HP DV400 fails to load bios screen occasionally. Need Help!

Here is what happened. Windows (XP) loaded and then everything froze. I had to hold the power button down.

After pressing the power button, computer would freeze halfway through loading windows.

Another time of booting, it loads the questions whethere windows should be loaded in safe mode, or last working config, but then freezes again.

About 5 times after pressing the power button the lights are on, but the screen is grey and nothing loads further.

What can be the problem?

Could it be the failing hard drive? Bios chip malfunctioning?

By the way, finally computer booted, and loaded windows as nothing happened. I checked the C drive for errors, defragged it, and it's been working fine for 2 hours since. Few restarts also cause no problems.


This happened a week ago, and similarly went away after several attempts.


Computer is still under 1 year warranty.

All responses are greatly appreciated.

What could cause all this malfunctioning?

 

Doesn't sound like a HDD failure.

Not familliar with HP, but do they have updated BIOSes or the same BIOS version that you have now, available online? If so update or reflash the BIOS. Might not resolve the problem but could be a start in narrowing down the problem

 

Unplug and completely shut down the computer. Take out the battery, then press the power button a bunch of times to drain any electricity running around in there.

I'd also open it up and reseat the memory -sometimes little things like that can help.

If you manage to get it up, look for a BIOS update as Q said. They sometimes fix common issues.

Chaz

 

Yup, good point on the reseating the memory.
And the complete power drain is sometimes necessary to get some settings in the BIOS's volatile memory to reset.

 

Those sound like the exact symptoms my desktop had when the power supply failed. It took me forever to diagnose that, but once I picked up a good one it booted right up and worked from then on. I like all of the ideas given especially a power drain and reseating the memory.

Does this happen on A/C and on Battery?

 

this sounded like something that happened to me as well. for me it was a ram defect. use memtest86 to check for errors.

 

Qwester, the current bios version is f.13 I couldnt find out if the newer version is available in the time given.

I did unplug and pressed the button many times, that's what eventually booted it.

What memory is it possible to reset there? The battery is currently out, but it happened with the battery in as well.

I am not so excited about flashing the bios as it has a threat of damaging the whole CMOS chip if something goes wrong, and also I am not sure if the warranty will still apply if they will see that i changed the original bios settings.

Anyway, I called HP support and got connected to a knowledgeble (american) guy, who guided me through the hard drive self test, and concluded that I should probably send the laptop for repairs.

He has never heard of such problem before.

Well, the computer is working fine right now, and I have so much stuff installed on it (for which I have no disks), as well as 40 gigs of music, photos , etc... that cleaning all that to send the laptop sounds like a real inconvenience and hassle.

How long may the shippment and repairs take? weeks?

What can I expect from the repair? I really am fully satisfied with the computer, and wish it didn't have to leave me.

Can they end up replacing the unit? Can I get something more modern, since this one is roughly a year old configuration? (bought it 6 months ago though).

Lastly, how do they handle them there in the repair facilities? Right now it's scratchless and is simply like new, ( I take a good care of it), is there a realistic chance that I will get it returned with cosmetic damages, or fingerprints on the glossy screen?

Power supply? Uhm...I didn't know those things go wrong often. But the problem exists with the battery as power source, does that eliminate the power supply problem possibilty?

Anyway, I guess I will wait and see what happens.

Thanks everybody for your replies.

 

by resetting the memory, he means that you should remove your ram and then reinsert it.

 

Is that really smart to do while computer is still under warranty? What are the odds of the problem not being solved by removing the ram, but at the same time voiding the warranty (or breaking the connectors) if I send it in and they descover that the computer has been opened. Or does accessing ram compartment not count as breaking the seal which voids the warranty?

 

for the most part, replacing ram does not affect warranty. for my computer, though not hp, the tech support guy actually told me to open up the notebook and reseat the ram. i think you should run memtest86 though. you just burn the iso and restart with the cd in. then it should run on its own. any errors you get would mean you have faulty ram. if it doesn't run, that means, you have to reorder your boot order in the bios.

 

I had to send in my HP for repairs once - took three days. Sent it in one (gave me an overnight label), they fixed it the next, and I had it back the day after. Great service, I was very satisfied. They might replace some of the other parts in your machine as well - my friend sent in his HP to be serviced, got a new screen, keyboard, and dvd burner in addition to getting his problem fixed.

Make sure you back up all your data before you send it in, they'll wipe the hard drive. Accessing the RAM/HDD doesn't void the warranty, but I probably wouldn't fool with it if you aren't comfortable doing so.

Chaz

 

Replacing the HDD apparently does void the warranty as it's not on HP's list of user upgradeable parts. But they will never be able to find out!

 

Today the computer refused to start again. I called the service to request the pick-up box, as the previous representative told me to do. This guy, though insisted that I have to remove the hard drive and the memory modules, to reset them. If I don't do it, I will have to pay 290$ for the service, even though the computer is still under 1 yr. manuf. warranty.

Does this sound right? Do they have the right to make me perform that operation?

Anyway, I just didn't have the screwdriver with me. But it's also strange that this guy (aparently from India) insists on this while previous representative said that I should send the computer for the repairs.

Ok, also, what would that actually do, removing the hard drive? Is there any memory there? He said that the drive and memory must be properly inserted. Well, the computer worked 3 hours ago and I didn't touch the internal components.

Any ideas/suggestions?

 

i would suggest calling again and getting a different rep. they can't force you to open up your system if you don't have the tools for it.

 

wow, this is great (-: you think HP would replace my bloody overheating dv4000
)-:?