Troubleshooting: No Display After Connecting External Hard Drive to Windows PC

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Encountering a black screen after plugging in an external hard drive to your Windows computer can be a frustrating issue. This problem, reported by users particularly when the hard drive remains connected during system boot, prevents normal computer operation. If you are experiencing a “No display problem when an external hard drive is plugged in”, this guide offers a series of troubleshooting steps to help you restore your display and regain access to your system.

Initial Checks and Quick Fixes¶

Before delving into more complex solutions, there are a few straightforward steps you should try first. These initial checks can often resolve the issue quickly and help determine the scope of the problem.

1. Try a Different USB Port¶

The first and simplest step is to try connecting your external hard drive to a different USB port on your computer. USB ports can sometimes malfunction or have connectivity issues. Attempting to use an alternative port, preferably on a different part of your computer’s chassis (front vs. back, different side), can rule out a faulty port as the cause of the black screen. If the display returns after switching ports, the original USB port may be the source of the problem.

2. Restart the Display Driver¶

Sometimes, the display driver might encounter a temporary glitch that leads to a black screen. Windows provides a keyboard shortcut to quickly restart the graphics card driver without needing to fully reboot the system. Pressing the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B keys simultaneously will attempt to restart the graphics driver. You might hear a beep and the screen may flicker briefly as the driver restarts. This action can often resolve display issues caused by driver errors.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps¶

If the quick fixes above do not restore your display, the problem might be more deeply rooted. The following troubleshooting steps delve into system configurations and driver management to address more persistent “No display” issues when an external hard drive is connected.

1. Reinstall the Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller Driver¶

A malfunctioning or corrupted USB Host Controller driver can interfere with the proper detection and operation of external USB devices, potentially leading to display problems. Reinstalling this driver can resolve driver-related conflicts.

Steps to Reinstall the USB Host Controller Driver:

1. Open Device Manager: Press Win + X keys and select Device Manager from the menu, or search for “Device Manager” in the Windows search bar.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers: In the Device Manager window, locate and expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” category by clicking on the arrow next to it.
3. Uninstall USB Host Controller driver: Right-click on each entry listed under “USB Host controller” (there may be multiple entries). Select “Uninstall device” from the context menu. Confirm the uninstallation if prompted.
4. Restart or Scan for Hardware Changes: After uninstalling all USB Host Controller drivers, restart your computer. Alternatively, you can click on “Action” in the Device Manager menu bar and select “Scan for hardware changes”. Windows will automatically attempt to reinstall the USB Host Controller drivers upon restart or hardware scan.

Reinstalling these drivers ensures you have a fresh and potentially corrected driver installation, eliminating driver corruption as a possible cause of the display issue.

2. Check the Boot Order in BIOS/UEFI Settings¶

If your computer fails to boot and displays a black screen immediately after powering on with the external hard drive connected, the system might be attempting to boot from the external drive instead of your primary internal drive. This can happen if the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings is incorrectly configured.

Accessing and Modifying Boot Order:

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI Setup: Restart your computer. As the computer restarts, watch for a prompt on the screen indicating which key to press to enter Setup (BIOS or UEFI settings). Common keys include Delete, F2, F12, Esc, or other function keys. The specific key varies depending on your computer manufacturer.
2. Navigate to Boot Options: Once in the BIOS/UEFI setup, use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Boot,” “Boot Order,” “Boot Priority,” or similarly named section. The exact name and location will depend on your BIOS/UEFI interface.
3. Verify and Adjust Boot Order: Review the current boot order. Ensure that your primary internal hard drive, which contains your Windows installation, is listed as the first boot device. If the external hard drive or “USB Drive” is listed first, change the order to prioritize your internal drive. Use the instructions provided within the BIOS/UEFI interface to change the boot order (usually involving arrow keys, ±, or function keys).
4. Save and Exit: After adjusting the boot order, navigate to the “Exit” or “Save & Exit” section. Select the option to save changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup. Your computer will restart, and it should now boot from the correctly specified internal drive.

By ensuring the correct boot order, you prevent the system from attempting to boot from the external drive, which could be causing the black screen issue.

3. Update the Chipset Driver¶

The chipset driver is crucial for communication between the motherboard and other hardware components, including USB controllers and graphics cards. An outdated or incompatible chipset driver can lead to various hardware conflicts and malfunctions, potentially causing the “No display” issue when connecting an external hard drive.

Updating the Chipset Driver:

1. Identify Motherboard Manufacturer and Model: Determine the manufacturer and model of your computer’s motherboard. This information is usually available in your system documentation, on the manufacturer’s website, or by using system information tools in Windows (search for “System Information”).
2. Visit Manufacturer’s Website: Go to the official website of your motherboard manufacturer (e.g., ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc.) or your computer manufacturer (if it’s a pre-built system like Dell, HP, Lenovo).
3. Find Support/Drivers Section: Navigate to the “Support,” “Drivers,” or “Downloads” section of the website.
4. Search for Chipset Driver: Enter your motherboard model or computer model into the search or product lookup tool. Look for the “Chipset” driver for your operating system (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11).
5. Download and Install: Download the latest chipset driver available. Once downloaded, run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated chipset driver.
6. Restart Computer: After installation, restart your computer to ensure the new chipset driver is properly loaded.

Keeping your chipset driver up-to-date ensures optimal communication between hardware components and can resolve compatibility issues that might be triggering the display problem.

4. Update or Reinstall the Graphics Card Driver¶

The graphics card driver is essential for displaying images on your monitor. A corrupted, outdated, or incompatible graphics card driver is a common cause of display-related issues, including black screens. Updating or reinstalling the graphics driver can often resolve these problems.

Updating the Graphics Card Driver:

1. Identify Graphics Card Manufacturer and Model: Determine the manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and model of your graphics card. This information can be found in Device Manager under “Display adapters.”
2. Visit Manufacturer’s Website: Go to the official website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
3. Download Drivers: Navigate to the “Drivers” or “Support” section. Manually search for drivers by specifying your graphics card model and operating system. Download the latest recommended driver.
4. Install Driver: Run the downloaded driver installer file. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
5. Restart Computer: Restart your computer after the driver installation is complete.

Clean Reinstallation of Graphics Card Driver:

For a more thorough approach, perform a clean reinstallation using a Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) utility.

1. Download DDU: Download the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from a reputable source (e.g., Guru3D).
2. Boot into Safe Mode: Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode. To do this, repeatedly press F8 or Shift + F8 during startup (the key might vary). Select “Safe Mode” from the boot options.
3. Run DDU: Launch DDU in Safe Mode. Follow the DDU instructions to completely uninstall your current graphics card drivers. DDU will remove driver files, registry entries, and related components.
4. Restart and Install New Driver: After DDU completes the uninstallation, restart your computer normally. Windows might install a basic generic display driver. Now, install the latest graphics card driver you downloaded from the manufacturer’s website as described in the “Updating Graphics Card Driver” steps above.

A clean installation using DDU ensures that all remnants of previous drivers are removed, providing a fresh installation environment for the new driver.

5. Utilize System Restore¶

If the “No display” issue started recently, and your system was functioning correctly before, using System Restore can revert your system to a previous working state. System Restore points capture system files, installed applications, Windows Registry, and system settings at a specific point in time.

Performing a System Restore:

1. Open System Restore: Search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open “System Properties.” Click on the “System Restore…” button.
2. Choose a Restore Point: In the System Restore window, select “Choose a different restore point” and click “Next.”
3. Select a Restore Point: Select a restore point that was created before the issue began. Ensure you check the “Show more restore points” box to see all available restore points.
4. Scan for Affected Programs (Optional): You can click “Scan for affected programs” to see which programs and drivers will be affected by restoring to the selected point.
5. Confirm and Restore: Click “Next” and then “Finish” to start the system restore process. System Restore will restart your computer and revert it to the selected restore point. This process may take some time.

After System Restore completes, check if the “No display” issue is resolved. If the problem is gone, it indicates that a recent system change was likely the cause.

6. Investigate Potential Hard Drive Failure¶

In some cases, a failing external hard drive itself can be the source of the problem. A failing drive might draw excessive power, cause system instability, or trigger errors that lead to a black screen.

Checking for Hard Drive Issues:

1. Listen for Unusual Sounds: Pay attention to your external hard drive. Are you hearing any unusual clicking, grinding, or whirring sounds? These sounds can be indicators of mechanical failure in a hard drive.
2. Connect to Another Computer: Safely disconnect the external hard drive from your current computer and connect it to another working computer.
   • If the problem persists on another computer: The external hard drive is likely faulty. In this case, consider data backup and replacement of the hard drive.
   • If the problem does not occur on another computer: The issue might be related to your original computer’s power supply or other internal components.
3. Check Hard Drive Health (S.M.A.R.T.): Use disk diagnostic tools to check the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) attributes of your external hard drive. Tools like CrystalDiskInfo can provide information about the drive’s health status, temperature, and potential errors.
4. Data Backup: If you suspect hard drive failure, prioritize backing up any important data from the drive immediately to prevent data loss.

If you suspect a failing hard drive, it is crucial to address it promptly to avoid data loss and further system instability.

Addressing Related Questions¶

How to Fix an External Hard Drive That Doesn’t Show Up?¶

If your Windows computer is not detecting the external hard drive at all (it doesn’t appear in File Explorer or Disk Management), try these steps:

• Try a different USB port: As mentioned earlier, test different USB ports, including USB ports on the back of your computer’s chassis.
• Test on another computer: Connect the external hard drive to another computer to see if it is recognized. If it is not recognized on any computer, the drive itself might be faulty or have a connection issue.
• Reinstall USB Host Controller drivers: Follow the steps outlined earlier to reinstall the USB Host Controller drivers in Device Manager.
• Check Disk Management: Open Disk Management (search for “Disk Management” in Windows search). See if the external hard drive is listed there, even if it doesn’t have a drive letter assigned. If it is listed, right-click on it and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths…” to assign a drive letter.

Can a Hard Drive Cause a Black Screen?¶

Yes, a hard drive can indeed cause a black screen in certain situations. If a hard drive is failing or has severe errors, it can disrupt the system’s ability to boot or operate correctly, leading to a black screen. Driver corruption related to the hard drive or its controller can also contribute to display issues. The troubleshooting steps outlined in this article aim to address these potential causes.

Seeking Professional Assistance¶

If you have exhausted all the troubleshooting steps and the “No display” issue persists, it might be necessary to seek professional help. Contact a qualified computer repair technician. They possess specialized tools and expertise to diagnose complex hardware and software problems and can provide further assistance to resolve the issue.

We hope this comprehensive guide helps you resolve the “No display” problem when connecting an external hard drive to your Windows PC. Feel free to share your experiences or ask any further questions in the comments below!