Pavilion a6100y - Won't Boot

[GTifeld]

Greetings,

I have 2 different friends with the same PC (actually, one is an a6000y and the other is a6100y) and the same problem. The PC suddenly won't boot. When you turn the PC on, the light on the power supply comes on and the fans start. The power button lights up for a few seconds and it sounds like the HD is starting up, but then nothing happens after that. Nothing! Not even the HP logo screen, so I can't even boot off a CD or get into the BIOS.

I'm guessing it's not bad memory, because there's usually a beep (or several) of some kind. I've also pulled the drives out of both PCs and hooked them up to another machine. They both seem to be fine.

I'm thinking it's the motherboard, but could it be anything else? Neither user can recall anything unusual happening recently and both are using surge protectors.

Thank you in advance for any input.

Regards,

--- Gary

[old_geekster]

Gary, welcome to the forum.

I believe that it could be a failed power supply unit (PSU).  Here is a guide to help you troubleshoot the problem:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph06788&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=502610&rule=...

The average life of a PSU is 3 to 4 years.  It is the most replaced of all components.

Please click "Accept as Solution" if your problem is solved.

[Danjen]

Try to start the machine with the battery out and just the power adaptor installed.

Try to start the machine with just one memory chip installed at a time and try both slots.

Try a hard reset:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c01684768&product=1132551

Edited: Again I thought I was posting in the notebook section

You were being very kind not to mention that

[wb2001]

GTifeld,

The first diagnostic would be the power supply test : http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph06788&tmp_task=solveCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&jum...

Follow the steps exactly as stated.

Disconnect all unnecessary cables. Open the case, and observe during the test.

If you could borrow a PSU, I would do so. You do not need to swap them, just disconnect both motherboard connectors (4pin and 24pin, and the hard drive power lead. Then attach the new PSU as such.

[GTifeld]

Thank you very much for your response.

Forgive a stupid question, but if the power light on the PSU is on, the power button is lit, and the fans are running, doesn't that mean the power supply is okay? Or is it still likely the cause?

Thanks again.

--- Gary

[wb2001]

3 replies in 2 minutes.

Did you run the PSU test as suggested?

[Danjen]

My standard proceedure for a desktop

It could be the power supply, shorted device of any kind attached (bad printer, flash drive, keyboard, mouse, network connection), memory problem, video card fan not spinning and the video card could have overheated, bad capacitors (rounded or leaking a brown or dark substance). The first think you should do is make sure it is not under warrantee.  If it is, contact HP.  If it isn't, remove the cover and inspect the board for bad capacitors, fans not turning, disconnect all non essential items like the hard drive, DVD, floppy if you have one, all external devices (yes the monitor) and turn on the computer. Does it appear to stay on? If yes, shut it down by holding in the power button for 5 or more seconds or flipping the power switch on the power supply or pulling the plug. Connect the monitor and then one item at a time leaving the hard drive with your important data as the last item. If it didn't stay on. Try to use only one piece of memory and try each memory slot, try the next piece etc. If that doesn't work, the best guess is the power supply (if you have an ohm meter - test the power supply first).

[GTifeld]

I did try flipping the red switch as suggested, but that didn't work. The rest of the steps appear to be under the presumption that the pc isn't getting power and it is. I have lights and fans... Just no booting.

Thanks.

[wb2001]

You said the power light only stays on for a few seconds. Is that still true?

[GTifeld]

I just went back and re-read my original post. It looks like I DID say it stays on for a few seconds, but I mis-spoke. The power light goes on and it stays on. I'm not sure why I said that. Either it was a typo or I thought I was referring to the sound of the HD starting up.

Anyway, the power appears to be fine. The lights on the the power supply, the power button, and the fans all go on and stay on. The problem is nothing else happens. No booting, no beeps, no error messages, no HP logo, etc. That's why I was thinking it's the mother board, but I'm open to any expert suggestions.

My apologies for the confusion. Thank you once again for staying with me on this.

Regards,

--- Gary