dark screen at startup

[mutantpoodle]

morning all
its becoming more frequent
at start up I get a very dark screen...its not black and is 'just' readable
The only way I have found out of this position is to ...with difficulty...get the mouse thing down to switch off...and start again

usually this works

but increasingly recently its getting harder and harder to switch off

this morning the only way I could do anything was to pull the plug (no battery used)

its an HP 255 about 6 years or so old
windows 10
with usual annoying updates as and when imposed

is this a sign of imminent death?
I would like to replace before death for preference

any thoughts would be appreciated

[Watis]

Is this an LCD screen?

If so, I've encountered a similar problem, the cause was a failed inverter. This component provides power to the backlight of the LCD screen.

If it's confirmed that the inverter is faulty, it can be replaced, but, with labour, is likely to cost north of £100.

HTH,

Watis

[didds]

assuming this is a desktop with monitor (and with windows) ... simplest check etc is borrow a friendd's working monitor and see if it demonstrates the same issue.

If so its fix or replace ... and see Watis' point above then.

If its "the same" scnario its something more intriguing not related to the monitor - test that by connecting your monitor to a friends PC (or of course a laptop moinitor output naturally).

If it is indicating the issue is with the PC, roll back Microsoft updates to a time prior to this manifesting itself (lest if be some bizarre driver issue) and see if tyhat improves matters.

My suspicion is on the monitor though

didds

[Stompa]

A very dark screen where the text is 'just' readable (often it can only be seen by shining a torch at the screen) is the classic symptom of a failed backlight, so I'd agree with the previous posters.

[eepee]

Why not beg, steal or borrow an external monitor as a breather till you decide whether to replace or repair?

If it was a separate monitor rather than a notebook and if you are handy with a soldering iron, I would suggest you open the monitor and re-solder the three or four ring-looking components. It often re-animates the backlight.

Regards,
ep