Why does my Pavilion 15z-eh000 have a flashing screen?

[Xistt]

HP only saw fit to ship this with a 128 GB SSD, so I swapped in a 512GB Samsung 970 EVO, which went bad.  It stopped booting, so I pulled the SSD to copy off my data, but when I replaced the HD, it started doing this:

The BIOS diagnostics say that everything checks out (now; it was the only thing indicating my SSD was bad).

I couldn't help but notice the heat pipe over the GPU looked burned:

Someone suggested my RAM looks burned, but it looks fine to me: 

This, though: 

I disconnected and reconnected the display cable by the hinge without effect.

The display doesn't flash when connected to an external display, just the laptop screen.

People keep saying it is definitely the screen--or the cable.

I am sure there are other possibilities.

How do I verify?
I just wonder why this started when I pulled the SSD.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Xistt ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing a flashing screen on your HP Pavilion 15z-eh000 could be due to several factors, including hardware damage, loose connections, or BIOS/firmware issues. The situation you described, where the flashing occurs only on the laptop screen but not on an external display, points to a problem with either the display, its cable, or the internal GPU/display controller. Let's systematically address the issue:

Please try the following Troubleshoots steps. 

1.    Turn off the Unit.

2.    Disconnect the AC adapter.

3.    Remove any discs from the disc drive.

4.    Remove memory cards from the card reader slot.

5.    Disconnect all nonessential peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, external hard drives, and USB flash drives.

6.    Disconnect the AC adapter press and hold the power button for approximately 15 seconds.

7.    Reconnect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.

Step 2

Turn off the unit and please press and hold the Windows key + letter B key and the power button together for 30 seconds after 30 seconds, 1st release the power button but keep holding the Windows key and B key for ten more seconds and then release these two keys If done correctly, you will see the display flashing once. Please attempt it thrice as this step and Restart the unit

Step3

The unit has to be turned off, Press Win+ V while holding these two keys then Press the Power button, continue to hold all three keys for 30 seconds and then release the Power button first and then release these two keys Please attempt it thrice  and then you may get a Pop-Up CMOS Check and it will restart the unit 

Even if you don't get a Pop-up restart the unit manually after 3 attempts.
 

1. Verify Hardware Condition

Inspect for Physical Damage

• Heat Pipe Discoloration:
  • The burned appearance of the heat pipe over the GPU could indicate overheating. While heat pipes can discolor from manufacturing or use, excessive heat can damage surrounding components, including the GPU and display controller.
• RAM Inspection:
  • If the RAM slots or chips appear fine and the BIOS successfully detects the installed RAM, it's unlikely the RAM is causing the screen issue.

Inspect the Display Cable

• Re-seating the display cable near the hinge was a good step. However, ensure:
  • The cable and connectors are not bent, frayed, or discolored.
  • The connection is secure at both ends (display and motherboard).
  • Test with a replacement display cable if available.

Check for Pressure Damage to the Display

• If the laptop screen was disturbed when removing or replacing the SSD, it could have caused damage to the screen. Look for:
  • Flickering lines.
  • Color inconsistencies or distorted images when the screen is pressed gently along the edges.

2. Update or Reset Firmware and Drivers

Update the BIOS

• Even though diagnostics show no issues, updating the BIOS may fix unseen compatibility or firmware bugs. Download the latest BIOS update for your laptop model from the HP support site.

Update Graphics Drivers

• If the issue persists, update the GPU drivers via the HP support site or directly from AMD (for Radeon GPUs) or NVIDIA.

Reset the BIOS to Defaults

• Enter the BIOS setup during boot (typically pressing F10) and reset it to default settings to rule out any incorrect configurations.

3. Test with External Hardware

Connect to an External Display

• If the flashing issue is absent on an external monitor:
  • The internal screen or its cable is likely at fault.
  • The GPU and its controller are probably functioning correctly.

Boot without SSD

• Boot the system using a USB drive with Windows or a live Linux distribution to rule out the new SSD causing conflicts.

Refer to this document: HP Notebook and All-in-One PCs - Troubleshooting screen issues (Windows 11, 10)
 HP PCs - Blinking or Flashing Screen After Upgrading to Windows 10

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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