Notebook sometimes won't boot

[kartham]

I have a Compaq Presario CQ71 notebook, nearly a year old, running Windows 7. Lately, the notebook sometimes does not boot. The Compaq splash screen shows, allowing me to press ESC to access various tests of memory and hard drive and to choose which device to boot from. If not pressing ESC, the hard drive light sometimes diasappers and the screen goes black. If I turn off and on the notebook again a couple of times, it usually boots. Sometimes the notebook boots at the first try. Any idea what could be causing the trouble? I have run some tests of the memory and hard drive, and there seems to be no problems with that.

 

[Snipergod87]

When I had these problems it was because of a failing hard drive but if its not giving you an error (you sais it passes the test) then that might not be it.

Does it make any difference if you are on AC or battery?
Maybe removing the CMOS battery and putting it back in will help.

Before you open it up is your laptop still under warranty? HP Support is pretty good.

 

[RetiredChief]

CMOS battery is normally a Very big Pain in the &*&&^ to pull/replace. At a year old should not be a problem.

Try reseating the HDD and the memory, Not likely, but possible loose connection.