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HP Notebook PCs -
Computer Does Not Start
and Emits an LED or Beep
Code
This document is for HP and Compaq notebook
computers.

If your computer does not start, light emitting diodes

(LEDs) or beeps can help identify the issue. The
following information describes the flashing light and
beeping error codes and how to resolve the problem.

Notebook computer with lid open and showing animated lights blinking on and off.

NOTE: If the LEDs stop blinking and the computer

does not start, press the Power button again to
repeat the blinking sequence.

Specific patterns of long and short blinks along with

long and short beeps (where applicable) identify errors
during the startup process. Newer computers have two-
part blink sequences with different color lights to
indicate specific errors. The LED blink/beep sequence
near Caps Lock and Number Lock keys indicates the
type of error:

The red Caps Lock LED blinks are long.

The white Caps Lock LED blinks are short.
For example, ‘3.5’ indicates 3 long red blinks
and 5 short white blinks.
On systems that do not have a dual-color LED,
both long and short blinks are white.
Some systems do not have a speaker and do not
beep.

Note the blinking sequence and use the chart to identify

the error condition. Then use the troubleshooting steps to
solve the issue.

Component Light and Error Troubleshooting

tested beep condition steps
pattern

BIOS 2.2 (blink) The main Perform BIOS

area (DXE) recovery with
of BIOS has external media
become (USB or CD-ROM).
corrupted, Go to HP Notebook
and there is PCs - Recovering the
no recovery BIOS for additional
binary image information.
available.
(Also
happens
when
updating the
BIOS.)

BIOS 2.3 (blink) The Disconnect the

embedded power supply and
controller power the computer
policy with battery power.
requires the This resets the
user to enter Embedded
a key Controller/Keyboard
sequence. Controller.
1. Unplug the
AC power
from the
computer.
2. Press and
hold the
power button
for more than
12 seconds.
3. Release the
power button
(after at least
12 seconds).
The computer
powers on
and should
boot
normally.
4. Re-connect
the AC power
to the
computer.

BIOS 2.4 (blink) The Disconnect the

embedded power supply and
controller is power the computer
checking or with battery power.
recovering This resets the
the boot Embedded
block. Controller/Keyboard
Controller.
1. Unplug the
AC power
from the
computer.
2. Press and
hold the
power button
for more than
12 seconds.
3. Release the
power button
(after at least
12 seconds).
The computer
powers on
and should
boot
normally.
4. Re-connect
the AC power
to the
computer.

Hardware 3.2 (blink) The Reseat the memory.

embedded See the section
controller Reseating memory
times out modules in a
waiting for notebook for more
BIOS to information.
return from If reseating the
memory memory does not
initialization. resolve the problem,
try replacing the
memory modules.
You might also
consider contacting
support for repair
due to a possible
RAM or system
board failure.

Hardware 3.3 The Contact support for

(blink/beep) embedded repair due to
controller graphics or video
times out failure.
waiting for
BIOS to
return from
graphics
initialization
or if a
graphics
output
device failed
to initialize.

Hardware 3.4 (blink) The system Check the power

board cable connections.
displays a Verify that any
power external power
failure. adapter has
sufficient capacity
for the system.

Hardware 3.5 (blink) The CPU is Contact support for

not detected. repair due to system
board or CPU
failure.

Thermal 4.2 A CPU Allow the computer

(blink/beep) overheating to cool down, then
condition go to the section
detected.* Removing dust
from the cooling
areas in a
notebook.

Thermal 4.3 An ambient If the error persists

(blink/beep) temperature after cooling and
overheating cleaning the
condition notebook, there
detected. might be heat-
related damage to
internal
Thermal 4.4 A GPU
components.
(blink/beep) (graphics
Contact support for
processing
repair.
unit)
overheating
condition
detected.

System 5.2 (blink) The Disconnect the

board embedded power supply and
controller power the computer
cannot find with battery power.
valid This resets the
firmware. Embedded
Controller/Keyboard
Controller.
1. Unplug the
AC power
from the
computer.
2. Press and
hold the
power button
for more than
12 seconds.
3. Release the
power button
(after at least
12 seconds).
The computer
powers on
and should
boot
normally.
4. Re-connect
the AC power
to the
computer.

System 5.3 (blink) The Remove all

board embedded accessory devices
controller from the notebook.
times out If the error code
waiting for persists, contact
the BIOS. support for possible
repair.

System 5.4 The

board (blink/beep) embedded
controller
times out
waiting for
the BIOS to
return from
system board
initialization
(end of
POST).

Computers released between

before 2015

In the following table, the blinks are consistent,

with a pause between each sequence.

Component Caps Error Troubleshooting

tested Lock/Num condition steps
Lock LED

CPU LEDs CPU not Contact support

blink 1 functional for repair.
time

BIOS LEDs BIOS If a BIOS

blink 2 corruption corruption error
times failure occurs, you
might not even
notice the blink
codes. You
might notice an
extra-long
startup process
as a result. A
message
indicating that
the BIOS has
been recovered
might display on
startup. If this
occurs, update
the BIOS on the
computer. For
more
information, see
Updating the
BIOS.
If the computer
does not
automatically
recover the
BIOS, manually
perform a BIOS
recovery.
For information
on restoring the
BIOS, see HP
Notebook PCs -
Recovering the
BIOS.

Memory LEDs Module error Reseat the

blink 3 not functional memory. See the
times section
Reseating
memory
modules in a
notebook for
more
information.
If reseating the
memory does not
resolve the
problem, try
replacing the
memory
modules.

Graphics LEDs Graphics Contact support

blink 4 controller not for repair.
times functional

System LEDs General Contact support

board blink 5 system board for repair.
times failure

BIOS LEDs BIOS If a BIOS

blink 6 authentication authentication
times failure failure occurs,
the computer
performs a BIOS
recovery. If the
computer does
not recover the
BIOS, perform a
BIOS recovery
manually. Press
all four arrow
keys at the same
time. This causes
the BIOS to find
and recover the
current BIOS. If
a manual BIOS
recovery is not
successful,
contact HP for
assistance.
For information
on how to
restore the BIOS
go to HP
Notebook PCs -
Recovering the
BIOS.

What to do when beep codes occur

An LED or beep code usually means a basic

function was unable to start. Memory and heat-
related failures are the most common problems.

Step 1: Performing a hard reset

A hard or forced reset erases all information in

the computer memory. This forces the system to
clear and reestablish the software connections
between the BIOS and the hardware.

Reset a notebook with a removable battery

Video of performing a hard or

forced reset on your HP
notebook with removable
battery

Perform a hard reset on a computer with

a removable battery.

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Disconnect the computer from
any port replicator or docking
station.
3. Disconnect all external
connected peripheral devices.
4. Unplug the AC adapter from the
computer.
5. Remove the battery from the
battery compartment.
6. Press and hold down the Power
button for about 15 seconds to
drain any residual electrical
charge.
7. Insert the battery and plug the
AC adapter back into the
notebook computer.
8. Press the Power button to turn
on the computer.
9. If a startup menu opens, use the
arrow keys to select Start
Windows Normally, then press
the Enter key.
10. Reconnect each of the
peripheral devices.
11. Run Windows Update and HP
Support Assistant to update all
device drivers. See Updating
Drivers and Software with
Windows Update (Windows 10, 8,
7) and Using HP Support
Assistant (Windows) for more
information.

Reset a notebook with a sealed or non-

removable battery

Video of performing a hard or

forced reset on your HP
notebook with non-removable
battery

Perform a hard reset on a computer with

a sealed or non-removable battery.

NOTE: D not attempt to remove a

sealed battery. Doing so can void
your warranty.

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Remove the computer from any
port replicator or docking
station.
3. Disconnect all external
connected peripheral devices.
4. Unplug the AC adapter from the
computer.
5. For most notebook PCs, press
and hold the Power button for
15 seconds to reset.
If this method fails, see the User
Guide for your specific model
for the proper button
combination. Go to HP Support,
enter your model number in the
search bar and click the search
icon. On the product support
page, click User Guides.
6. Plug the AC adapter back into
the notebook computer.
7. Press the Power button to turn
on the computer.
8. If a startup menu opens, use the
arrow keys to select Start
Windows Normally, then press
the Enter key.
9. Reconnect each of the
peripheral devices.
10. Run Windows Update and HP
Support Assistant to update all
device drivers. See Updating
Drivers and Software with
Windows Update (Windows 10, 8,
7) and Using HP Support
Assistant (Windows) for more
information.

Step 2: Removing dust from cooling

areas in your notebook

Dust can collect in the cooling vents of your

computer, causing sensitive components to
overheat and fail.

Wear eye protection and remove dust from vents

with canned air or a vacuum cleaner. After
cleaning the air vents, restart the computer.

If the computer starts normally, you are done.

Otherwise, continue to the next step.

Step 3: Writing down the LED or beep

code

Write down the error conditions onto a piece of

paper.

1. Press the Power button to turn on the

computer.
2. Your computer's power socket has an
LED. Look at the light next to the power
socket and note its condition: off,
blinking, or constantly on.
3. Look at the indicator lights near the
Caps Lock and Num Lock keys and
note their condition. If the lights blink,
count the number of times they blink
between pauses.
4. On a piece of paper, write down the
LED blinking or beep sequence.

Notebook battery power LED

blinks

The battery power LED indicates the condition

of the power supply. With the computer on, use
the chart to identify the power condition.

The battery power LED is generally a lightning

bolt icon. (If the notebook does not have the
lightning bolt battery power LED, consult the
product manual.)

Battery Component Error

Power Tested Condition
LED

Battery Battery or AC adapter

power AC adapter not
LED off, connected
and Caps or failure