HP G72 would´t start - Black Screen - Power on and Num Lock LED white

[Ds1964]

After Windows Updates the Laptop didnt start. Power ok, Fan works loud then still. But only black Screen

No Beeps, No Bios - Screen, No windows screen.

Only Power LED, Num Lock LED whit eand F11 (WLAN) orange

All tips like Windows Key + B or V,  Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B , Power off then 30 sec Power Button  - no reaction.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Ds1964,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP G72 laptop powers on but shows a black screen with the Power and Num Lock LEDs lit, after Windows updates. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Perform a full hard reset
Turn the laptop off and disconnect the power adapter.
Remove the battery, then press and hold the Power button for 30 seconds to discharge residual power.

Test with minimal hardware
With the battery still removed, connect only the power adapter and try turning the laptop on.
This helps rule out a battery-related power or startup issue.

Check for display output on an external monitor
Connect the laptop to an external monitor using VGA or HDMI.
Power on the laptop and press Fn + F4 (or the display toggle key) a few times to switch display output.

Observe LED behavior carefully
Check if the Caps Lock or Num Lock LEDs blink in any pattern when powering on.
Blink patterns indicate hardware fault codes; no blinking usually points to a board-level or display failure.

Reseat memory modules
Turn the laptop off, disconnect power, and remove the battery.
Open the memory compartment, remove all RAM modules, then reinstall one module firmly and test.

Attempt to start without the hard drive
With power disconnected, remove the hard drive and then power the laptop on.
If the screen remains black, the issue is not related to Windows or the drive.

Check keyboard and wireless LED state
A solid white Num Lock LED and orange wireless LED at startup indicate the system powers on but does not complete POST.
When no BIOS screen appears, this points to a motherboard, BIOS corruption, or graphics-related failure.

Rule out BIOS recovery failure
Since Windows + B / V key recovery methods show no reaction, BIOS recovery is not initiating.
This strongly suggests the BIOS is not executing at all during startup.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Ds1964]

Hi, thanks for the advice. 
After several attempts with a CMOS reset and restarting with Windows+B, 
the laptop can now be started. 
The Caps Lock and Num Lock lights each flash white twice briefly. 
However, every restart has to be performed by holding down Windows+B for a long time. 
A few questions:

Where can I find the correct BIOS (Support Assistant shows F.48 as installed) and 
drivers for my model G72-b03SG?

How can I register the device on the HP website? 
The serial number printed in the battery compartment and displayed in the HP Support Assistant is not accepted.

Can I use BIOS and drivers from a different model? 
The driver for the Intel Management Engine Interface is missing, among other things.

Thank you for your help.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Ds1964,

Thank you for the response.

I understand your HP G72-b03SG now starts only with Windows + B after a BIOS recovery, and you need the correct BIOS, drivers, and registration guidance. Let’s go through each point clearly and safely.

Understand the current startup behavior
If the laptop only starts after holding Windows + B, the BIOS is in a recovery / fallback state.
This means the BIOS is partially corrupted but still able to recover temporarily.

Confirm the correct BIOS version for HP G72-b03SG
The HP G72 series is an older, legacy model, and BIOS updates are no longer actively distributed via HP Support Assistant.
For most G72 variants, BIOS F.48 is the final and latest released version, and there is no newer stable BIOS available from HP.

Where to obtain the BIOS safely
The correct BIOS can only be obtained from the original HP support page for the exact product number (G72-b03SG).
If the model page is no longer publicly listed, this indicates the product is end-of-support, and no newer BIOS is provided.

Important BIOS warning
Do not flash a BIOS from a different G72 model or any other HP model.
Using an incorrect BIOS can permanently brick the motherboard.

Why Windows + B is required on every boot
This indicates the system is not completing a normal POST cycle.
The motherboard loads BIOS only when forced into recovery mode, which points to BIOS ROM degradation or chipset-level instability.

About the Intel Management Engine Interface (MEI) driver
The Intel MEI driver is not required for the system to boot.
On older platforms like the G72, MEI drivers may not be available for modern Windows versions and can be safely left uninstalled.

Driver compatibility clarification
Do not use drivers from a different G72 model unless they share the same chipset and operating system support.
Graphics, chipset, and storage drivers from another model can cause instability or boot failure.

Why the serial number is not accepted for registration
HP has retired online registration for many legacy products.
The serial number can still be valid but no longer recognized by current HP web systems.

How to confirm your device identity locally
You can verify the exact product number and serial number in:
BIOS (when accessible), HP Support Assistant, or the label inside the battery bay.
This information is sufficient even if online registration fails.

What to expect going forward
If the system continues to require Windows + B to boot, the motherboard is likely in early hardware failure.
The laptop may continue to work temporarily, but normal boot behavior may not fully return.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,