Computer tech savvy people - please help!

I have an HP laptop that won't start up. Basically, I press the power button and I can hear the fan start up, the keys light up but the screen remains black. Then the keys and fan shut off completely and after a few seconds it happens again - fan starts up, keys light up.. Then off again! The cycle just keeps repeating on and off and the screen remains black the whole time!

I even purchased a new battery thinking it might help. The laptop is past it's warranty now. Please help me figure this out! Unfortunately, I'm computer illiterate :(

Thank you so much!!!!!

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

thats what happened to my HP also... and i was never able to get it fixed... (is it a Compaq by any chance?)

and mine was under warranty... i sent it back and for to HP for about 6 months... i ended up buying a new laptop from Dell... obviously i am not helping sorry lol

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

I had something similar happen and it was the main part of the computer that went. I think they call it a motherboard or something like that. They told me that it would not be worth it to fix it, because it would cost the same as a new computer.

A lot of laptop companies have zero financing plans if you need one right away. My current Compaq was under $500.00 and I paid if off with no interest in well under the 6 months.

From what I remember, I ordered it and it came the next day too.

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

How adventurous are you?

If you connect it to a separate monitor, do you get the same thing? The first thing I would do is reseat the memory chip. You should be able to do this by unscrewing one of the doors on the underside of the laptop. There are YouTube videos explaining how this is done.

Hard drives and memory problems are the usual culprits I've seen in this situation. The PITA part is that you don't have good parts to test out each theory. If you're not even seeing the BIOS splash screen (usually it starts with the logo on it), it's probably a hardware failure. I'd bring it some place that can swap out parts first. If it is the motherboard, that's a bit more involved.

Sorry I don't have better suggestions!

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

It sounds like the motherboard to me. Either that or its not reading the hard drive.

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

Holy cow....Having the EXACT same problem


I have an HP dv9925

I'd love to know why this is happening too


What works for me ( but this is not a good thing to keep doing ) is I take the battery out and put it back in....Then the start up screen happens and it asks me to press enter to "start normally"


I keep having to do a hard shutdown!!!
This computer is only 2 years old and was $$$

Message edited 5/27/2011 4:11:22 PM.

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

I had that issue with my toshiba it was the motherboard. Thankfully we had purchased the 4 year warranty and we were less than 10 days from it expiring. They completely fixed it. It lasted another year but eventually I replaced it.

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

Hey !

I was the one having the same issue as you and I think I may have solved my problem (though possibly temporarily) !!

I have been pushing my laptop screen further back when I open it and the problem stopped ..No more black screen on start up!...I push it back further than 90 degrees...

DH said maybe the ribbon tape that connects the screen to the keyboard part is going...

Try it on yours and let me know how it goes !

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Bops--- I tried opening the screen past 90 degrees but unfortunately it didn't work for me... I'm glad it worked for you though and hope it continues to do so... I considered having it fixed but it's probably not worth the $ spent at this point, I'm probably just better off replacing it... Next time around though I may forgo an HP lol... Thanks again though!

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

Posted by MC09

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Bops--- I tried opening the screen past 90 degrees but unfortunately it didn't work for me... I'm glad it worked for you though and hope it continues to do so... I considered having it fixed but it's probably not worth the $ spent at this point, I'm probably just better off replacing it... Next time around though I may forgo an HP lol... Thanks again though!

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

Posted by Bops

Posted by MC09

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Bops--- I tried opening the screen past 90 degrees but unfortunately it didn't work for me... I'm glad it worked for you though and hope it continues to do so... I considered having it fixed but it's probably not worth the $ spent at this point, I'm probably just better off replacing it... Next time around though I may forgo an HP lol... Thanks again though!

Awwww...rats

I think I'm with you on skipping HP next time around

Re: Computer tech savvy people - please help!

When it starts up are you able to press F8 to get to the setting page? I had a problem where some Repair box kept coming up and windows wouldn't start. I hit some commands and I got it to work again.