Blank screen with white dash

[TheRedGamer]

Hello, after a certain time my notebook pc locks up and shows blank screen with white blinking dash, and then enters sleep mode. Please help!

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@TheRedGamer 

A black screen with only a white cursor means the PC has lost track of the hard drive and no longer sees it.

This is typically a loose drive cable connection issue, and if you look at the attached Maintenance Guide, you will see instructions on how to remove the drive cover to access the connectors:  http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02657369

IF that does not do it, then it's likely to be a failing drive, and you can check that as follows:

1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu -- that will look similar to the image below ...

3) press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.