HP 15 Laptop won't turn on after hard disk swap

[Michael_67]

I'm working on my mothers laptop. She let my nephew use it and he installed Limewire and must have downloaded a virus. He also used the recovery USB to store movies after he removed the recovery information...sigh...

When I powered up the laptop it would boot to a black screen and say "no hard disk detected". I checked the BIOS and it was not seeing the HD. A week later my mother lost the power cord...sigh...

I searched the HP website and found what HD to order. I ordered the recovery data - a new power cord -  and installed a new HD (WD Blue 750GB Mobile Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 9.5 MM 2.5 Inch - WD7500BPVX).

After I installed the HD the laptop will not power on. I get 3 blinks of the blue LED right next to where the power cord plugs in. The blink code says 3 blinks means "Memory module error not functional".

I reinstalled the old HD so I could reboot and look at the BIOS again, and it still blinks 3 times and will not come on.

I took it to a repair shop so they could swap the memory out and try a different power cord, and it still would not power up.

I have seen a couple places where people are swapping out the mother boards after replacing the HD  because their laptops won't boot. Needing assistance - please inform...

[CherylG]

The blinking light beside the power port simply means the battery is not charging. The blink codes that tell you what hardware error is on the caps lock key.

I would try a hard reset/power reset:

1-Remove the power cord and battery.

2-Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.

3-Replug the power cord but leave battery out for now.

4-Try to power on.

[Michael_67]

I tried the hard reset/power reset. With the battery out or with the battery in - when I press the power button it still blinks 3 times (the little blue LED next to where you plug the power cord in) and will not come on.

And thank you for the clarity on the blinking light=not charging and the Caps Lock light=code light - this wasn’t clear in the info I was finding. Even the Computer repair shop said the light was a code...sigh...

any other suggestions or info would be appreciated - at any rate...

[CherylG]

@Michael_67

The blinking light beside power port is not a blink code per se. It does indicate a failure-somewhere. The laptop is not getting power to the motherboard or battery. This could indicate a bad charger, bad battery, or worse-bad motherboard.

Process of elimination usually goes something like this>

Does the battery charge when laptop is shutdown? This could indicate a weak charger-not supplying enough power to charge and run the laptop at same time.

If you leave it several days in shutdown does the light eventually glow steady.

Does the light turn solid with the battery removed? Possible bad battery.

Does the laptop boot with only charger.

If none of the above- it could be the power port is faulty or the motherboard.

[Michael_67]

Q) Does the battery charge when laptop is shutdown?

A) No

This could indicate a weak charger-not supplying enough power to charge and run the laptop at same time.

(This is a very clever idea) 

Q) If you leave it several days in shutdown does the light eventually glow steady.

A) No

Q)Does the light turn solid with the battery removed? Possible bad battery.

A) No

Q) Does the laptop boot with only charger.

A) No

I left it pluged in for close to 2 days. I get the same 3 blinks at the power port. No light stays on at the power port at any time - pluged in or otherwise.

I am going to take my battery to the computer repair shop and see if they can charge it for me.

Meanwhile I will look again for the original power cord...