Black screen on start up after turning on secure boot? Windows 10, MSI motherboard.

Troubleshooting Black Screen on Startup After Enabling Secure Boot on MSI Motherboard with Windows 10

Introduction

Secure Boot is a vital security feature designed to protect systems from malicious software during the boot process. However, enabling Secure Boot on certain configurations can sometimes lead to startup issues, including a black screen on boot. This guide explores a common scenario involving an MSI Z97-G45 GAMING motherboard running Windows 10 Pro and provides insights into potential causes and solutions.

System Specifications

Motherboard: MSI Z97-G45 GAMING (MS-7821)
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790k
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Additional hardware details are available upon request to better diagnose the issue.

Issue Overview

The user reports successfully switching the BIOS from legacy mode to UEFI, enabling TPM2, and saving changes. These steps lead to a stable boot environment. However, upon enabling Secure Boot in BIOS, the system fails to display any video output—monitors remain blank despite the PC powering on and components lighting up. The system appears operational internally, but no display signal is received.

Troubleshooting Steps and Observations

BIOS Configuration:
Initial change to UEFI mode and TPM2 activation was successful.
Enabling Secure Boot caused the display issue.
Recovery Actions:
Unplugging the system, removing RAM and CMOS battery, and performing a power cycle temporarily restored normal operation.
Re-adding components and powering on fixed the issue temporarily, indicating a possible BIOS or hardware configuration problem.

Potential Causes

Compatibility Issues: Certain hardware or firmware components might not fully support Secure Boot, leading to conflicts.
BIOS Settings: Incorrect or incomplete Secure Boot configuration can prevent the system from initializing the display properly.
Graphics Initialization: Secure Boot may interfere with graphics driver loading or initialization processes, especially if the display system relies on legacy components.
Firmware Bugs: Some motherboard BIOS versions may have bugs affecting Secure Boot functionality.

Recommendations for Resolution

Verify Secure Boot Keys:
Ensure that Secure Boot keys are correctly enrolled. Sometimes, custom or unmatched keys can cause boot failures.
Update BIOS Firmware:
Check the MSI official website for the latest BIOS version optimized for Secure Boot.
Updating to the latest firmware can resolve known bugs and improve compatibility.
Reset BIOS Settings:
Clear all BIOS settings to default and then enable UEFI and Secure Boot step-by