When laptop lid is closed, computer won't start (Elitebook 840 G2)

[aplocher]

I have my laptop usually plugged into the UltraSlim docking station.  Docking station currently has 3 monitors: One native Display Port monitor (connected to DP), one DVI monitor (connected to 2nd DP port with DVI to DP converter), and a VGA monitor (plugged into VGA port).

When I have these 3 all plugged in, my computer will not start at all with the lid closed. 

When the lid is open, it works fine. The HP/bios boot logo part shows on the laptop, but as soon as Windows comes up it is only on the 3 external monitors like it should be.

Before it didn't do this.  I stopped using 3 monitors (due to other issues I was experiencing) and came back to use 3 a few months later and now it's suddenly acting this way. 

When the lid is closed, and it's on the docking station, the problem occurs before Windows starts to load, there is no activity in the background (so it's not just simply "no video", it's not booting at all).  The power light does turn on, however, but no activity light, and I've left it for hours before and watched for it to appear on my LAN even (in case it booted without video, and without an activity light for some reason)

If I remove one monitor (I've only attempted the DVI-to-DP one) it works fine closed.  Off the docking station, I assume it works too, however the power button is inside so it has to be opened for at least a second.

Anyone know why? or experincing a similar issue?

Btw, I have had one or two bios updates since I last used 3 monitors.  The "new" third monitor (which I did have before, but stopped using) is the one with the DVI to DP adapter on it - if that matters.

[Haggren]

Hi!

I have the same problem. Did you get any feedback on this, or dig you solve it by your self? 

[SawdustDan]

Nice to see HP is being responsive to this one.  I have the exact same setup.  Three monitors, all connected through a KVM switch since I have 4 PCs at my home workstation.  If I try to boot it with the lid closed, notta.  Power it down manually and open the lid, boots right up.  What gives?  Running Win 10

[aplocher]

Yeah, tell me about it.  Unfortunately they don't seem to care about anything on these forums.  I've voiced many issues and never had an HP engineer (or whoever) reply.  

So I don't remember EXACTLY what I changed, but there are two things to try (I think I did both and it fixed it - was a while ago, but I'm still using the 840G2 on the dock and I almost never have it open **):

- I think I swapped the DP plugs in the back of the docking station.

- I think I swapped out the DVI-to-DP plug with another one

After owning a couple Elitebooks over the years I've acquired numerous DP-to-* adapters.  I've seen some not work for some reason (unsure why), and others just act kinda funny (which was maybe the problem I had here, still not quire sure).

** The shtty part of this, is during boot up the HP logo gets split across the two DP monitors, backwards.  I know it might seem like nothing, but god it drives me f'ing bonkers (maybe I have OCD).  It makes me embarassed to boot up when people are around.  It makes HP look really bad because it's their logo.  Even IF it wasn't backwards, it looks bad because it's split in half.  Why can't it just be centered on a single screen like every other computer in the world?  Or mirrored? Or ANYTHING else....? This is why Mac people have a superiority complex, they look down on this kind of stuff.  And who can blame them? It looks amatuer.  Like some company who HASN'T been building computers for the last 30+ years made this...

When I say backwards, I mean the logo is shown on 2 monitors (of the 3), split down the middle, but the content of the left screen is on the right, and the right screen content on the left.  No way to fix it from what I can tell (other than swapping the DP's which seemed to be part of the problem to begin with).

What's even worse is if you go into the UEFI (or BIOS?) screens, it's the same way.  You need to read it on the right screen first, then move over to the left screen to read the second half....  In cases where I need to go to the BIOS screens, I generally open the lid and then it just shows on the onboard display.

</rant>

[Haggren]

Hi!

For me the solutions was to turn off the computer. I use the laptop closed at work, and then take it home or when i travel. 

You can set the computer to start when connected to the thunderbolt port. So when I come to work it will start up when I "dock" it with the cable. 

If you set the computer to turn off when you close the lid, you will reasure that it will work after being used AFK to. 

Hope it will help somebody with my preferences. 

//HP Elitebook 840 G2 2017

[aplocher]

Thanks for the reply (sorry I didn't see your original reply months ago). 

Wait, the G2 doesn't have a thunerbolt port does it?  I mean it has that USB with a lightning symbol but that's just the always-on 1amp charging port for mobile devices, right?  I think the first 840 to have ThunderBolt is the new G5.

Which docking station are you using? 

I don't like having my computer do anything when I close the lid - one of the first setting I change in Windows is to disable hibernation/sleep when lid is closed.  I often have something downloading or compiling while I'm roaming around my house or office and want to close the lid.

For me it was definitely one (or both) of the following: the combination of cables and the order they were plugged into the DP ports on the Ultradock.  But like I said, it has caused it to look really stupid while booting up.

[Haggren]

Sorry!

That is correct. I have the G4, and I use the HP USB C Dock. 

Sorry for the confusion.