Main display is on and responsive but doesn’t show desktop

Troubleshooting a Black Screen with Display Laurels on an HP X27q Monitor in Windows 11

Introduction

Experiencing display issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when your monitor powers on but fails to display the desktop properly. If you’re encountering a situation where your HP X27q monitor turns on and shows the startup screen, but only presents a backlit black screen with a visible mouse cursor, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explore potential causes and provide professional troubleshooting steps to resolve this common problem.

Problem Overview

Many users have reported that their main display begins with a normal startup sequence, yet the desktop remains invisible. Instead, only a black background illuminated by backlighting appears, with the mouse cursor visible but no desktop icons, taskbar, wallpaper, or lock screen. Some key points include:

The monitor turns on and displays the startup screen.
The desktop remains invisible; only the cursor is visible.
The user can interact with the screen (clicking buttons, opening menus), yet the desktop itself is not visible.
Wallpaper Engine screensaver activates without issue.
Repeatedly unplugging and plugging in the monitor’s power temporarily restores display but is inconvenient.
The issue appears more frequent after upgrading to Windows 11.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Verify Hardware Connections
Check all cables connecting the monitor to the PC, ensuring they are securely attached.
Inspect cables for damage or wear, replacing any suspect cables.
Test different ports, if available, to rule out port-specific issues.
Confirm Software and Driver Updates
Ensure that your Windows 11 OS is fully updated.
Update your graphics card drivers to the latest version from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
Consider reinstalling graphics drivers using display driver uninstaller tools to eliminate potential corruption.
Adjust Display Settings
Use keyboard shortcuts like Windows + P to toggle display modes.
Select “Duplicate” or “Extend” to see if the desktop appears.
Boot into Safe Mode to determine if the issue persists in a minimal environment.
Check for External Software Interference
Disable any third-party screen management or wallpaper tools temporarily, including Wallpaper Engine, to rule out conflicts.
Boot into a clean boot state to test if background services may be causing the problem.