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I have an HP laptop and when I press the power button the fan spins for about 1 second and the light indicating the power is on comes on, but then nothing happens. The harddrive light never comes on, and the screen remains black.
It worked fine yesterday and now this problem. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks!!!
If you can boot up a bootable cd, like ubcd or your recovery disk.
In my opinion, the BIOS is probably ok. I would then suspect the hard drive.
It could be a memory problem. Try memtest86
Before posting try google. Backup. Use anti virus software.
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... I'm with muhammadzubair
... if your cmos battery is around 5 years old change it.
... ya
Grrrr
wat do I know?
... got brain freeze
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mmm.... I have an Acer laptop (a little over 2yrs old) and occasionally, if I press the "on" button but do not actually "hold" it down for say two second or more..., it will start up with the usual noises (cooling fan and even the HD lite briefly flashing... then shuts down again. But if I hold the "on" button down "firmly" for two seconds (even three...) it will start up fine...
Other than that it's all fine...; but I do have all data regularly copied/updated off the system entirely - just in case...
Sort of comforting in a perverse way to know that at least one other brand appears to have the same event - occasionally?
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I'm not able to boot up a CD. I tried with the Windows disc with no luck.
The computer is about 4 years old, going on 5, so maybe it is the CMOS battery.
Hopefully it's not the hard drive because I just replaced that last year (it was still under warranty at the time).
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Can you get to the BIOS screen?
If not, as muhammadzubair & mavis007 said try replacing the battery.
Before posting try google. Backup. Use anti virus software.
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"Usually" (at least in my own limited experience) when the cmos battery goes down... one either gets a message re' checksum etc..., or one goes to default "dos-style/text" screen that requests you insert correct date/time etc.; and it may/my not indicate no HD found on occasion. To resolve the latter - at least before changing the battery if needs-be - one usually entered the bios settings (via default key or keys shown on the screen to go to setup) and re-inserted the correct HD details etc.; afterwhich typically a given system will boot up OK. But on next reboot it will again require a re-entry of drive etc. details.
Can you access the bios at any time following your "pressing the on switch"? If so check to see if it does retain the necessary info to allow a normal boot etc...
Another possibility that was mentioned here recently is a dodgy drive controller-card; either it's dying (if not already "ded"); or possibly the connections to the drive(s)/card are not sound/secure (as in loose etc.).
That you cannot boot even via a CD may not be as serious as it sounds; especially if your boot sequence is not set to allow it - either as first or second etc... My Acer required me to set the CD/DVD unit as first boot-option in order to boot from a Knoppix/Ubuntu CD. So as above - if possible check how your boot-sequence is arranged if it is possible to get into the bios settings?
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I can't even access the bios. the fan runs for a second and then it doesn't do anything at all.
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Does the power light remain lit; and are there "any" signs of life/noise at all after that momentary "surge"?
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The power light remains lit, as does the wireless modem indicator light. But there are no other signs of life/noise other than that.
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When it is plugged in with the power chord the battery charging/charged light is on as well.
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No "noise" at all - not even the fan - even though power is on...
It "might" be the psu is down - even though there are lights various on - that doesn't mean the psu is working correctly...
How familiar are you with getting into your laptop - as in removing the hard-drive? On many laptops this is now a reasonably simple task; but then again on some it's less so.
If you could remove the drive there are ways to check it via another system for integrity etc.
And again it may be controller-card which has gone down - or is at least going...
Is this laptop under any form of warranty/insurance?
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Removing the hard drive is easy and I've done it numerous times before. I'm not sure how to check it via another system though. But I'm like a good dog, I follow directions well.
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There are adapters now that allow one to connect any drive - laptop/desktop ATA/SATA - to a usb input on a working system. The drive then appears as a standard "external" drive; and can be accessed as per norm.
There are two (possibly three) versions around; one is all both ATA and SAT, one is ASTA only; and possibly one SATA only. I have one (SAT/ATA) and used it recently; it werks like it sez on the label... Cost is anything from say £30 ($30) to £35 ($70) depending on which you go for - and where buy it...?
I'd advise get the all drives model obviously...
If the drive pans out OK when tested this way... then you have to look further into the laptop itself...; and the psu still figures in my possibles...
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Thanks for your help. I'll look around and see if I can find an adapter and see if that works.
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I do not see where the type system is listed, desktop or laptop. If it is a laptop then the systemboard needs replaced (the onboard power circuit had failed), if it is a desktop check the power supply and if that is good then a motherboard is most likely the problem. I would suspect the memory seating if the RAM had been changed, but that does not seem to be the problem here. I have many systems that come in for service that a power surge damaged the power circuits and the unit does not boot any longer.
Richard
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