No display after updating graphics drivers (Windows 10)

Hi, just wondering what came before the 'So'? E.g. My mother was sick so I took her to hospital... I.e. what led to or preceded the problem?

He is unable to see the BIOS start menu from the motherboard,

But for not being able to even boot and see the BIOS GUI I would have suggested this:

Try to boot PC from live boot disk e.g. create one from this iso.
Toolkit Item: Kyhi’s Rescue Disk – Win10.Guru

See if the PC boots successfully. You can then run basic checks, recover data etc.

Again, but only if your friend can succeed in booting from an external medium:
Assuming your friend has been using disk imaging routinely as is so, so often by tenforums members, your friend could restore an earlier disk image - if using Macrium Reflect (free/paid) MR is available using the above live boot disk.

Seems to suggest a hardware problem.

However, see e.g.
Start up issue with monitor/GPU - can't access BIOS - Windows 10
and more threads if you search the forum for
'can't access bios no display'

Understood- my last comment is the nearest I can think of, I'm afraid. Hopefully others may have some idea, and you've already attempted some sensible things.

His PC looks to be from around 2017 so not that old..

dalchina said:

But for not being able to even boot and see the BIOS GUI I would have suggested this:

Try to boot PC from live boot disk e.g. create one from this iso.
Toolkit Item: Kyhi’s Rescue Disk – Win10.Guru

See if the PC boots successfully. You can then run basic checks, recover data etc.

Again, but only if your friend can succeed in booting from an external medium:
Assuming your friend has been using disk imaging routinely as is so, so often by tenforums members, your friend could restore an earlier disk image - if using Macrium Reflect (free/paid) MR is available using the above live boot disk.

Seems to suggest a hardware problem.

However, see e.g.
Start up issue with monitor/GPU - can't access BIOS - Windows 10
and more threads if you search the forum for
'can't access bios no display'

But.... how is the OP going to use "Toolkit Item: Kyhi’s Rescue Disk – Win10.Guru" if there's no video to see anything on the PC.... including the BIOS???

NatBae said:

So recently one of my friends was having computer issues, his CPU and RAM Usage was at 100% constantly, at bootup, and was still at 100% even after waiting 30+ min with nothing running. He attempted to update his GPU drivers, and after doing so he is getting no display at all. He is unable to see the BIOS start menu from the motherboard, he is unable to see any windows loading. We know his PC is starting up as the lights on his keyboard works, but he is unable to see any display. He has tried an alternative monitor with an alternative cable with and without his GPU installed (trying to use on board graphics) and has had no display either way. Since we are unable to boot with any display we are unable to load into the BIOS or load into safemode. Any help is appreciated.

The first thing I recommend is powering off the PC and letting it sit a few hours. Then boot up and go from there.

Failing that, my other suggestion is to try resetting the BIOS by either the clear CMOS button or removing the CMOS battery for about 5 minutes then reinstalling it. "If" the PC boots and you can see the BIOS, enter it and hit (enable) Load Optimized defaults. Reboot and go from there.

If that doesn't work, you "might" try replacing the GPU. And I know the OP said they tried the onboard GPU, but if that's disabled in the BIOS that would explain why that route doesn't work.

And Marcum Reflect is useless against a hardware failure if it was never used before the failure. Additionally, a GPU failure wouldn't (shouldn't) cause data loss so the need to recover anything is extremely low here.

My two cents.

@sygnus21

But.... how is the OP going to use "Toolkit Item: Kyhi’s Rescue Disk – Win10.Guru" if there's no video to see anything on the PC.... including the BIOS???

That's why I said 'I would have said'. Which, very oddly, you quoted. But didn't apparently read.

Resetting the BIOS is covered in the last comment I made.

@zbook, Hopefully the OP knows how to read post codes shown on the debug LED or understand beep codes (provided there's a speaker hooked up to the motherboard) cause they aren't getting any onscreen visuals.

Also depending on board and BIOS post codes or beeps can be confusing as they could be this for that board, but something totally different for another. Ran into that awhile back when trying to decipher beep codes for someone on Gigabyte board. Don't remember where I posted it as I move around a few forums. Nonetheless, that is a good idea.

@dalchina, if you meant, then you wouldn't have made #1 something that solely relied on a display... when the OP said on several occasions that there was no video of any type

NatBae said:

I am hoping someone can think of another method to try to figure out what is wrong, I threw out the potential of his GPU being the problem and suggested he tries to order a new one thru amazon as he can return it if it isnt the solution. Other than replacing the GPU, is there any other was to troubleshoot this?

At this point you could try swapping video cards if you know someone with a spare laying around that you could use. If the swapped card works, you're very likely looking at a dead video card.

If that's the case, while your running the "good" video card, go into the BIOS and check that internal GPU is enabled and use that until you can get a new GPU.

Also be aware Amazon is cutting down on the return of open box used PC parts and may direct you to RMA the item to the manufacturer instead of taking the card back. Obviously DOA items are in a different category, but outside of that, you might read their return policy on items such as GPU's and CPU's.

So, if you can find someone with a spare card I'd go that way first.

Let us know