Troubleshooting Guide
2–4 www.hp.com Troubleshooting Guide
Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics
Helpful Hints
If you encounter problems with the computer, monitor, or software, 
see the following list of general suggestions before taking further 
action:
■ Check that the computer and monitor are plugged into a working 
electrical outlet.
■ Check to see that the voltage select switch (some models) is set to 
the appropriate voltage for your region (115V or 230V).
■ Check to see that the computer is turned on and the green power 
light is on.
■ Check to see that the monitor is turned on and the green monitor 
light is on. 
■ Check the Power LED on the front of the computer to see if it is 
flashing red. The flashing lights are error codes that will help you 
diagnose the problem. Refer to Appendix A, “POST Error 
Messages” for more information.
■ Turn up the brightness and contrast controls of the monitor if the 
monitor is dim.
■ Press and hold any key. If the system beeps, then the keyboard 
should be operating correctly.
■ Check all cable connections for loose connections or incorrect 
connections.
■ Wake the computer by pressing any key on the keyboard or 
pressing the power button. If the system remains in suspend 
mode, shut down the computer by pressing and holding the power 
button for at least four seconds then press the power button again 
to restart the computer. If the system will not shut down, unplug 
the power cord, wait a few seconds, then plug it in again. The 
computer will restart if automatic start on power loss is set in 
Computer Setup. If it does not restart, press the power button to 
start the computer.
■ Reconfigure the computer after installing a non–plug and play 
expansion board or other option. See “Solving Hardware 
Installation Problems” for instructions.










