Dead laptop ~ any bright ideas please?

[K'Ehleyr]

Son's HP laptop seems to have expired. Refuses to boot up but is trying ~ the lights flash but there is nobody home, nothing comes up on the screen. Man explored and cleaned it internally but to no success.

Tried all configurations of memory but no luck.

The problem has gradually got worse over the last couple of months, it would take a few times to boot, but now ~ nothing but lights, of which there are 4!

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Mr. B]

Is a screen failure a possibility? Tried an external display?

 

[ares93]

Is a screen failure a possibility? Tried an external display?

Thats quite possible. Try pointing a flashlight at the panel. if you see icons and all that means the CCFL back light is toast. its quite easy to mistake for a full lcd panel failure. Also, the Nvidia gpu's in recent HP machines are somewhat lacking, so to speak.

But some specs or a model number would be nice. otherwise it'll be pretty hard to diagnose. Itf its an Elitebook you've come to the right place. i've spent two years fixing various models of those damn paper weights.

On a sidenote, why is it that Office 2010 installs perfectly on my dell, but refuses to start because it runs XP? If you try installing Office 2007 on Win2k it warns you that it wont work before you install. Damn, i knew there was a reason i migrated to mac...

 

[K'Ehleyr]

It's a HPG6000. Don't think it's a screen failure as it fails to 'properly boot' ~ it kinds of gets half way and gives up and then keeps trying again but just doesn't get there

 

[Mr. B]

...so the screen backlight comes on but there's just black on the screen?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

...so the screen backlight comes on but there's just black on the screen?

No, nothing, nada, on the screen, but the little blue lights keep flashing to attempt to boot.

No sounds of hope either

 

[Spot's Meow]

This probably isn't the problem, but I had some similar issues that turned out to be a broken adaptor cord that wasn't charging the laptop properly so the battery was drained even though it was plugged into the wall. The little pins in the end of the cord that goes into the laptop had broken off and I had to buy a replacement. The lights would flash like it was going to turn on and then it went black again.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

This probably isn't the problem, but I had some similar issues that turned out to be a broken adaptor cord that wasn't charging the laptop properly so the battery was drained even though it was plugged into the wall. The little pins in the end of the cord that goes into the laptop had broken off and I had to buy a replacement. The lights would flash like it was going to turn on and then it went black again.

Thank you Spot, that's what I think it is. Son is on his 3rd replacement charger as he lugs it about whilst still plugged in which is obviously no good for charger, internal connection or my sanity.

Man has fiddled with the charger and is happy that the blue light is on, but as you say I don't think it's getting to the battery.

I'm going to wait for more inspiration as the local comp shop charges £100 just to take the laptop apart 'with no guarantee they can fix it' hell I could do that!

 

[ares93]

It's a HPG6000. Don't think it's a screen failure as it fails to 'properly boot' ~ it kinds of gets half way and gives up and then keeps trying again but just doesn't get there

No, nothing, nada, on the screen, but the little blue lights keep flashing to attempt to boot.

No sounds of hope either

Sounds like a faulty logicboard or GPU. If i were to venture a guess, i'd say it was the gpu. A friend of mine had an identical machine which turned out to be the gpu.

but to be on the safe side, try and barrow a ram module from somebody. if one module is shot, probably both of them are. then it doesnt matter how you install hem.

 

[propita]

This probably isn't the problem, but I had some similar issues that turned out to be a broken adaptor cord that wasn't charging the laptop properly so the battery was drained even though it was plugged into the wall. The little pins in the end of the cord that goes into the laptop had broken off and I had to buy a replacement. The lights would flash like it was going to turn on and then it went black again.

Thank you Spot, that's what I think it is. Son is on his 3rd replacement charger as he lugs it about whilst still plugged in which is obviously no good for charger, internal connection or my sanity.

Man has fiddled with the charger and is happy that the blue light is on, but as you say I don't think it's getting to the battery.

I'm going to wait for more inspiration as the local comp shop charges £100 just to take the laptop apart 'with no guarantee they can fix it' hell I could do that!

That's what happened to my nephew's laptop here. Another model charger didn't work (which we figured would happen), but amazon had a charger for $10. Much better price than a new laptop!!!

Strangely, this seems to be happening to laptops of younger people....coincidence? I think not.

 

[Starbreaker]

Recycle it.

 

[Scout101]

Sounds like the same symptoms my desktop had a few months back (spins up and starts to attempt the boot process, but then cycles down and starts over, never put anything up on the monitor).

Turned out to be a bad motherboard...

 

[K'Ehleyr]

It's a HPG6000. Don't think it's a screen failure as it fails to 'properly boot' ~ it kinds of gets half way and gives up and then keeps trying again but just doesn't get there

No, nothing, nada, on the screen, but the little blue lights keep flashing to attempt to boot.

No sounds of hope either

Sounds like a faulty logicboard or GPU. If i were to venture a guess, i'd say it was the gpu. A friend of mine had an identical machine which turned out to be the gpu.

but to be on the safe side, try and barrow a ram module from somebody. if one module is shot, probably both of them are. then it doesnt matter how you install hem.

Have put Man on the case re: the GPU and other memory. Thanks for the ideas ares
We're trying to trouble shoot without buying all the spare bits it 'could' be and finding out it was something totally simple!

This probably isn't the problem, but I had some similar issues that turned out to be a broken adaptor cord that wasn't charging the laptop properly so the battery was drained even though it was plugged into the wall. The little pins in the end of the cord that goes into the laptop had broken off and I had to buy a replacement. The lights would flash like it was going to turn on and then it went black again.

Thank you Spot, that's what I think it is. Son is on his 3rd replacement charger as he lugs it about whilst still plugged in which is obviously no good for charger, internal connection or my sanity.

Man has fiddled with the charger and is happy that the blue light is on, but as you say I don't think it's getting to the battery.

I'm going to wait for more inspiration as the local comp shop charges £100 just to take the laptop apart 'with no guarantee they can fix it' hell I could do that!

That's what happened to my nephew's laptop here. Another model charger didn't work (which we figured would happen), but amazon had a charger for $10. Much better price than a new laptop!!!

Strangely, this seems to be happening to laptops of younger people....coincidence? I think not.

Son seems to have no respect for his things (I've engaged 'old person mode! ) But I'm leaning towards the 'misuse' road.
When Man explored inside he found enough tobacco to make a rolled cigarette and a dead spider.

Heck, when I'm using Man's machine I'm not allowed to drink or smoke around it... Oooops

Recycle it.

Not yet ~ it's only 5 years old! I refuse to give up just yet ~ I will end up (rather Man will end up) building it piece by piece again

Sounds like the same symptoms my desktop had a few months back (spins up and starts to attempt the boot process, but then cycles down and starts over, never put anything up on the monitor).

Turned out to be a bad motherboard...

That's a bad thing

Thank you all for the ideas and help. Man is now pondering on GPU...

Hope it get's fixed soon ~ there's now a queue for the computer and the bathroom

 

[Australis]

Okay, some options:

It might also be the link between the mobo and the monitor, can you plug in an external monitor?

Try a boot disk (assuming it has a CD player). If it boots up, it's a HD/software problem. If not, a mobo/hardware problem.

If it is the mobo, someone should be able to take the HD out and plug it into another PC and retrieve your son's por- uh, I mean, crucial information.

 

[RoJoHen]

Not yet ~ it's only 5 years old! I refuse to give up just yet

I usually give my computers a 4-5-year shelf-life, and then I replace them. They usually still work okay, but I get bored.

 

[Marie1]

Have you tried Spinrite on it? That's the first thing I do with Windows... lol

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Okay, some options:

It might also be the link between the mobo and the monitor, can you plug in an external monitor?

Try a boot disk (assuming it has a CD player). If it boots up, it's a HD/software problem. If not, a mobo/hardware problem.

If it is the mobo, someone should be able to take the HD out and plug it into another PC and retrieve your son's por- uh, I mean, crucial information.

Yo Australis ~ *curtsies* Long time
Have read out your options to Man and he will get on the case.
I'm sure, as you point out, Son has very important information on machine ~ A level work and revision etc! that he would be distraught to lose
At least I still have one machine so I can keep in contact with intelligent life

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Not yet ~ it's only 5 years old! I refuse to give up just yet

I usually give my computers a 4-5-year shelf-life, and then I replace them. They usually still work okay, but I get bored.

Will I have one of the ones you've got bored of then
And Son can get bored of his when he can afford to buy himself a new one! Until then he can poke up with the one held together with sellotape and crocodile clips!

Have you tried Spinrite on it? That's the first thing I do with Windows... lol

Will that make it really shiny?

 

[Australis]

Hello! <slight but respectful bow from the waist> Yes, it's been a while. I'm not in so much right now. Good to see you.

 

[RoJoHen]

Not yet ~ it's only 5 years old! I refuse to give up just yet

I usually give my computers a 4-5-year shelf-life, and then I replace them. They usually still work okay, but I get bored.

Will I have one of the ones you've got bored of then

I don't have them anymore, and I have a feeling I might keep this one for a while. It's a MacBook; it's going to last a lot longer.