Chromebook black screen with cursor

[fiza]

We have a Lenovo 100e that is just out of warranty and is only displaying a black screen with a cursor. We have tried a powerwash but it comes back the same.

 

Anyone else seen this and know of a way to get it working again?

[Danp]

Have you reinstalled via USB?

[fiza]

Have you reinstalled via USB?

 

yes but no joy

[Danp]

yes but no joy

 

Odd, apart from two devices that had power issues that has resolved any boot errors I've had before.

[DeGrimmy]

The weird thing is, the Chromebook appears to be working under the black screen - You hear the ping sound that you get when you're turning on a Chromebook for the first time, and after 10 seconds, ChromeVox asks if we want to switch it on. The screen's backlight is working fine, but it just doesn't display the Welcome screen like normal.

[Danp]

The weird thing is, the Chromebook appears to be working under the black screen - You hear the ping sound that you get when you're turning on a Chromebook for the first time, and after 10 seconds, ChromeVox asks if we want to switch it on. The screen's backlight is working fine, but it just doesn't display the Welcome screen like normal.

 

Plug into external screen? Or Ctrl + full screen button

[David44]

How does it look on an external monitor?

[DeGrimmy]

It doesn't have HDMI, and we don't have a means to convert USB-C to any kind of AV. That might be worth a try though!

[David44]

What if....

 

You take a screenshot, then view that screenshot on another device? Does the screenshot show just a black screen or does the screenshot show what you'd expect to see?

[DeGrimmy]

What if....

 

You take a screenshot, then view that screenshot on another device? Does the screenshot show just a black screen or does the screenshot show what you'd expect to see?

 

I'm not sure how to go about that, since it's a freshly recovered-from-USB device that isn't set up and, as such, isn't currently connected to the WiFi.

[junz]

I would try the following:

 

 

1. Check that the LCD cable is fully seated as I have seen this issue appear if the LCD cable is slightly disconnected form the screen
   
2. If you have a spare LCD screen it may be worth trying to swap the screen to see if the issue continues to occur or not.
   
3. Try putting the LCD screen onto another device to rule out an issue with the LCD screen.
   

[fiza]

I would try the following:

 

 

1. Check that the LCD cable is fully seated as I have seen this issue appear if the LCD cable is slightly disconnected form the screen
   
2. If you have a spare LCD screen it may be worth trying to swap the screen to see if the issue continues to occur or not.
   
3. Try putting the LCD screen onto another device to rule out an issue with the LCD screen.
   

 

We have checked the LCD cable is fully seated. We don't have a spare LCD. The odd thing is that the screen shows a cursor and you can move the cursor around the screen using the trackpad, just no display other than black screen with the cursor.

[TronXP]

During the powerwash is the screen visable?

[DeGrimmy]

During the powerwash is the screen visable?

Yes, the screen appears when in Recovery mode and during the powerwash/recovery process. Once this is done, the ChromeOS splash screen appears before returning to the black screen with a cursor. ChromeVox then starts talking as it would if you leave a Chromebook on the Welcome screen for a little bit. Unfortunately, it's out of warranty, too.

[TronXP]

have you tried the Chrome recovery tool?

[DeGrimmy]

have you tried the Chrome recovery tool?

Unfortunately, yes!

[David44]

Have you tried enrolling the Chromebook or even just connecting it to wireless by using the prompts from ChromeVox? I don't know if it would somehow fix the issue but it would be an interesting challenge and a humbling experience that would make you grateful for your eyesight at least.

[DeGrimmy]

Have you tried enrolling the Chromebook or even just connecting it to wireless by using the prompts from ChromeVox? I don't know if it would somehow fix the issue but it would be an interesting challenge and a humbling experience that would make you grateful for your eyesight at least.

That's an interesting idea, I will see what I can do with it. Thanks!

[DeGrimmy]

Have you tried enrolling the Chromebook or even just connecting it to wireless by using the prompts from ChromeVox? I don't know if it would somehow fix the issue but it would be an interesting challenge and a humbling experience that would make you grateful for your eyesight at least.

Somehow, I managed to wrangle with ChromeVox long enough to get everything connected and (supposedly) onto the login screen - Unfortunately, the issue still persists. I've just disconnected the screen connector and plugged it back in while the Chromebook was on, but that hasn't changed anything. We ordered a USB-C to HDMI connector on Friday, which I think might be our last hope, so we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks again to all who has replied with ideas!

[DeGrimmy]

...We ordered a USB-C to HDMI connector on Friday, which I think might be our last hope, so we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks again to all who has replied with ideas!

 

Update to this, as the adapter arrived quite late and I've only just got around to testing it - When plugged in to a monitor, we get two black screens with a cursor that can move freely between the two!

 

At this point, I think we have to chalk this Chromebook up as a loss. I can only think that it's a problem with the motherboard, or integrated graphics. The recovery screens must be baked in and they don't require integrated graphics, kind of like a motherboard's BIOS on a PC. I can't explain why the cursor is fine, though. I can't think of anything more to try.

 

Thanks again everyone, hope you have a good half term break, or at least a nice long Jubilee weekend!