I recently built a new PC primarily for gaming, especially Minecraft. After experiencing some lag during a Discord call, I restarted the computer. It prompted me to install new drivers to run the game, directing me to the Nvidia website. After downloading the driver, my screen went black, but I could still hear audio from YouTube. Following another restart, I ended up stuck on a black screen or frozen on the ASUS logo, unable to access my PC. I'm on a tight budget and would appreciate any advice that could help me fix this issue without spending a fortune on a technician.
2 Answers
It sounds like a glitch from a bad driver install, rather than a hardware issue. Since you still had audio but the screen went black, your system was likely still running without video. I recommend booting into Safe Mode; this uses basic drivers instead of the Nvidia one. If you manage to get in, completely uninstall the Nvidia driver and reboot. If you can’t boot normally, you might need to force Safe Mode by interrupting the boot a couple of times or using recovery options. Once in, remove the Nvidia driver and either reinstall a clean version from Nvidia or let Windows install a basic one. Also, if your PC has integrated graphics, try connecting your monitor to the motherboard instead of the GPU to recover your display. This kind of issue happens quite often with driver installations, so don't jump to conclusions about needing a technician yet!
It's great to see someone giving solid, thought-out advice instead of just guessing! Tech forums could seriously use more knowledgeable folks like you!
Just an FYI, you're not supposed to turn off the PC during the driver installation, which might be what caused the corruption. The screen going black part is normal, and it can take a bit. I’d suggest trying Safe Mode again, uninstalling the driver, and then reinstalling it without interruption this time.
Yeah, I think he panicked when the screen went black during the installation process. It’s easy to misjudge that when you’re not sure what's happening.
How do I enter Safe Mode?