HP Pavilion 15-cs1004nf won't power on, Caps Lock blinking (3 long, 2 short)

[Yassine98]

Hello everyone,

I'm having an issue with my HP Pavilion 15-cs1004nf. Yesterday, when I tried to power it on, it refused to start, and the Caps Lock key started blinking in a pattern: 3 long blinks followed by 2 short blinks. I did some troubleshooting and here’s what I found:

1. My laptop has two RAM slots, each with 8GB RAM installed in each one of them.
2. When I removed the RAM from the right slot, the laptop boots normally.
3. Thinking the right RAM was faulty, I moved it to the left slot. The laptop still booted normally, showing that both RAM sticks are fine.
4. The issue seems to be with the right RAM slot. If I press down on the RAM in the right slot while powering on the laptop, it works fine. However, as soon as I stop applying pressure, the laptop freezes.
5. Additional Attempts: I’ve already tried resetting the BIOS, but that didn’t resolve the issue.

Does anyone know what could be causing this, or how to fix it? Thanks in advance for your help!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Yassine98,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you're experiencing a hardware issue related to the right RAM slot on your HP Pavilion 15-cs1004nf. The blinking Caps Lock pattern (3 long, 2 short) indicates a memory issue, which aligns with your troubleshooting findings.
 

Here's a summary of the issue and potential solutions:

Problem:

• The laptop boots when only one RAM stick is inserted in the left slot.
• The right RAM slot seems to cause freezing unless pressure is applied.
• Both RAM sticks work fine, so the issue is likely with the right RAM slot or its connection to the motherboard.

Potential Causes:

1. Loose Connection: The RAM slot's connection to the motherboard might be loose or have an intermittent connection, which is why applying pressure temporarily resolves the issue.
2. Bent Pins or Dirt: There could be a bent pin, dirt, or dust in the right RAM slot that is preventing proper contact.
3. Slot Damage: The right slot might be physically damaged or have a defect that prevents it from functioning properly.

Possible Solutions:

Clean the RAM Slot:

• Power off the laptop and unplug it.
• Use compressed air to gently clean out the right RAM slot to ensure no dust or debris is obstructing the connection.
• Try reinserting the RAM and check if the issue persists.

Check for Visible Damage:

• Inspect the RAM slot closely for any bent pins or physical damage.
• If you notice any damage, professional repair may be required.

Reseat the RAM:

• Ensure the RAM is firmly seated in the slot. Sometimes it might not be fully inserted, leading to connection issues.
• You might also try inserting the RAM at a slight angle and then press it down to ensure a solid connection.

Use Only the Left Slot:

• If cleaning and reseating don't resolve the issue, and if you don't require the full 16GB of RAM, you could temporarily operate the laptop with a single stick of RAM in the left slot. This would still allow you to use the laptop with 8GB of RAM.

Motherboard Repair/Replacement:

• If the right RAM slot is damaged or the connection to the motherboard is faulty, you may need to replace or repair the motherboard. Since the laptop works with just the left RAM slot, this indicates a slot-specific problem. A technician would need to assess whether a repair is possible or if the motherboard needs replacement.

Refer to this document: HP Pavilion 15-cs1004nf User manual 

HP Notebook PCs - Computer beeps or a light blinks during startup
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.