How to start up my laptop

[Oluwatobiloba]

My laptop brought out ESC..pause startup

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Oluwatobiloba,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

When your laptop displays the message “ESC...pause startup” or similar, it often means the system is experiencing an issue during the boot process. Here’s how you can address this and attempt to get your laptop to start up normally:

1. Try a Hard Reset

• Power off the Laptop: Press and hold the power button for about 10-15 seconds until the laptop shuts down completely.
• Disconnect External Devices: Unplug any peripherals (USB drives, external hard drives, etc.).
• Remove the Battery (if removable): If your laptop has a removable battery, take it out.
• Hold the Power Button: Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to discharge any residual power.
• Reconnect the Battery and Power Adapter: Put the battery back in (if applicable) and reconnect the power adapter.
• Power On the Laptop: Press the power button to turn it on and see if it boots up normally.

2. Enter BIOS or UEFI

• Access BIOS/UEFI: As soon as you power on the laptop, repeatedly press the Esc, F2, F10, or Delete key (depending on your laptop model) to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup.
• Check Boot Order: Ensure that the boot order is set correctly and that the hard drive or SSD is recognized.

3. Check for Boot Options

• Access Boot Menu: Sometimes pressing F12 or Esc during startup brings up a boot menu where you can select the boot device or access recovery options.
• Select Safe Mode: If available, select Safe Mode to see if the system starts with minimal drivers and services.

4. Run Built-in Diagnostics:

• Restart the laptop and press Esc repeatedly to access the Startup Menu.
• Press F2 to enter HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.
• Run the diagnostic tests to check for hardware issues.

5. Perform Startup Repair:

• Restart your laptop and repeatedly press F11 or Esc to enter the Recovery Environment.
• Select Troubleshoot and then Advanced options.
• Choose Startup Repair to let Windows attempt to fix startup issues.

6. Check for External Display Issues

• Connect an External Monitor: Use an external monitor or TV to see if the issue is with the laptop’s internal display.

7. Reset BIOS/UEFI Settings

• Reset to Default: If you can access the BIOS/UEFI settings, look for an option to restore defaults. This might help if there’s a configuration issue preventing startup.

8. Inspect for Hardware Issues

• Check Internal Connections: If you are comfortable, open the laptop and check that internal components like RAM and storage drives are securely connected.
• Listen for Beep Codes: If your laptop emits beep codes, refer to your laptop’s manual or HP’s support website for their meanings.

9. Use System Restore:

• If you can access the Recovery Environment, choose System Restore to revert the system to a previous working state.

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