Power Button blinking

[HobbitJeff]

My son's HP Laptop won't turn on and when the power button is pressed it 'blinks' a few times but still the screen is dark. I have done all the usual things like take the battery out and hold the power button down but to n avail. I have been told it could be a motherboard problem. Is there any way that I can get the laptop working again or is it that the motherboard is damaged? Thanks Jeff

 

[i7Baby]

Try using your Recovery Disk.

 

[hamidd1234]

If there is no recovery disk no need to worry, you can goto a computer shop and them to re-install windows on the laptop. What ever you do not try opening your laptop.

 

[HobbitJeff]

Then you think it s a software problem rather than the laptop being a write off?

 

[i7Baby]

You try the cheap fixes first. If that doesn't work, you move onto the more expensive ones.

 

[HobbitJeff]

Also, even if I had the recovery disc, how could I install it as the DVD drive will not open without any power surely?

 

[hamidd1234]

Also, even if I had the recovery disc, how could I install it as the DVD drive will not open without any power surely?

It will still open, just try keeping the laptop plugged in.

 

[hamidd1234]

Also, even if I had the recovery disc, how could I install it as the DVD drive will not open without any power surely?

It will still open, just try keeping the laptop plugged in.

 

[HobbitJeff]

The power button blinks about every 9 seconds. Does that mean something? I cannot open the DVD drive though.

 

[Math Geek]

you can open the drive with a paper clip. there will be a hole on the front of it to insert the clip and push. it will open. but if there is no power, then a cd in the drive won't spin and be read but it is a good first step. as stated above, try the cheapest, easiest and obvious solution first.

 

[hamidd1234]

The power button blinks about every 9 seconds. Does that mean something? I cannot open the DVD drive though.

I'm starting to think the motherboard is broken or has gone defective. What I would do if I where you is to check the ram too see if its properly inserted in the laptop. Without ram your computer can not boot up and it you get blinking lights.

 

[HobbitJeff]

How do you check the RAM?

 

[i7Baby]

Look at it. See if it's loose.

Ram looks like - http://www.newegg.com/Laptop-Memory/SubCategory/ID-381

 

[HobbitJeff]

Would this not mean opening up the laptop?

 

[Math Geek]

the ram is accessible from the bottom of the laptop. there is usually a screwed on cover that will give access to it. there should be a number of these but the one for the ram will have a symbol of a ram stick to let you know this is what is under it. other ones should be the hdd cover and possibly others.

i am leaning toward the power supply having gone bad. if none of these obvious solutions, and it is perfectly possible a good jarring of the laptop popped the ram loose, then the next check will be with a new power supply. you can get them at walmart, best buy and plenty of other places. generic ones can work on many different brands, but there should be hp specific ones as well that cover a number of models each. if it works, then keep it, it it does not, then return it.

i make this suggestion assuming the laptop does nothing but blink when you try to turn it on. does it also do this with only the battery installed and it not plugged in? if it does absolutely nothing with the battery but blinks with it plugged in, this tells me the battery is dead and did not recharge and the power supply is not doing it's job. if it also blinks with the battery and unplugged this is more along what you are thinking which is the laptop is dead.

 

[hamidd1234]

Would this not mean opening up the laptop?

Yes it does meaning opening the laptop, but you don't open the whole entire laptop. For HP they make a little place under the laptop in which you can easily access your ram by popping of 1-2 screws. You want to unscrew the cap with this picture on it ---> (click links) 1. (You can see the little logo indicating that the ram in under the cap) http://gyazo.com/1389f43afda7ce3ac8f32f87d63048ca
2, http://gyazo.com/95f91a45f88b70886a9a87bbb9db7fd8