G73JH-BST7 Booting up successfully, but screen stays black

[Duckydoug]

Hi all, I recently had some trouble with performance with my G73, as detailed in this thread: G73JH-BST7 has suddeny become sluggish in gaming performance!

Things have been pretty smooth since I did a fresh install of windows on a new SSD a few weeks back to fix the previous issue. My computer was and is probably still as fast as ever, but the screen just won't turn on now..

There is no ASUS post logo, no windows logo, no desktop shown. The only reason I know windows is starting is because it plays sounds and I can still use the keyboard and mouse to do things - just blindly. Also, I've tried hooking up and external display (TV) via HDMI cable and nothing shows up.

This happened for the first time last week. I promptly freaked out and opened the laptop to check the screen connections, but all was fine. It worked again just by restarting about 10 times in a row (probably not the wisest thing to do). The only 'symptom' that prevailed after it starting working again was that the screen would remain turned off when waking up, but it would turn on again after pressing 'enter' to log in to my windows account.

Oh; I should probably mention that the screen stopped working after my foster kitten walked over my keyboard and made my computer sleep/wake about 3 times in quick succession. After the last wake-up, the image was gone.

Now that I think about it though, it was probably a matter of time till the screen stopped working again. I just wish for it to magically start working tomorrow.

Nevertheless, damn kittens and their seemingly innocuous cuteness.

TL,DR: Windows boots but NO ASUS POST, NO WINDOWS LOGO, NO DESKTOP

Any suggestions/halp would be hugely appreciated!

[Duckydoug]

Not sure of rules on posting on the same thread too quickly, but I just wanted to pay you guys in kind for your attention..

With a picture of the crime as it happened.



She woke up soon after that picture was taken and proceeded to mash keyboard.

[dstrakele]

Check out this thread: Help Black Screen comes back again even with driver 296.16 installed

Does the following procedure bring back your video?
"Another temporary solution is to unplug the laptop, remove the battery and any connected peripheral devices (including any memory cards in the card reader), hold down the Power On Button for 30 seconds, then plug in the power adapter and start the system."

[Duckydoug]

I tried what you said, holding the power button for 30sec, but the screen still won't show anything. Was that a way of factory resetting the BIOS?

I didn't have this trouble before a) I did a fresh windows install, b) used a new SSD, and c) Messing around under the hood, notably pulling the tape back on the screen -> motherboard connector (motherboard end) and revealing the mass of tiny wires.

Could any of these have been the cause? I'm most afraid that it's something with the mobo or GPU because of RMA-phobia

[hackness]

I tried what you said, holding the power button for 30sec, but the screen still won't show anything. Was that a way of factory resetting the BIOS?

I didn't have this trouble before a) I did a fresh windows install, b) used a new SSD, and c) Messing around under the hood, notably pulling the tape back on the screen -> motherboard connector (motherboard end) and revealing the mass of tiny wires.

Could any of these have been the cause? I'm most afraid that it's something with the mobo or GPU because of RMA-phobia

Did you try hooking up an external monitor through VGA port? Also did you check if the screen cable that is connected to the motherboard is properly connected (Yes requires an almost full disassembling)?

[Duckydoug]

I recall disassembling and checking the mobo side connection the first time this problem occurred last week. It still didn't work after reassembly, but miraculously did after 2 or 3 more restarts.

I plan to check that connection again but I have too much on my plate atm. Also I'll get my laptop over to uni to steal (edit: BORROW) an external VGA monitor and cable when I have more time. I have, however, checked the screen side connection and it's very securely taped down in place.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to save the labourious fixes for later and give updates when I try them. Until then I'd still like to know if there's anything else to try..

[dstrakele]

If I were in this situation, I'd try to get into the BIOS (hit F2 quickly if one of the multiple boot attempts brings up the ASUS splash screen) and check boot devices are correctly configured, then "Load Optimized Defaults" (F9), then Save & Exit.

The odds are small this will resolve the issue, since it more typically appears to be a hardware fault. But who knows? Lightning could strike...

[diegomcx]

Hey doug, it's unbelievable but i'm having the exactly same problems as yours! But mine happened by itself, no pets involved lol.

First it happened by the screen going all grey, three days ago. It only shows the vertical lines of the screen, without showing the horizontal ones. But i could hear the all the post(asus,win7), AND i could use the hdmi to have my screen on tv, normally. When i disconnect the hdmi, everything was vertical gray lines again on the notebook screen.

Not satisfied, i opened the screen to check the connections, but it looked ok. Then i reconnected the flat cable, and when i turned on there was nothing on screen, all black, and i could hear the post sounds. And no hdmi, neither vga as i tried on a spare working monitor. I just cant do anything with.

Today i opened it up, until the other screen cable end(motherboard) and checked the connection, unplugged and plugged back. No success.

Im with you on this problem. Hopefully, lets see if anyone can help us.

[hackness]

Hey doug, it's unbelievable but i'm having the exactly same problems as yours! But mine happened by itself, no pets involved lol.

First it happened by the screen going all grey, three days ago. It only shows the vertical lines of the screen, without showing the horizontal ones. But i could hear the all the post(asus,win7), AND i could use the hdmi to have my screen on tv, normally. When i disconnect the hdmi, everything was vertical gray lines again on the notebook screen.

Not satisfied, i opened the screen to check the connections, but it looked ok. Then i reconnected the flat cable, and when i turned on there was nothing on screen, all black, and i could hear the post sounds. And no hdmi, neither vga as i tried on a spare working monitor. I just cant do anything with.

Today i opened it up, until the other screen cable end(motherboard) and checked the connection, unplugged and plugged back. No success.

Im with you on this problem. Hopefully, lets see if anyone can help us.

It sounds like GSOD . Have you flashed your vbios before? G73JH is known to have this problem with the default vbios. Chastity has made a thread here. Have you done any fixing like that before you lose the screen signal?

[diegomcx]

Yes, i've updated the vbios to the latest version, something like 11 months ago. I with this laptop for 1 year and 2 months, never had problems with screen, or the laptop before.

I looked into this GSOD before, but mine never started as that single gray vertical line. It just happened to the whole screen =S

Maybe i'll try to re-update the vbios using that blind method, could give that a try. I cant RMA anymore, have to figure it out and fix by myself, damn =/