If the PC is running but the screen remains black, this does not necessarily mean that the graphics card or monitor is defective.
Screen is black: Check the cable connections
The video cable on the monitor or graphics card may be loose. This means that no signal can be received and the screen remains black.
- Therefore, the first thing you should do is check the connection between the graphics card and the monitor. To be on the safe side, you can also check whether the monitor's power cable is properly connected.
- The video cable may also be defective. To rule this out, try replacing it – if you have a spare.
Is the graphics card properly inserted?
The problem may also be that the graphics card is no longer properly connected to the motherboard.
- Open the PC and try to gently push the graphics card into its holder. Do not use force! If you are unsure, ask friends or acquaintances who are familiar with the inside of PCs.
- PCs often have another graphics card integrated into the motherboard in addition to the main graphics card. If this is the case with your computer, connect the video cable to the other graphics card on the motherboard to check whether you can get a picture that way.
Check graphics card and monitor for defects
If the other tricks don't help, there is probably a defect in the graphics card or monitor. To check this, proceed as follows:
- If you have a spare graphics card, swap it for the other one. If this solves the problem, the graphics card is most likely defective.
- If the graphics card is OK, you can test another monitor – if you have one. You can also use a TV or a projector as a test screen with the right connection cable – with newer Smart TVs, for example, via an HDMI cable.