 to 10 is because you need to enter the product key and the product key must correspond with the OS that is running on the computer, this would obviously not be possible with an out of the box new HDD that had no OS on it.

If you are able to upgrade for free, download yourself a Windows 10 ISO, you can either burn it to a DVD or create a bootable USB device for which you would need an 8GB minimum storage capacity thumbdrive, once done, the product key that has been used will be stored on the Microsoft database along with the notebooks MB details, this means that when you swap in the new HDD you would be able to install Windows 10 to the new HDD as the MB details would be recognised by Microsoft’s database check.

Too soon to be thinking of getting a new computer imo.

[werdnarolyat]

Thanks for the detailed information. I’ll hopefully have time to look at this tonight when I get home.

I tried upgrading to Windows 10 when it first came out but it kept returning an error message and I eventually just gave up on it. If I get the same error message again I’ll let you know.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome

Before trying to upgrade, make sure that Windows 7 is fully up to date and temporarily disable your AV protection, if still no go, try the “create installation media” option, worse case scenario would be to try installing the Windows 10 media to a new HDD, never tried this myself and avoided suggesting it just in case it does not work out.

[werdnarolyat]

Just a quick update.

I’ve been having trouble getting chkdsk c: /r to run successfully. When the laptop restarts I get a message saying it has been cancelled automatically.

Is there a way of forcing this command? Should I just focus on manually backing up the data? i.e. copy and paste to an external drive.

I also successfully updated the BIOS. Possibly just coincidence but the fan is not running as hard and the temperature dropped 7 deg C in CrystalDisk.

[phillpower2]

I’ve been having trouble getting chkdsk c: /r to run successfully.

You should not be running chkdsk on a drive that is suspect as the drive could fail at any time with the loss of all data on it.

Should I just focus on manually backing up the data? i.e. copy and paste to an external drive.

Definitely, in case you are not already aware, you can only copy the likes of music, photos/pictures and videos and any programs have to be clean installed on the new drive.

Any drop in the temps is welcome.

[werdnarolyat]

Understood.

Is Windows Backup a reasonable tool for performing the backup? Or would you just use copy and paste?

Thanks.

[phillpower2]

I just use drag and drop or “send to” when copying stuff.

You are welcome

[werdnarolyat]

Just a quick update. I’m still backing up files. I don’t want to leave the laptop running when I’m not in the house given the high temperatures it is experiencing.

In terms of software, I have used CCleaner to generate a list of all installed software. Is there a tool that can be used to gather all the licence keys for installed software? I’ve had a search but I’m wary of whether or not software is legitimate. Or should I just do it manually?

I have also backed up the drivers in the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder.

[phillpower2]

I don’t want to leave the laptop running when I’m not in the house given the high temperatures it is experiencing.

Wise move (y)

Magical Jelly Bean (free) KeyFinder

[werdnarolyat]

Thanks. I was typing a replying from the laptop and got the blue screen of death…Thankfully the Windows 7 backup had completed.

Now when I switch on the laptop I just get a dull screen and it eventually switches itself off. I let cool for a while in case that was causing an issue.

Is my best option now to buy a new hard drive and try and install Windows 10?

[phillpower2]

Is my best option now to buy a new hard drive and try and install Windows 10?

As you know that you need a new HDD you have not been caught off guard but the computer blue screening, the dull screens and the shutting down problems are not being caused by the HDD, they are most likely being caused by overheating, one may think that hearing a cooling fan working hard meant that things were being kept cool when in fact it meant that the fan could not cool things down.

There is a fair bit of work involved in cleaning or cleaning and having to replace the cooling fan, there is a guide here, take a look and see what you think, please note the warning in red in step 9.

[werdnarolyat]

After leaving the laptop for a 3 - 4 hours, I tried switching it on and managed to capture some images in case it helps identify any root causes. The green bands are a new issue.

I’ll have a look at the fan replacement guide; I might be able to have a go over the next week or so.

[phillpower2]

Apologies for the delay getting back to you werdnarolyat.

When you have screen issues like this on a notebook the first check that is suggested is to try booting into Safe Mode only (no networking) if the issue is still present in Safe Mode it normally rules out a driver issue and the next suggestion is to try hooking the notebook up to an external display via the notebooks VGA port to see if the issue is present on the external screen, if the problem is not present on the external display it points towards either a MB to screen video cable problem or a problem with the screen itself, if the problem is still present on the external display there are a couple of possible causes, overheating, a problem with the notebooks graphics solution or a problem with the power such as a bad power board, inverter or backlight, depending on the age and specification of a notebook the screen may not have a backlight.

[werdnarolyat]

Thanks phillpower2.

I should be able to try an external monitor at work tomorrow and will let you know how I get on.

[werdnarolyat]

Just an update, I won’t be able to test the laptop until tomorrow.