No display on startup (only after the os boots and lands on desktop)

Community Support
1

Hello,

When I power on my Framework laptop (11th Gen), I don’t get any display or light on the screen (or even on any of the attached screens).

The power button is illuminated and the caps lock light can be turned on/off when pressed. The fan starts working if you wait enough. So, the computer is working.

No display is shown until the operating system renders the desktop. Until that point, I have to (blindly) guess what the computer is asking, and type that information:

  • First, press enter (or wait 5 seconds) so that the first entry on the boot loader is selected.
  • Enter the disk encryption password.
  • If the password is correct, screen blinks one time (still nothing on the main screen). Attached screens now have output (empty backgrounds).
  • Click one time on the main screen (so that prompter focuses in the text box for the user password).
  • Enter the password and press enter.

If I can complete these steps correctly, I land on my desktop and can now see as normal. Until that nothing on the main display.

I can’t even use the F2, F10, F12 or Del keys to enter Bios or boot menu.

I have this problem since last year. I am not sure but it might have happened after the bios update (3.10). BTW: Today, I was able to do a bios upgrade using LVFS. I now have 3.17, but, the problem still exists.

Any suggestions?

Best,
Fatih

Model: Framework Laptop
Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 × 8
Memory: 32.0 GiB
Graphics: Intel® Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)
Disk Capacity: 1.0 TB
Firmware Version: 03.17
OS Name: NixOS 23.11 (Tapir)
OS Build: 23.11.5213.b94a96839afc
OS Type: 64-bit
Windowing System: X11
Kernel Version: Linux 6.7.9

Note: Couldn’t tag the topic, as the topic selection dropbox doesn’t appear on Firefox (or Chrome on mobile).

2

Hi Fatih, moved your thread under the linux category for better visibility.

3

Hi, Destroya. Thanks for moving it under linux.
But, I don’t think the problem is related to linux, since I can not even enter the bios. So, it’s all happening before the OS kicks in.

Best,
Fatih

4

Hey Fatih, thank you for clarification, I’m moving it to Community Support category. Hope we can find a solution together.

5

Hi.
Maybe the problem is that the bios is having problems trying to decide which display to use during boot. I suggest unplugging all the displays, leaving just the laptop display and press F2 during boot to try to get to the bios screens. Then set the BIOS to Defaults. Setting the bios to defaults is a good idea after any bios firmware update.
If you cannot get into the bios, there is a way to default it by pressing buttons on the main board.

6

Hi James, thanks for you suggestion.

I suggest unplugging all the displays, leaving just the laptop display and press F2 during boot to try to get to the bios screens.

I’ve already tried booting without any external monitors, or with only one external monitor, or with both of my external monitors. Unfortunately none of them worked.

If you cannot get into the bios, there is a way to default it by pressing buttons on the main board.

I tried this one, too. But, actually I am not sure whether my attempt was successful.

7

You might check that the RTC battery is holding a charge. While you are at it, you can reset the mainboard to see if that helps. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RTC HOLDER IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE (apologies for the all caps, but don’t want you to break that while troubleshooting. Please carefully follow the procedure here: Fully Resetting the Mainboard State - Framework Guides

It might work for you; hopefully it does. If not, Support will take care of you. Best of luck.