HP Z2 tower won't boot.

[Ly_3]

Hello! I have inherited my desktop computer from my previous work yesterday. It is a HP Z2 tower purchased March 2023. My previous company wiped all work related software and system in June 2026 since I was not allowed to leave the company with internal data. Since then it was not used but left on the desk.

I could only collect it yesterday. When I turn it on, the power light goes on, the fan is working it sounds like everything is fine but it is not detected by any monitor. The smart Samsung monitor provided with it says the message: Turn on the device connected to HDMI and just goes on standby mode after 1min. While my gaming OMEN monitor I plugged to it just remains black. The tower has been on for the past 15min. White light is flashing above the power button but no way to see what is going on or use it. Fan is blowing.

Any tips to make it work again will be much appreciated! Thank you!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Ly_3,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thank you for explaining the situation. Since your HP Z2 Tower powers on and the fans are running, but neither monitor displays an image, let's check whether the system is completing its startup process.

Please try the following steps:

Check the monitor connections: 

Ensure the monitor is connected to the correct video output on the tower. 

If the computer has a dedicated graphics card, try connecting the monitor to its video ports rather than the motherboard ports, if applicable.

Perform a power reset: 

Turn off the tower, disconnect the power cable and all external devices, and hold the power button for approximately 15 seconds. 

Reconnect the power cable, connect one monitor, and turn the tower on.

Check the blinking light: 

Observe the white light above the power button. 

Please note whether it blinks continuously or in a repeating pattern, and count the blinks before any pause.

Check for startup activity: 

After powering on, observe whether the keyboard responds to Caps Lock or Num Lock and whether you hear any beep codes.

Could you also confirm the exact HP Z2 Tower model or generation (for example, Z2 Tower G9) and whether you see the HP logo at any point?

If there is still no display after these checks, the system may require further hardware diagnostics. 

We can use the light pattern and model information to determine the appropriate next steps.

Best regards,
Kuroi_Kenshi

[SDH]

My guess is that your new-to-you HP Z2 Tower workstation is in excellent condition and well worth getting it up and running. Your company sounds appropriately security conscious and likely has done a good job of wiping that computer clean. That is, very clean. It would be great if you had a good amount of RAM, and a M.2 NVMe SSD of at least 512GB in place.

If the IT section still have installation discs for the original OS those would be great to get. Doubt you'll be able to get those... they migrate to the garbage or "elsewhere" quickly. Their wiping your drive(s) may have taken it/them back to a primative state... "RAW". As such there is little for the BIOS to work with. If you are experienced with these things then you could potentially download a from-Microsoft Windows 11 install media and use that to GPT partition and NTFS format the drive and then install W11. If it had a W10Pro64 or a W11Pro64 install earlier then the motherboard's UUID will still be registered already with the Microsoft W10/W11 activation servers, and it will be "activated" with proper licensing upon a new W10/W11 clean install.

If this is all gibberish, then you're over your head and should work with a good computer shop to get the W11 install done by them. Sometimes your company's IT guys/gals do work on the side for extra income and they would be my first choice if so.

You don't state if this is a G4, a G5, or a Z2 Tower g1i... please clarify, and what is the current processor? (EDIT: if you can't get into BIOS you will have to wait to know this or use your Product ID to check via the internet.) You also don't say if this is W10/W11 licensed... look on the rear backplane for a Windows sticker such as this from a Z2 G4 Tower eBay picture:

If absent it is for Linux... but you can buy a W license...

[Ly_3]

Hi there! Thanks for the reply! I have done all your checks. There are blinking patterns, keyboard responds to CAPS LOCK and NUM LOCK. I don't see any HP logo at any point. 

The model is Product: 4Y0H8AV (Tower G9 Workstation). It has an Intel Core I7 processor. I don't have all the information or the booklet but from ordering 3 years ago, I remember I chose an NVIDIA graphic card that is all. I don't remember what system it came in originally but it was replaced straight on the day of arrival by the company dedicated system. I reckon they did not restore the original system.

I will try to find other information to determine the next best step. Thank you!!!

[Ly_3]

Hi!

Thank you very much for the reply! I will make you smile: I looked at the back of the computer, they erased the Windows licence reference, it has a beautiful shiny scribbled on it and I truly don't remember which one it came with in on the delivery day 3 years ago but it was replaced on the day with the company dedicated system. Yes, as you said it is "RAW" now. 

The Product is : 4Y0H8AV (HP Z2 Tower G9 Workstation) with an Intel Core I7 processor, if I remember well, I have ordered a 16 GO of RAM, and an Nvidia graphic card but can't remember which one.

Thank you for the advice!  It is helpful!

[SDH]

That is all good news... excellent computer for you especially given the price. 

Look on page 3 of the attached recent QuickSpecs from this year (from July). Windows 11 Pro clearly is what I'd advise for you, and the computer will be able to run that without you buying another license (assuming it came with that originally). From some reading that is a base model that can be built up by enterprises as they wish. HP has a Cloud Recovery system for downloading a W11Pro installer that would work (again, assuming it was originally licensed for that). That would be the best approach to try first, and search for that. If you can download the installer that way it will have fine tuning from HP that you'd not get from the MS W11Pro installer download.

The boot drive should be GPT partitioned and NTFS formatted before W11Pro is installed to get it out of its RAW state. I use Microsoft's DiskPart CMD line interface for that, which can even be launched from the W11Pro installer you get from Microsoft. Again, you need to know how to do all this, and if you're not experienced then that computer is worth having a good shop do it for you.

A few links, and see the PDF attached below:

https://support.hp.com/id-en/product/product-specs/hp-z2-tower-g9-workstation-desktop-pc/model/21022...

https://support.hp.com/za-en/drivers/hp-z2-g9-tower-workstation-desktop-pc/model/2100987286

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/product/troubleshooting/hp-z2-tower-g9-workstation-desktop-pc/model/210...