Pavilion 15 will not boot up anymore. LED by the power connector flashes continually.

[AKbush]

Starting in January this computer started having intermittent problems holding a charge on the battery. It also would at times crash unexpectedly when plugged in. It has progressed to the point that it will not ever run a minute after entering the password before shutting off. Usually it will appear to run out of power before getting to the login password. Before it became useless the battery indicator showed 0% charge but charging, but never indicating a charge. The LED by the power supply constantly blinks first the orange and then turns to white after 30 seconds to a minute.

It has Ubuntu studio installed on this HP pavilion 15-aw053nr.,

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

I would consider the fan and cooling duct needing attention.

Try
Power on your PC, press Esc (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).

[AKbush]

It will not stay on long enough to get to do that. Of the 6 to 8 tries I saw the f-key menu once for about 3 seconds. I had tried the escape key on boot before but the diagnostics would not complete before shutting down. I don't think it is a heat issue because the problem happens when the computer is first turned on.

[AKbush]

It is my opinion that it is a battery or power supply problem.

What does the flashing LED by the power connection mean?

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

It can mean one of many things..

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bph07107

but usually indicates the area of concern.

EG:

The following table describes the LED blink codes or beep codes during startup.

Caps/Num Lock LED	Component.	Error condition	Corrective action
LED blinks once.	CPU	CPU not functional	Re-seat the processor. NB:- See the Services Media Library for steps for your PC. Replace the processor. NB:- See the Services Media Library for steps for your PC. If the CPU still does not function properly, replace the Main-Board.
LED blinks twice.	BIOS	BIOS corruption failure.	Reset the CMOS: 1 Restore BIOS if available. (If you can access the CMOS battery, pull it out and re-seat it.) NB:- See the Services Media Library for steps for your PC. 2 Press the Windows + B keys to do a BIOS recovery. If the error persists, replace the Main-Board.
LED blinks 3 times	Memory	RAM Module failure.	1 Reseat the memory. NB:- See the Services Media Library for steps for your PC. 2 Check each individual memory module and swap slots. 3 Replace the memory modules causing three blinks or if the blinks follow the slots. 4 Replace the Main-Board.
LED blinks 4 times	Graphics	Graphics controller failure.	Test the Main-Board with the minimum hardware & reseat all connections and graphics cards. If the issue persists, send out Main-Board and if applicable graphics card for Mobile Workstations.
LED blinks 5 times	Main-Board	General Main-Board failure.	Test the Main-Board with the minimum hardware and reseat all the connections. If the error persists, replace the Main-Board.
LED blinks 6 times	BIOS	BIOS authentication failure.	Restore BIOS if available. Press the Windows + B keys to do a BIOS recovery or replace the Main-Board.

[AKbush]

This is not the "caps lock" or the "num lock" LED it is on the edge of the laptop about 1/4 inch from the power supply plug. When  it is plugged in this LED blinks continuously even after being plugged in all day. It does not seem to have a pattern that is  pauses or sets of blinks.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi
Power on your PC, press Esc (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).

Then take t to a local repair shop.

[AKbush]

That is a 500 mile trip that costs about $800.00 if you plan it a month ahead of time. I live in the Alaska bush.

I was hoping someone would know the meaning of the LED by the power plug. before digging into the machine myself.

I have worked on computers when needed for years, but laptops are a little different.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

AND how did the hardware test go?

[AKbush · Accepted solution]

I got to another computer with the same power supply and it charged the battery. The computer runs fine now.

The LED is a battery charge level indicator