Dell Laptop Black Screen With Cursor

Dell laptop black screen is frustrating when you power on your laptop for an important task and see a lonely cursor blinking in the corner. You may have encountered this specific problem several times across different Dell models, including Inspiron, XPS, Latitude, and Precision series. 

We have experience in specializing in Dell systems for many years. Based on this, we will provide you with proven solutions for a black screen with a cursor on a Dell. It starts with the simplest fixes and progresses to more advanced fixing methods.

What Does Black Screen With a Cursor Indicate

There appear to be several display issues on the Dell laptop, such as black screen-related issues. One such issue is the black screen with a cursor. If your Dell laptop displays a black screen with only a cursor visible, it means that;

• The system has successfully passed the initial boot process. It refers to a power-on self-test (POST).
• Windows is attempting to load but failing to display the desktop
• The display hardware is functioning, due to which you can see the cursor.
• It shows that there is a software-related issue rather than a complete hardware failure. 

What are the Causes of Black Screen on a Dell with a Cursor 

A black screen on a Dell laptop with a visible cursor may be caused due to different reasons. The most frequent causes include:

1. Corrupted display drivers
2. Windows update conflicts 
3. Fast Startup feature issues 
4. Corrupted user profile 
5. Hardware-related issues 

How to Fix a Dell Black Screen With Cursor Issue 

method 1: Force Restart and Disable Fast Startup

• Press the power button for 10 seconds and force shut down your laptop. 
• After 30 seconds, then power on the laptop.

It will resolve temporary issues. If it does not, try accessing Safe Mode. Then, Power on and repeatedly press F8.

• Select ‘Safe Mode’ in the Advanced Boot Options
• Once in Safe Mode, disable Fast Startup
• Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter. 
• Click ‘Choose what the power buttons do’
• Click ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’
• Uncheck ‘Turn on fast startup’
• Save changes and restart

Method 2: Ctrl+Shift+Esc Task Manager Approach

If you see the cursor on your screen, it means Windows on your system is running in the background. You can follow these steps to fix this issue. 

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open Task Manager
2. Click ‘More details’ if needed
3. Click ‘File’ and ‘Run new task’
4. Type explorer.exe and press Enter
5. Check ‘Create this task with administrative privileges’

This method works when Windows Explorer has crashed, but the system is otherwise functional.

Method 3: Boot from USB Recovery Drive

• Create a Windows recovery USB on another computer
• Boot your Dell laptop from the USB drive
• Select ‘Repair your computer’
• Choose ‘Troubleshoot
• Go to ‘Advanced options’
• Try these options: Startup Repair, System Restore, or Command Prompt. 
• Follow the process

Method 4: Display Driver Reset

1. Boot into Safe Mode 
2. Press Windows + X, select ‘Device Manager’
3. Expand ‘Display adapters’
4. Right-click each display adapter
5. Select ‘Uninstall device’
6. Check ‘Delete the driver software for this device’
7. Restart normally. Windows will reinstall basic drivers

Restart Graphics Driver

Press the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B keys at once. This refreshes your graphics driver and can resolve display issues. 

Check for Windows Updates

The black Screen on the Dell laptop with the cursor can be the cause of an outdated Windows installation. Look for your Windows installation to see if it is up to date. Follow these steps to look for a Windows update. 

• Go to Settings on your system. 
• Select Update & Security 
• Click Windows Update and check for any available updates.

Restore to a Previous System Restore Point

Restoring your computer to a previous system restore point is helpful in fixing display issues. It resolves problems caused by recent changes, such as installing new software or drivers. 

There are several methods to restore the system to the previous version.

Method 1: 

• Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
• Type rstrui.exe, and press Enter.
• Select your preferred restore point and click Next. 
• Confirm your restore point and click finish.

Method 2

• Open the Control Panel
•  Go to ‘Recovery’
•  Select ‘Open System Restore.’

• Click on Next in ‘Restore system files and settings’.
• Select a restore point from the list. Click on a date and time when your computer was functional.
• Go to Show more restore points, if you can not see the one you need.
• On ‘Scan for affected programs’, you can see which programs will be affected if restored to the previous version.
• Click Next, then Finish to confirm your selection.
• Also, read the warning that will appear on screen. Click Yes to begin the process. Your computer will restart and start the restoration. 

Method 3

• Restart your computer while holding the SHIFT button.
• From the Advanced Startup menu, select ‘Troubleshoot’.
• Choose "Advanced Options" and then ‘System Restore.’
• Select a restore point and click on ‘Next.

Check for Hardware Issues

If software troubleshooting did not fix the black screen with cursor issue, then there could be a hardware issue.

• Check your monitor and cable connections.
• In case you have connected multiple monitors, disconnect them. See if the problem still exists. 
• Disconnect the separate graphics card, if you use any, and use the integrated graphics card.

If you are still unable to fix the problem, consult a qualified technician nearby or contact the Dell support center. 

Advanced Troubleshooting Methods 

Registry Edit for Explorer Issues

• Boot into Safe Mode
• Press Windows + R, type regedit, and then press Enter button
• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. You can also find it by writing the template in the search bar. 
• Verify the ‘Shell’ value is set to explorer.exe
• If it is different, right-click Shell, select ‘Modify,’ and change the value to explorer.exe 

Hardware Diagnostics

You can perform Hardware diagnostics to find any issues with the hardware.  It assesses the condition and operational efficiency of physical components of a computer, such as the processor, memory, and storage. It isolates the components from the software and the operating system. 

Dell Built-in Diagnostics

You can use Dell's Built-in Diagnostics tools designed to test and troubleshoot hardware and software issues. Follow these steps;

• Power off your laptop completely
• Press and hold the power button
• Press F12
• Select ‘Diagnostics’ from the boot menu
• Run a comprehensive hardware test
• Pay special attention to Memory test results, Hard drive health, and Display panel functionality.

Dell Laptop Screen is Black, But Power Light is on

A Dell laptop black screen with the power light on is likely due to a software glitch, a corrupt graphics driver, or a hardware failure. To fix this issue, perform a hard reset.

A hard reset can clear residual electrical charge that may be causing a hardware glitch. 

1. Shut down the laptop by holding the power button for 15–20 seconds until all lights turn off.
2. Disconnect everything, including the power adapter, external monitors, docks, and any USB devices.
3. Remove the battery if your laptop has a removable one. Some newer Dell models have sealed batteries, so you can skip this step.
4. Hold the power button again for 60 seconds to drain any remaining power.
5. Reconnect the power adapter and battery (if removed). Do not connect any peripherals yet.
6. Power on the laptop to see if the issue is resolved.