Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario Series
Models: 1246, 1247, 1277, 1278, and 1279
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Description | Troubleshooting
Illustrated Parts Catalog | Removal & Replacement Procedures | Specifications
Pin Assignments | Battery
Pack Operations
Troubleshooting
Without Diagnostics
Solving Minor
Problems
Some minor problems and possible solutions are outlined in the following
tables. If the problem appears related to a software application, check the documentation
provided with the software.
Solving Audio Problems
Some common audio problems and solutions are
listed in the following table.
Solving Audio Problems |
Problem |
Probable
Cause |
Solution(s) |
Computer does not beep after the Power-On Self-Test (POST). |
This
is typical; it indicates successful completion of the Power-On Self-Test (POST). |
No
action is required. |
Solving Battery Pack and Battery
Gauge Problems
Some common causes and solutions for battery pack problems
are listed in the following table.
The "Solving Power Problems" section in this chapter may also be applicable.
Solving Battery Pack and Battery Gauge Problems |
Problem |
Probable
Cause |
Solution(s) |
Computer won't
turn on when battery pack is inserted and power cord is unplugged. |
Battery pack is
discharged. |
Connect the
computer to an external power source and charge the battery pack. Replace the battery pack with a fully charged
battery pack. |
|
|
Check the
battery connectors on the system board to verify they are evenly spaced and that they are
not bent or broken. |
Computer is
beeping and battery LED icon is blinking. |
Battery charge
is low. |
Immediately
save any open file(s). Then do any one of the following:
- Connect the computer to an external power
source to charge the battery pack.
- Turn off the computer or initiate
Hibernation until you can find another power source or charge the battery pack.
|
Computer
battery LED icon (front on the unit) blinks to indicate low battery condition, but
computer does not beep. |
Volume is
turned down too low. |
Adjust the
volume. |
Battery LED
icon doesn't light and battery pack won't fast charge. |
Battery pack is
already charged. |
No action is
necessary.
|
|
Battery pack
was exposed to temperature extremes. |
Allow time for
the battery pack to return to room temperature. |
|
Battery pack is
at end of its life. |
Replace battery
pack. |
You have to set
the date and time every time you turn on the computer. |
RTC battery is
dead. |
Replace the RTC
battery. |
Problem |
Probable
Cause |
Solution(s) |
Battery charge
does not last as long as expected. |
Battery is
being exposed to high temperatures or extremely cold temperatures. |
Keep the
battery pack within the recommended operating temperature range 50° F to 104° F (10° C
to
40° C) or recommended storage range -4° F to 86° F (-20° C to
30° C ). Recharge the battery pack. |
|
Battery has
partially self-discharged. |
Recharge the
battery. Discharge the battery completely and then recharge it. |
|
Power
management is disabled. |
Set a power
management level in Computer Setup. |
|
An external
device or PC Card is draining the battery. |
Turn off or
disconnect external devices when not using them. |
Battery pack is
warm to the touch after charging. |
Normal warming
has occurred due to charging. |
No action is
required. |
Battery pack
operating time is far less than the documented average operating time. |
Power
management is turned off or disabled. |
Enable power
management in Computer Setup and in Windows Power Properties. |
|
An external
device or PC Card is draining the battery. |
Turn off or
disconnect external devices when not using them. |
|
Battery pack
has partially self-discharged. |
Condition the
battery pack by fully charging, fully discharging, then fully recharging it. To maintain the charge, leave battery packs in the
computer when it is connected to external power.
If the computer is disconnected from
external power for more than two weeks, remove battery packs from the computer to reduce
the discharge rate. |
|
Battery pack is
being exposed to high temperatures or extremely cold temperatures. |
Keep the
battery pack within the recommended temperature ranges.
Operating: 50° F to 104° F
(10° C to 40° C)
Storage: -4° F to 86° F
(-20° C to 30° C )Recharge the
battery pack. |
Solving CD Drive Problems
Some common causes and solutions
for CD drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving CD Drive
Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
CD drive cannot read a compact disc. |
Compact disc is upside down or is improperly inserted in the CD drive. |
Open the CD loading tray, lay the compact disc in it (label side up), then
close the tray. |
|
CD is CD Plus or Pregap/Track 0 type. |
Cannot read these type CDs in 24x. Remove the CD. |
Solving Diskette and Diskette Drive
Problems
Some common causes and solutions for diskette
and diskette drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving Diskette
and Diskette Drive Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
Diskette drive cannot write to a diskette. |
Diskette
is write-protected. |
Disable
the diskette's write-protect feature or use a diskette that is not write-protected. |
|
Computer
is writing to the wrong drive. |
Check
the drive letter in the path statement. |
|
Not
enough space is left on the diskette. |
Use
another diskette. |
|
Drive
error has occurred. |
Run
Computer Checkup from the Compaq Diagnostics diskette. |
|
Diskette
is not formatted. |
Format
the diskette. At the system prompt, enter FORMAT A: |
Diskette
drive cannot read a diskette. |
The
wrong type of diskette is being used. |
Use
the type of diskette required by the drive. |
|
Diskette
has a bad sector. |
Copy
files to hard drive or another diskette. Reformat bad floppy. |
|
Drive
error has occurred. |
Run
Computer Checkup from the Compaq Diagnostics diskette. |
|
Diskette
is not
formatted. |
Format
the diskette. At the system prompt, enter FORMAT A: |
Cannot
boot from diskette. |
Bootable
diskette is not in drive A. |
Put
the bootable diskette in drive A. |
|
Diskette
Boot has incorrect setting in Computer Setup. |
Run
Computer Setup and set diskette as first to boot. |
Solving Display
Problems
This section lists some common causes and
solutions for computer display and external monitor problems.
You can perform a monitor self-test on an
external VGA color or monochrome monitor by disconnecting the monitor from the computer.
To do so, complete the following steps:
1. Turn off the monitor.
2. Turn off the computer.
3. Disconnect the monitor signal cable from
the computer.
4. Turn on the monitor and allow it to warm up
for one minute.
The display should be white. A narrow black
border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of
these displays indicates that the monitor is working properly.
Solving Display Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
Screen is dim. |
Control for brightness or contrast (if applicable) is not set properly. |
Adjust the Brightness of the display by using Fn + F7 (¯ )
or
Fn + F8 ( ).
Adjust the Contrast of the display by using Fn + F5 (¯ ) or
Fn + F6 ( ). |
|
Computer screen is in direct light. |
Tilt display or move computer. |
Screen is blank. |
Screen save was initiated by Power Management due to lack of user
activity. |
Press any key or touch the Touch Pad. |
|
Display has overheated. |
If computer is in direct sunlight, move it and allow it to cool off. |
Display is blank and the Suspend icon is flashing. |
System is in Suspend mode. |
Press any key or touch the Touch Pad. |
Internal display is blank and the screen on an external monitor displays
information. |
Display function was switched to the external monitor. |
Use Fn + F2 to switch between LCD or CRT. |
Problem |
Probable
Cause |
Solution(s) |
Internal
display flashes or has garbled characters when computer is connected to external monitor. |
Using
1024 × 768 or higher resolution on external monitor and have toggled back to internal
display, which supports up to
800 × 600. |
Restart
the computer. |
The light tubes
on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST)
completes when the unit is powered up.** |
Improper
backlight or display cable connections |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
inverter board. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
display cable. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
display panel. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
system board. |
Replace the
system board. |
The light tubes
on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) does
not complete when the unit is powered up.** |
Defective
system board. |
Replace the
system board. |
Backlight
(brightness) cannot be adjusted with Fn + F7 (¯ ) or
Fn + F8 ( ).*** |
Improper
display cable connections. |
1. Reseat the
display cable to the system board. 2.
Replace the display assembly. |
|
Defective
inverter board. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
display cable. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
system board. |
Replace the
system board. |
Contrast cannot
be adjusted with
Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6 ( ). |
Improper
display cable connections. |
1. Reseat the
display cable to the system board. 2.
Replace the display assembly. |
|
Defective
inverter board. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
display cable. |
Replace the
display assembly. |
|
Defective
system board. |
Replace the
system board. |
** This
problem indicates that the backlight or its power circuitry has failed. Since you cannot
observe the POST result on the display panel when the backlight is not functioning,
connect the unit to an external monitor before powering the unit up. If an external
monitor is not available, verify that POST completes by opening and closing the display,
listening for the single or double beep, and watching for the LEDs turn on at the front of
the computer. |
Problem |
Probable
Cause |
Solution(s) |
This
display panel has a continuous pattern across it (e.g., a "jailbars" pattern),
has a single color on it, or has garbled graphics across the entire panel. This failure is
for patterns across the entire panel (not just on one section). |
Improper
display cable connections |
Reseat
the display cable to the following until the problem is solved: 1. System board
2. Display assembly |
|
Defective
display cable. |
Replace
the display assembly. |
|
Defective
inverter board. |
Replace
the display assembly. |
|
Defective
system board. |
Replace
the system board. |
Ghost
bars extending from graphics on the display. |
Common
characteristic of STN displays. |
1.
Change the background colors. 2.
Adjust the Contrast of the display by using Fn + F5 or Fn + F6 . |
A
single line, small group of lines, or block appears on the display panel. This failure
occurs in only a section of the display panel. |
Defective
display panel. |
Replace
the display assembly. |
NOTE: |
To perform a "self-test" on an external VGA color
or monochrome monitor, complete the following steps: The screen should be white. A narrow
black border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of these
displays indicates that the monitor is working properly. |
Some common causes and solutions
for hard drive problems are listed in the following table.
 |
CAUTION: To prevent loss of information, always maintain an
up-to-date backup of your hard drive at all times, in case of errors or failures. |
Solving Hard Drive Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
Reading
hard drive takes an unusually long time after restarting the computer. |
System
entered Hibernation due to low battery condition and is now exiting from it. |
Give the
system time to restore the previously saved data to its exact state before Hibernation. |
Hard
drive error occurs. |
Hard
drive has bad sectors or has failed. |
Run
Computer Checkup. |
Hard
drive does not work. |
Hard
drive is not seated properly. |
Turn off
and unplug the computer, remove the battery pack, and remove and then reinstall the hard
drive. |
Some common causes and solutions for hardware installation
problems are listed in the following table.
Solving
Hardware Installation Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solutions(s) |
A new device is not
recognized as part of the computer system. |
Cable(s) of new external
device are loose or power cables are unplugged. |
Ensure that all cables are
properly and securely connected. |
|
Power switch of new
external device is not turned on. |
Turn off the computer,
turn on the external device, then turn on the computer to integrate the device with
the computer system. |
|
Device is not seated
properly. |
Turn off the computer and
reinsert the device. |
Some common causes and solutions for
keyboard/numeric keypad problems are listed in the following table.
Solving
Keyboard/Numeric Keypad Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
Embedded numeric keypad on computer keyboard is disabled. |
Num Lock function is not enabled. |
Press the Shift+NumLk keys to enable the Num Lock function
and embedded numeric keypad. The Num Lock icon on the status panel turns on. |
Embedded numeric keypad is disabled and Num Lock function is on. |
External numeric keypad is connected to the computer. |
Disconnect the external numeric keypad from the computer. |
Some common causes and solutions for
memory problems are listed in the following table.
Solving Memory Problems |
Problem |
Probable Cause |
Solution(s) |
Memory count during Power-On Self-Test (POST) is incorrect. |
Optional memory expansion card is installed incorrectly,
is incompatible with the computer, or is defective. |
Ensure that the optional memory expansion card is installed correctly. |
"Out of Memory" message is displayed on the screen or
insufficient memory error occurs during operation. |
System ran out of memory for the application. |
Check the application documentation for memory requirements.
Install additional memory. |
|
Too many TSR (terminate-and stay-resident) applications are running. |
Remove from memory any TSR applications that you do not need. |
|