How to fix a laptop that powers on but doesn’t boot? Effective and fast solutions

Usually, old or long-used laptops will often encounter problems, the most common of which is the issue of the laptop displaying but not running. This can affect the work and study of the users. Therefore, in the following article, FPT Shop will identify the causes as well as effective solutions for the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running.

Why does a Laptop Display but not Run?

If your computer only displays the screen but does not run, it may be due to hardware or software issues. In some cases, this error may be due to system or software malfunctions. In addition, it may also be due to hardware failure or malfunctioning internal components. To determine the cause, you can consider the following cases.

Hardware Causes

The laptop display but not running issue may be caused by hardware components such as hard drives, graphics cards, or RAM. Here are some possible causes of this issue:

• RAM Malfunction: A damaged or incorrectly installed RAM can prevent the computer from starting up or cause slower startup times.
• Failed Hard Drive: This can cause data access issues and the system will not function properly.
• Faulty Motherboard: This can cause the operating system to function unstably.
• Graphics Card Issue: If the graphics card is faulty, the screen may display, but the system will not respond to commands.

If you have checked all the hardware and found no issues, then the cause may be software-related. When a computer encounters software errors, it can cause various problems that need to be addressed in a timely manner.

Software Causes

Some possible causes for a laptop only displaying the screen but not functioning are:

• Overloading and Overheating: When a computer is overloaded and overheated, it may become unresponsive. At this time, the hardware inside the computer has to work harder and generate higher-than-normal temperatures.
• If the computer is infected with a virus or contains malware, it can cause the machine to freeze and the software to malfunction.
• Incompatible Software: If you have recently updated software or drivers, they may cause compatibility issues and prevent the laptop from functioning properly.
• Faulty Operating System: This can render the computer unable to start up and the system may freeze.
• Faulty Software Update: Generally, if a software update is not performed correctly, errors and malfunctions may occur on the laptop.

Summary of Solutions

To fix the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running, you can try the following methods:

Restart the Computer

Restarting the computer is considered the best solution for most software issues on a computer. When your laptop displays the screen but doesn’t run, you can solve this problem by selecting the “Windows” icon and pressing the “Restart” button. Then wait for about 3-5 minutes for the laptop to restart and check if it is functioning normally. If the issue persists, you can refer to some additional solutions mentioned below.

Uninstall Installed Software

Removing unnecessary software can help free up storage space and make your computer run more efficiently. Sometimes, the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running may be due to conflicts between the installed software on the device. To remove the software, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: First, go to the Control Panel on your computer and select the “Program” option.

Step 2: When a new window appears, click on the “Programs and Features” option.

Step 3: At this point, the screen will display all the software installed on the computer. To uninstall a software, simply click on it and select “Uninstall”.

That’s it! With just three simple steps, you can remove unnecessary software from your computer, helping to effectively fix the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running.

Delete Junk Files

Deleting junk files is one of the simplest and basic solutions to effectively free up storage space and increase the operating speed of your computer. To delete junk files, you can follow these instructions:

Step 1: First, press the “Windows + R” key combination on your computer to open the “Run” dialog box. Then type “temp” and click “OK” to open the folder containing temporary files.

Then select all the files in that folder and press the “Delete” button to remove them.

Next, repeat the process by typing “%temp%” in the “Run” dialog box and delete all the temporary files in the newly opened folder.

To fix the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running, you continue by typing “prefetch” in the “Run” dialog box and proceed to delete all the files in the prefetch folder.

Step 2: At this step, you need to search for and delete all unnecessary, junk, or temporary files on the system drive.

Then, to remove the files from the recycle bin, right-click on the recycle bin icon on the computer screen and select “Empty Recycle Bin”.

Step 3: After deleting the junk files, you just need to restart your computer.

Clean Your Computer with Antivirus Software

Viruses infiltrating your computer are common causes of issues such as a frozen laptop, lagging, and displaying the screen but not running. This can be due to downloading files of unclear origins or accessing links containing malicious code. However, not all users can identify which files or links contain malicious code. Therefore, using antivirus software is an essential tool to protect your computer from harmful elements.

Currently, there are several effective and popular computer antivirus software available, such as:

• Sophos Home
• Comodo Antivirus
• Avira Antivirus Edition
• Panda Cloud Antivirus Free

Disable Windows Updates

Windows updates may be the cause of frequent computer errors. Therefore, to make your computer run more efficiently, you should disable this feature. If you don’t know how to disable it, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: First, type “Update” in the search bar on the taskbar and select “Check for updates”.

Step 2: Next, under the “Windows Update” section, click on “Advanced Options”.

Step 3: At this point, a new window will appear, and you just need to turn off the options in the “Update Options” section.

Disable Background Apps

During computer usage, there are always background apps running, such as Unikey, Internet Download Manager, which can slow down the startup process. For high-end machines, this may not be a problem, but for older or low-configured machines, it can easily cause screen lag or freezing. Therefore, you should disable unnecessary background apps by following these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon on the keyboard, then select “Settings” or press the Windows + I key combination to open the Windows Settings dialog box.

Step 2: Then, click on the “Apps” option.

Step 3: Finally, go to the “Startup” section and disable the apps that you do not want to start with Windows.

Disconnect External Devices

When a computer is connected to external devices such as USB drives, network devices, or sync devices, conflicts can occur. These conflicts can even adversely affect the system, causing the computer to malfunction. Therefore, to ensure efficient computer operation, you should disconnect these external devices immediately.

Check Hardware Compatibility

Adding incompatible RAM or hard drives to a computer can cause conflicts. Therefore, to avoid issues, you should choose components that are compatible with your computer.

In addition, after installing new components, restart the computer immediately to check if it functions properly. If the computer still works normally after changing the components, then the cause of the laptop not running may be due to the operating system or software errors.

Remove and Reinstall the Battery

In some cases, the issue of the laptop displaying the screen but not running may be due to the battery. Therefore, if your laptop has a removable battery, you should remove and reinstall it. Remember to turn off the computer before removing or reinstalling the battery. Then, restart the computer and check its performance. If the issue persists, you should take the laptop to reputable service centers for troubleshooting and repairs.

Conclusion

If you frequently encounter the issue of a laptop displaying the screen but not running, you can apply the solutions shared by FPT Shop in the article above. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to you in the process of using your computer. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below for timely support.