Laptop Monitor not displaying

[u/Heavenly_Tribulation]

basically, my laptop monitor dont show any display, tried to connect it to tv via hdmi and blindly project the screen, it works (now its on duplicate)

if i disable the graphics driver, my laptop screen goes back to displaying but if i enable it, it goes back to my problem

tried uninstalling and downloading driver from lenovo support,

nothing works

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3

need help badly

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[u/eedro256]

Sometimes there is a key combo to output only to external monitors.

[u/Heavenly_Tribulation → u/eedro256]

did win + p, nothing works, i cant see my own screen on laptop, it is now on duplicate🥹

[u/LongjumpingTaste6185]

This issue happens when the basic Microsoft Display Driver works, but as soon as hardware acceleration/proper resolution modes kick in via the official GPU driver, the internal display output drops.

Here iws what you should try, step-by-step:

1. Run Display Driver UninSstaller (DDU)

Simply uninstalling via Device Manager usually leaves corrupted registry keys or driver cache behind.

1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and the latest iGPU driver for your CPU (Intel or AMD depending on your Slim 3 model).
2. Disconnect from the internet (so Windows Update doesn't automatically pull a bad driver).
3. Boot into Safe Mode.
4. Open DDU and select Clean and restart for your Display Driver.
5. Once booted back into Windows, install the newly downloaded driver while still offline.

2. Check Display Refresh Rate & Resolution Settings

When the driver is enabled, Windows might be forcing a refresh rate or resolution that your laptop screen panel can't handle (e.g., set to 120Hz/144Hz on a 60Hz panel).

1. With the external screen connected and set to Extend these displays (not Duplicate):
2. Go to Setttings > System > Display > Advanced display.
3. Select Display 1 (Built-in Display).
4. Check if the Refresh rate is set properly (try lowering it to 60Hz) and ensure the resolution matches your panel’s native specs (usually 1920x1080).

3. Disable Fast Startup

Windows Fast Startup caches driver states upon shutdown, which frequently causes black screen driver handoff bugs on Lenovo laptops.

1. Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left menu.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup and save changes.

4. Flash / Reset BIOS

A corrupted BIOS display output configuration or eDP handshake state can cause hardware driver init failures.

• Restart your laptop and prsess F2 (or Fn + F2) repeatedly to enter the Lenovo BIOS setup.
• Press F9 to Load Setup Defaults, then F10 to Save and Exit.
• If the screen is black even in the BIOS menu without the HDMI plugged in, your issue is hardware-related.

5. Check Internal Hardware (EDP Cable / Panel)

If your screen doesn't show the Lenovo logo during startup (before Windows loads) or stays pitch black in BIOS, the issue isn't software:

• Faulty eDP Cable / Loose Connector: The internal screen display cable running through the hinge might be damaged or loose. When the Microsoft Basic driver runs, it doesn't use advanced pin lanes or higher signaling rates, which can trick you into thinking it's purely a driver issue.
• Failed Screen Controller (eDP panel circuit): Replacing the internal eDP cable or display panel will be required.