Hp Spectre x360 fails to boot up and flashes the Caps Lock when a USB is connected.

[pmphaka]

Hp Spectre x360 fails to boot up and flashes the Caps lock (5-long/4-short) when any USB is connected while booting up. Previously, it used to boot up with the connections intact. Currently, when I remove the usb peripherals and boot it up, it takes very long (3 minutes or more) to show the hp logo. I even reset the laptop but there is no improvement. I have updated the BIOS, no improvement. Any ideas?

[Raj_05]

Hi @pmphaka,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The HP Spectre x360 displaying a flashing Caps Lock light with a 5-long/4-short pattern indicates a specific hardware or firmware issue. Here are steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue.

Check the Meaning of the Blink Code: The specific blink code (5-long, 4-short) usually corresponds to a hardware issue. On HP laptops, this pattern often indicates a failure related to the system board or possibly memory. Refer to the HP support website or the laptop's manual for the exact meaning of the blink code.

Perform a Hard Reset:

• Turn off the laptop.
• Disconnect all external devices and peripherals.
• Unplug the power adapter.
• Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
• Reconnect the power adapter (do not reconnect any peripherals yet) and try to turn on the laptop.

Check and Reseat the RAM:

• If you're comfortable opening the laptop, remove and reseat the RAM modules. Ensure they are properly seated in their slots.
• If you have multiple RAM sticks, try booting with each one individually to identify if one might be faulty.

Run Hardware Diagnostics:

• Use the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics tool. Turn off the laptop, then power it on and immediately press the Esc key repeatedly, about once every second. When the Startup Menu appears, press F2.
• Run the extensive system test to check for any hardware failures.

Inspect USB Ports and Peripherals:

• Check if there is any visible damage or debris in the USB ports that might be causing a short.
• Test with different USB devices to see if a specific peripheral is causing the issue.
• Ensure the USB devices you are using are not drawing too much power from the laptop.

[Raj_05]

Update Drivers and Firmware:

• Although you've updated the BIOS, ensure all other drivers (especially chipset and USB drivers) are up to date. Visit the HP support website for the latest drivers for your specific model.

Check Boot Order in BIOS:

• Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the Esc key (or F10) immediately after powering on the laptop.
• Ensure the boot order is correctly set, with the primary hard drive listed first.
• Disable USB boot if it's enabled, and see if this changes the behavior.

Check for Malware:

• Sometimes, slow boot times can be caused by malware or software issues. Run a full system scan with an updated antivirus program.

Consider a Clean Installation of Windows:

• If the problem persists, consider performing a clean installation of Windows. Back up your data before proceeding with this step.
• Use the HP Recovery Manager or a Windows installation USB to reinstall the operating system.

By following these steps, you can systematically determine the cause of the boot issue and potentially resolve it.

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[pmphaka]

Hello Alden4

Thank you so much for your initiative to assist. I must apologise for my delayed response. I just saw it because the response alert came into my Spam Folder.

The solutions you proposed did not resolve the problem. I could not reseat the RAM because it is soldered to the motherboard. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

Once again, I highly appreciate your taking the time to offer me assistance.

Thank you.

[Raj_05]

Hi @pmphaka,

Thank you for your response, 

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action.

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Alden4

HP Support