Hi I cannot start the computer

[Megan178]

My laptop won't start up just a black screen with writing I don't understand 

[Max3Aj]

@Megan178, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
I'm here to help you get your laptop up and running again.

If your HP laptop shows a black screen with some writing and doesn’t start properly, it could be due to a BIOS or hardware issue. Let’s try a few steps to resolve it:

Perform a Hard Reset

This clears any residual power and can fix many startup issues.

1. Turn off the laptop completely.
2. Unplug the power adapter.
3. If the battery is removable, take it out.
4. Press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds.
5. Reconnect the battery and power adapter.
6. Press the Power button to turn it on.

Identify the Writing on Screen

If the screen shows something like:

• “Boot Device Not Found”
• “No Bootable Device”
• “Press F2 for Diagnostics”

Please note the exact message and share it here. It helps us pinpoint the issue.

Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

You can run a quick test to check for hardware problems.

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Turn it on and immediately press Esc, then F2 to open HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.
3. Run the System Test or Hard Drive Test.

Try BIOS Recovery

If the writing looks like a BIOS error, you can attempt a BIOS recovery.

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Press and hold Windows key + B, then press and hold the Power button for 2-3 seconds.
3. Release the Power button but keep holding Windows + B for 10 seconds.
4. If successful, the BIOS recovery screen will appear. 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support