Troubleshooting a Frozen or Flickering Screen

This article provides basic troubleshooting steps for a Windows computer with a screen that is frozen, flickering, blank, or otherwise unresponsive.

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Before You Begin

This guide applies when:

• The screen is flickering or flashing
• The computer is frozen and does not respond
• The display is blank or distorted
• The screen appears to have stopped working

If the screen has visible physical damage, skip to Step 3.

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Step 1: Perform a Hard Restart

1. Press and hold the Power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the computer turns off.
2. Wait a few seconds.
3. Press the Power button again to turn the computer back on.

Allow Windows to start normally and verify whether the display is functioning correctly.

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Step 2: Check the Display

After the computer restarts, determine whether the issue has been resolved.

If the screen is operating normally, no further action is required.

If the screen continues to:

• Flicker
• Freeze
• Display a blank screen
• Show distorted graphics

continue to the next step.

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Step 3: Submit an IT Help Desk Ticket

If restarting the computer does not resolve the issue, submit a ticket to the CCPS IT Help Desk.

Include as much information as possible about the issue, including:

• What the screen is doing
• When the problem began
• Whether the issue occurs every time the computer starts

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Step 4: Report Physical Damage

If the screen is cracked, broken, or has other visible physical damage, include the following information in your Help Desk ticket:

• Room number
• Laptop asset tag

Providing this information allows the IT Department to assign the request to the appropriate technician more quickly.

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Important

A hard restart resolves many temporary display issues. However, if the problem continues after restarting or the screen is physically damaged, the device will require assistance from the IT Help Desk.

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Summary

A hard restart is often the quickest way to resolve a frozen or flickering screen. If the problem persists or the screen has physical damage, submit a ticket to the IT Help Desk with the device location and asset tag so a technician can assist.