15ef2127wm - turns on but no display or disk drive activity

[bravacentauri83]

I have a 15ef2127wm laptop. Barely 2 years old. Today, the laptop will power on, but there's no display. There is no audio or beeping at any point. 

The power light is solid white. It does not blink. The HDD activity light blinks white once immediately at power-on, and it stays off for the rest of the time. The Caps Lock light is completely off and does not light up, blink, or stay lit at any point.

• I searched Google for any power light codes. There's nothing that matches what I noted above.
• I have re-seated and swapped out RAM modules.
• I have re-seated the SSD drive.
• I have unplugged the battery and run via AC power only.
• I did the hard reset trick by holding power button down for 20 seconds
• I did the hard reset with and without the battery plugged in as well as with and without AC power plugged in.
• I tried the BIOS fix holding down Win Key + B and then powering on and letting go of the keys after 2 seconds.
• I tried plugging a monitor via HDMI. I hit F4 and Fn+F4 to try to get the display to work.
• I believe I found a CMOS connector and disconnected that for a minute. Plugged it back in. It did not work.

I DID NOT update the BIOS. I only did the step noted above just in case. 

Are there any other suggestions on how I can troubleshoot this to see whether something on the laptop completely failed on me? 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @bravacentauri83,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you’ve already done a comprehensive job troubleshooting your laptop. Given that the laptop powers on but shows no display and exhibits no other signs of activity, here are some additional steps you can take to further diagnose the issue:

1. Check the Display

• External Monitor: Since you’ve already tried connecting an external monitor via HDMI, ensure that the monitor is set to the correct input source. Also, test the HDMI cable and port with another device to rule out cable or port issues.
• Brightness and Display Settings: Sometimes, the display might be set to the lowest brightness or turned off. While the laptop is on, try adjusting the brightness using the function keys.

2. Inspect for Loose Connections or Damage

• Internal Inspection: If you’re comfortable opening up the laptop, check for any loose connections or visible damage. Look specifically at the connections between the display and motherboard.
• Reseat Components: In addition to reseating the RAM and SSD, try reseating other internal components such as the Wi-Fi card if applicable.

3. Listen for POST Beep Codes

• No Beeps: Since you mentioned no beeps, confirm that the internal speaker is functioning. If you have the laptop’s service manual, it may have more details on beep codes or POST (Power-On Self-Test) signals.

4. Check for BIOS Recovery

• BIOS Recovery: You mentioned trying a BIOS reset with Win Key + B. Ensure you’re following the exact procedure for your laptop model. If the BIOS is corrupt, sometimes a BIOS recovery key combination (such as Win Key + B + Power) might help. Refer to the laptop’s manual for specific BIOS recovery methods.

5. Test Power Supply and Battery

• Power Adapter: Verify that the power adapter is supplying the correct voltage and current. If possible, try using a different power adapter that is compatible with your laptop.
• Battery: Even though you’ve tested without the battery, ensure the battery is functioning correctly. A faulty battery can sometimes cause power issues.

6. Check for Faulty Components

• RAM: Test with one RAM module at a time if you haven’t already. If you have multiple slots, try different combinations to rule out a faulty slot.
• SSD/HDD: Disconnect the SSD and see if the laptop behaves differently (e.g., if it shows any signs of boot activity or error codes).

7. Try a Hard Reset Again

• Hard Reset: Perform another hard reset by disconnecting all external devices, removing the battery, and holding the power button for 30-60 seconds. Then, reconnect the battery and try powering on.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support