Laptop doesn t turn on

[HaLoGeNN]

Hello, so I need a little bit of help.

About 3 days ago my laptop completely died, it doesn't turn on at all and gives no sign of life.

Before starting I have to mention that I am colorblind so when I say white it could also mean blue and when I say orange it could also mean red and the other way around.

Alright, so about 2 weeks ago my laptop started having some battery issues and it only worked while the charger was plugged in, so I guess the battery completely died and that s why that happened, other than that the laptop was fine and worked perfectly while plugged in, now, about a week ago, when I turned on the laptop every so often (but not everytime) I would get a CMOS error when starting the laptop (CMOS checksum is invalid or something like that) and it would ask me to restart the laptop and then everything worked fine again.

Now, 3 days ago, when pressing the turn on button the laptop doesn t respond at all, screen doesn't turn on, fan doesn't start, I can only hear a very quiet faint long beep if I put my ear right next to the keyboard. The only sign of life I get is the power LED that turns on when I plug the laptop in, it is white for a few seconds, then red for like 5 seconds, then white again and it stays white until I press the turn on button when it start blinking white every 5 seconds.

The laptop is not in warranty anymore so I opened it myself and tried every method the internet suggested, hard reset, try turning on while the battery is removed and stuff like that, nothing works.

I wanna hear some other opinions because right now I think that this is like a motherboard issue or something more serious.

The only thing I haven't tried yet is a new charger because I heard that might be a solution too.

The laptop is about 4-5 years old and the model is 15s-fq2031nq 

I would appreciate every piece of advice I can get, thank you in advance.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @HaLoGeNN 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying out the situation so clearly—it really helps. I understand how frustrating it is when a device that’s been reliable suddenly stops responding, especially after showing signs like battery failure and CMOS errors. 

Let’s walk through a few structured steps to help isolate the issue and explore possible fixes.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Power Supply and Charger Check

Since the battery was already showing signs of failure, and the laptop only worked while plugged in, the charger becomes a critical suspect. Try:

• Testing with a compatible replacement charger.
• Verifying the output voltage using a multimeter (if available).
• Plugging into a different wall outlet.

Even if the LED lights up, inconsistent voltage or current could prevent full startup.

 

2. Hard Reset (Already Tried, but worth confirming)

Just to be thorough:

• Disconnect all external devices.
• Remove the battery (if removable).
• Unplug the AC adapter.
• Press and hold the power button for 15–20 seconds.
• Reconnect only the AC adapter and try powering on.

Details are outlined in this official HP guide.

 

3. CMOS Battery and BIOS Reset

The CMOS checksum error suggests the RTC (CMOS) battery may be failing. This small coin-cell battery maintains BIOS settings and can cause boot issues when depleted.

• If you're comfortable, locate and replace the CMOS battery on the motherboard.
• After replacement, reset BIOS settings to default.

 

4. RAM Reseating

Improperly seated or faulty RAM can prevent boot:

• Remove and reinsert RAM modules.
• If you have two sticks, try booting with one at a time.
• Clean contacts gently with a microfiber cloth.

5. Motherboard and Power Button Circuit

Given the faint beep and LED behavior, it’s possible the power button circuit or motherboard is struggling to initiate POST (Power-On Self-Test).

• Inspect the power button cable and connector.
• Check for any signs of corrosion or damage on the board.
• If you have access to a POST card or diagnostic tool, it could help pinpoint the failure.

Additional Considerations

• External Display Test: Connect to an external monitor to rule out display failure.
• Fan Movement: Even a brief spin can indicate partial power delivery.
• Beep Codes: That faint beep might be a diagnostic signal. If you can count its duration or pattern, it may help identify the fault.

If none of these steps revive the system, and the charger swap doesn’t help, the motherboard may indeed be the root cause. In that case, a local technician with board-level diagnostic tools would be the next best option.

Let me know how far you get with these steps—I’ll be right here to help you dig deeper if needed.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye