DV7-3165dx does not boot only shows a black screen

[chiguy_2002]

First my laptop freezes while playing games: http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Lockups-Freezes-Hangs/DV7-3165dx-goes-to-a-black-screen-and-lo...

Now it does not boot up at all.  It turns on, but does not seem to boot up.  I only get a black screen. I tried plugging into an external monitor, still nothing.  I can pull the memory out and it beeps in error, I have tried only one memory stick at a time, as well as taking the hard drive out, nothing.  Battery only or when plugged in, same thing. 

So now this is absolutely useless.  I was able to at least go online before, but now, nothing.

Factory specs are here:

Product Number WA794UA#ABA Microprocessor 2.5GHz VISION Technology Premium from AMD with AMD Turion II Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor M620 Microprocessor Cache 2MB L2 Cache Memory 4GB Memory Max 8192MB Video Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Graphics Video Memory 128MB Display Cache Memory Hard Drive 500GB (7200RPM) Multimedia Drive LightScribe Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double Layer Support    Display 17.3” Diagonal HD+  LED HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900) Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN Wireless Connectivity

• 802.11b/g/n WLAN

Sound

• Altec Lansing with SRS Premium Sound

Keyboard 101-key compatible with full-size keyboard with integrated numeric keypad Pointing Device Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical scroll Up/Down pad PC Card Slots 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34) External Ports

• 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
• 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 4th port shared with eSATA
• 2 Headphone out
• 1 microphone-in
•   1 HDMI
• 1 VGA (15-pin)
• 1 eSATA + USB 2.0
• 1 RJ -45 (LAN)
• 1 notebook expansion port 3
• 1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver)

Other Devices

• HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone

Dimensions 16.2" (W) x 10.9" (D) x 1.37" (min H)/1.70" (max H) Weight 7.69 Ibs Security

• Kensington MicroSaver lock slot
• Power-on password
• Accepts 3rd party security lock devices

Power

• 65W AC Adapter
• 8-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery

[kamatr]

Turn OFF the Notebook and once its powered ON, keep Pressing F10 to load BIOS screen of the Notebook. In this screen under Diagnostics, run the test on hard drive and memory. Post back the results here.

Also in startup menu there is an alternate way where you can run F2 (System Diagnostics). The instructions can be found at below link
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01443317

[chiguy_2002]

I will try it tonight, will see if it works.  I am not sure I can even get to the BIOS screen, as the computer display does not show anything at all, it is either dark or really bright, with no text or the HP logo or anything.  I have even tried to plug it into an external display, and nothing.  The hard drive is good, I plugged it in externally to another computer.  Will the computer boot up without the hard drive installed?

[chiguy_2002]

Tried the suggestion of pressing F10 after powering it back on, still nothing.  It does beep when no memory is installed, but otherwise, no display, even when connecting to an external display, still nothing.  Could this be a dead motherboard or dead CPU?  When first turned on, caps lock flashes on then off, number lock flashes on then off, then back on and stays on.

[kamatr]

---

@chiguy_2002 wrote:

Tried the suggestion of pressing F10 after powering it back on, still nothing.  It does beep when no memory is installed, but otherwise, no display, even when connecting to an external display, still nothing.  Could this be a dead motherboard or dead CPU?  When first turned on, caps lock flashes on then off, number lock flashes on then off, then back on and stays on.

---

Have you verified blink code sequence from below link?

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01443366

[chiguy_2002]

It appears to LEDs blink one time, so it looks like the CPU.  I just need to verify.  Thanks!

[kamatr]

If it blinks once it could either be CPU or CPU socket (i.e- nothing but motherboard) which is causing the issue related to your Notebook.

[cordonez7]

I am having a similiar problem with the same model dv7-3165dx. But mine does not emit a beep code. All lights turn on, remain on, just no video. No blinking lights, nothing. just all lights remain and thats it. I tried resetting by pressing and hold power button, removing battery, etc.. Can anyone help me out please? i would greatly appreciate it.

[anthony82]

Hello cordonez7,

Your computer will come on but you’re not able to see anything on the screen.

Try to shine a flash light at the screen when it is on and see if you can see anything, this will tell you if the back light has gone out.

The display may have gone out completely, try to connect an external monitor to the laptop.

Let me know how everything goes.

Have a good day.

[cordonez7]

after taking a closer look, this is exactly what happens: all the lights come on and they remain on, but the light near caps lock blinks only one time and after this one blink it remains on.  All I can think is that the CPU is causing the problem.  The screens lights up, white but with no image.