If your laptop won’t boot properly, shows a black screen, or keeps restarting again and again  it’s called a boot loop.

At Tech & Games Hartlepool, we see this problem daily  and in most cases, it’s fixable without replacing your entire laptop.
Let’s go through the most common causes and step-by-step fixes before it gets worse.

Step 1: Disconnect External Devices 

Sometimes, your laptop is trying to boot from an external USB drive or device instead of the internal storage.

Try this first:

1. Unplug USB drives, external hard disks, SD cards, and peripherals.
   
2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to fully shut down.
   
3. Turn it on again.

If your laptop boots normally  problem solved. If not, keep going.

Step 2: Perform a Hard Reset

• Residual electrical charge can freeze your system’s boot process.

  Here’s how to do a full power drain reset:

  1. Disconnect the charger.
     
  2. Remove the battery (if it’s removable).
     
  3. Hold down the power button for 15–20 seconds.
     
  4. Reconnect power and turn on your laptop.
     
  Tip: Many laptops (especially HP and Dell) respond well to this — it clears boot memory and fixes temporary power lockups.
  

Step 3: Check RAM or Storage Issues

If your laptop powers on but stays on a black screen or restarts mid-boot, it could be due to loose RAM or a faulty SSD/HDD.

Try this if you’re comfortable opening the back panel:

• Remove the RAM stick(s), clean the gold contacts gently, and reseat them.
  
• If you have two RAM slots, try one stick at a time.
  
• Listen for beeps or fan sounds — they indicate hardware is alive.
  

Not confident doing this? At Tech & Games, our technicians can test your RAM and SSD instantly using diagnostic tools — no guessing.

Step 4: Check Display & Backlight Functionality

Sometimes the laptop is actually booting fine, but the screen stays black because of a faulty display cable or backlight.

Try this test:

• Shine a flashlight on the screen at an angle.
  
• If you faintly see the desktop or logo, your screen backlight or cable might be failing.
  

We fix these in-store the same day — no full screen replacement needed unless the panel itself is damaged.

Step 5: Run Automatic Repair or Safe Mode (Windows Users)

If your laptop boots and restarts repeatedly showing a Windows logo or spinning dots:

1. Turn it on → force shut down with the power button.
   
2. Repeat this 3 times — Windows will open Automatic Repair Mode.
   
3. Choose Advanced Options → Startup Repair or Safe Mode.
   

If it boots in Safe Mode, uninstall recent driver or Windows updates that might have caused instability.

Pro Tip: We can run deep boot diagnostics to isolate driver, BIOS, or OS-level faults — especially useful for Dell, HP, and Lenovo laptops showing blue or black screens.

Step 6: When to Bring It to Tech & Games Hartlepool

If your laptop still restarts randomly or stays stuck on a black screen — it’s time for a quick check-up.

At Tech & Games Hartlepool, we offer:
✅ Free laptop diagnosis
✅ Same-day repair for most boot and power issues
✅ Fixes for BIOS corruption, faulty RAM, SSDs, or motherboards
✅ Transparent pricing (no repair, no charge)

📍 Visit us at:
119 York Rd, Hartlepool, TS26 9DL
📞 Call: +44 1429 233870

We’ll pinpoint the problem  whether it’s a software crash, power surge, or internal fault and get your laptop running again the same day.

FAQs – Laptop Boot / Black Screen Fix

Q1. Why does my laptop keep restarting or show a black screen on startup?
This usually happens due to faulty RAM, corrupt system files, or a damaged SSD. In some cases, the display or BIOS may also be at fault.

Q2. Can I fix a boot loop myself?
You can try disconnecting USB devices, performing a hard reset, or running Windows Automatic Repair. If it persists, let a technician check the internal hardware.

Q3. How much does it cost to fix a laptop that won’t boot in Hartlepool?
Repairs typically range from £45–£95, depending on the cause (RAM, motherboard, or storage). We offer a free diagnostic before any repair.

Q4. My laptop turns on but stays on a black screen — is it the display?
Possibly. It could be a disconnected cable or backlight failure. We can test this instantly without replacing the screen unnecessarily.

Q5. Do you offer same-day laptop boot repairs?
Yes! We handle most boot and power-related repairs the same day for all major laptop brands.