Spectre X2 Won't Turn On As It Should

[IHaveQuestions]

Just recently whenever I try to turn my HP Spectre X2 Detachable on after shutting it down, it won't turn on. The F6 Mute button has the light on, suggesting that the device could be on, but the screen isn't.

To turn the device on, I have to hold down the power button until the F6 Mute light goes off, as if it has been force shut down, and then press the power button again to start the device up.

Has anyone got any idea what could be causing this problem or how I could go about fixing it?

Thanks in advance.

[DavidSMP · Accepted solution]

Hi @IHaveQuestions,

Thanks for reaching out! This is a great location to get resolutions and interact with experts from the community. I understand that your computer does not power on as the F6 button is lit and you need to hold down the power button for a few seconds till the mute light  goes off  and press the power button again for it to fire up again. I’ll be delighted to assist you with this. 🙂

You’ve done a great job of troubleshooting before posting your query in the HP forums. Kudos to you for that. Great  Job! You are a valued HP customer and we appreciate you greatly for doing business with HP. I take it as a privilege to share this platform with you.

At the outset, it looks like a hardware issue with the unit. Some circuitry inside that could still be causing the F6 (Mute) key to continue to remain powered on, even when the machine is supposedly shut down.

Let’s try a hard reset first: Link to do it: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01684768

• Power down the unit first and disconnect the charger.
• Press and hold the Power and the Mute buttons (on the right side of the palm rest) for 8-10 seconds.
• Then power up the unit to check if the situation is corrected. If it persists, detach the keyboard from the computer after powering down the unit again.
• Power up the unit again to check if the situation has been corrected.
• If it continues, please detach the keyboard with the unit powered on and power off the unit. Wait for a few seconds and power it back up and reattach the keyboard and check.
• Finally, if nothing works, allow the battery to drain down completely and try the steps again.
• If it continues then the computer may need to be serviced as it may be a hardware issue with the unit.

Hope this helps. Let me know how this goes. I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. Trust me I have done all I can to help by keeping your best interest in mind. Please reach out for any issues and I'll be there to assist you.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[IHaveQuestions]

Hi @DavidSMP

Thank you for your help! I tried holding the power button and volume up button, and the boot settings loaded, so I continued the startup as normal, then I shut down again, and tried the power button and volume down button, and the screen flashed on and off.

I'm not sure which solution had the desired effect, but the problem seems to be resolved! I have started up and shut down the device a couple of times now and it seems to work as it should, so thank you for your help! Time will tell if the issue returns.

I have given you a Kudos, once again thank you for your help, this is the first time I have received a solution that has worked from a forum 😄

Have a great week.

[DavidSMP]

Hi @IHaveQuestions,

I thank you for your quick response. I am ultra glad that the issue has been resolved successfully. A lot of effort and time has gone into it to provide a solution. I hope the computer stays healthy and works great for a long time.

reach out for any issues and I'll be there to assist you.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up"button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[Rperkins5]

My display will not light up when powered on. The key pad will light up.

HP Spectre x2 detachable screen

[Christian_James]

Where are the mute buttons? I can only see one on the keyboard

[IHaveQuestions]

That's the one, on the F6 key.

[Charell]

Had the same problem with my HP Spectre 13-ac023dx and holding the mute button while powering down fixed it as well. Thanks for posting the question and solution.

[DB2018]

I had the same problem, and was ready to throw my spectre x2 out.  I fixed it by updating the bios.  This was mentioned in other posts but when I tried to update to a July 13, 2018 version it wouldn't let me.  I had to update a previous version (Jan. 5, 2018) first.  Do this:

go to https://supporthp.com

let hp identify your device

click on the device it finds

click on the BIOS plus symbol 

click on previous versions

download and install the Jan. 5, 2018 version

after the install is complete start over again and download and install the July 13, 2018 version.

Hope this works for you.

[pj753]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

I was in the same place, ready to toss the x2.  I new the on/off issue started after some problematic updates, but nothing had helped.  I reinstalled Windows, twice, to no effect.  I needed your help to find this BIOS solution. 

My BIOS was from 2015, I did the update in two steps to get to F.31 (7/13/18) and was able to shut down and turn back on again normally for the first time in many months.

It even passes the test of shutting down when the volume is turned to zero (F6 key light is on).  After a few seconds that light goes off meaning the machine is really off, not just asleep.

  Thanks again!