Reporting a Recurring Motherboard Issue in HP Pavilion - 14-ce2014nf

[Riazuddin67]

Hi HP Community,

I am facing a serious issue with my HP 14-CE series laptop, which I believe is a design or manufacturing defect in the motherboard RAM socket.

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Problem Description:

• My laptop powers on with a flashing power button, but does not boot.

• Sometimes it powers on, fans spin, and lights come on, but there's no display.

• Occasionally, the laptop experiences random shutdowns or becomes extremely slow.

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Troubleshooting Done:

• Tried single RAM stick in both slots – no change.

• Replaced RAM modules – same issue.

• Inspected the motherboard – found signs of loose or improperly soldered RAM socket pins.

• Some technicians confirmed that this is a common problem with the HP 14-CE model due to board flexing when pressure is applied to the keyboard area.

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What I’ve Learned:

• Other users are also reporting this exact issue.

• The RAM socket appears to be poorly soldered or becomes loose over time.

• The motherboard flexes easily, causing damage around the RAM slot area.

• In some cases, re-soldering the RAM socket has temporarily fixed the problem.

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Request to HP:

• Please investigate and acknowledge this as a potential manufacturing/design flaw.

• Consider issuing a repair advisory or extended support program for affected users.

• This is not due to mishandling—it’s a hardware issue caused by poor build quality in this model.

If anyone else is facing this issue, please reply or share your experience. We need HP to recognize this and offer a proper solution.

Thanks,
[edited name]

Whatsapp: +[edited]

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Riazuddin67,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Thank you for the detailed and clear report on the issue with your HP Pavilion 14-ce2014nf. From what you've described, especially the flashing power button, no display, and technician-verified RAM socket issue due to board flex, you've done quite a solid round of diagnostics already.

Still, let’s cover a few final steps before we conclude it’s a motherboard-level fault that needs repair or replacement.

BIOS Recovery (Blind BIOS Reset)

Even with no display, it’s possible to trigger a BIOS recovery if the board isn’t totally dead.

Steps:

Turn the laptop completely off

Plug in the power adapter

Hold down Windows + B, then press the Power button (hold for 3–5 seconds)

Keep holding Windows + B for 10 more seconds

Wait to see if the laptop shows the HP BIOS Recovery screen

If you hear beeps or the fan changes speed, it’s a sign the recovery attempted to run.

CMOS/RTC Reset

This can sometimes resolve persistent issues from corrupt BIOS or firmware states.

Steps:

Remove the back cover carefully

Disconnect the battery

Locate the CMOS/RTC battery (usually a small coin-cell battery)

Unplug it gently for 5–10 minutes

Plug everything back and try powering on

On some models, there is no separate CMOS battery, and the RTC is integrated into the main battery, so just unplug the main battery and hold power for 20 seconds.

Test with External Monitor

Even if the internal display isn’t working due to motherboard flex or signal failure, external video output may still work.

Steps:

Connect to an external monitor or TV via HDMI

Power on the laptop and press Windows + P a few times (blind display toggle)

If the external monitor displays something, the internal display circuit might be the issue, not full board failure.

Keyboard Flex Test (Pressure Detection)

Since you suspect the board flexes under keyboard pressure, do this:

Place the laptop on a flat, hard surface (not a soft bed or lap)

Power it on and lightly press various spots around the RAM slots area or keyboard center

If it boots or flickers on with pressure in a specific spot, it strongly confirms a RAM socket soldering/board flex issue.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Riazuddin67]

I have already tried several troubleshooting methods  including those suggested by you and others found on YouTube  but none of them have resolved the problem. I also visited the local HP authorized service center in Bangladesh, where the technicians examined the unit and informed me that the issue stems from a faulty motherboard, which they believe to be a manufacturing defect. They further mentioned that they cannot repair or replace it locally, possibly due to regional limitations or parts availability.

The specific problem is as follows:

Whenever I lift the laptop using one hand, the display splits into multiple distorted screens and freezes on that frame, making the device unusable until it is restarted. This seems to be a hardware-level issue affecting the motherboard.

Given that the device is a European edition and I am now in Bangladesh, I kindly request your advice on how to proceed. Can HP provide international support  in this case? I am willing to share the product serial number or any additional details required.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Riazuddin67,

Thank you for sharing the additional details.

Even though your HP Pavilion 14-ce2014nf was purchased in Europe, you can still take it to any HP Authorized Service Center in Bangladesh. They will be able to assist you with the repair process and coordinate with HP’s regional teams if parts or authorization from the original purchase region are required.

Once at the service center, explain that the issue has been diagnosed as a motherboard fault and provide all your previous case notes. They should be able to escalate and arrange the necessary repair, even for an internationally purchased device.

You can locate the nearest HP service center using our Service Center Locator:​

🔗 HP Service Center Locator

If you need further assistance or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.​

Best Regards,

[digant_ndriya]

I am also facing the similar issue. The issue has been there since the time I bought but I was mostly using another screen so never felt the pain. However, now I am travelling with the laptop and it simply hangs when lifted with hands and any pressure on the keyboard and adjoining area. If this is a manufacturing defect HP should come forward and fix this for all. 

[Riazuddin67]

Yes! It's a manufacturing defect. I came to know about this from several forums and youtube videos and unfortunately HP doesn't have any solution for this. In Bangladesh there is no authorised service centre where I can take it. 

Total waste of money and time. Shifted to Dell.