HP ELITEDESK 705 G3 User Manual

Maintenance and Service Guide  
HP EliteDesk 705 G3 Microtower Business PC  
Safety warning notice  
WARNING! To reduce the possibility of heat-related injuries or of overheating the device, do not place  
the device directly on your lap or obstruct the device air vents. Use the device only on a hard, flat surface. Do  
not allow another hard surface, such as an adjoining optional printer, or a soft surface, such as pillows or rugs  
or clothing, to block airflow. Also, do not allow the AC adapter to contact the skin or a soft surface, such as  
pillows or rugs or clothing, during operation. The device and the AC adapter comply with the user-accessible  
surface temperature limits defined by the International Standard for Safety of Information Technology  
Equipment (IEC 60950-1).  
iii  
iv  
Safety warning notice  
Table of contents  
2 Illustrated parts catalog ................................................................................................................................ 5  
3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation .................................................................. 11  
v
5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility ........................................................................................................................ 52  
6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics ............................................................................................................ 64  
vi  
7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes ......................................................... 94  
8 Password security and resetting CMOS ........................................................................................................ 101  
9 HP PC Hardware Diagnostics ....................................................................................................................... 105  
10 System backup and recovery ..................................................................................................................... 107  
vii  
Appendix A Battery replacement ................................................................................................................... 119  
Appendix B Power Cord Set Requirements ...................................................................................................... 122  
Appendix C Statement of Volatility ................................................................................................................ 124  
Appendix D Specifications ............................................................................................................................. 126  
Index ........................................................................................................................................................... 128  
viii  
1 Product features  
Standard configuration features  
Features may vary depending on the model. For support assistance and to learn more about the hardware  
and software installed on your computer model, run the HP Support Assistant utility.  
Standard configuration features  
1
   
Front panel components  
Drive configuration may vary by model. Some models have a bezel blank covering the slim optical drive bay.  
Front panel components  
1
2
3
4
Slim optical drive (optional)  
Power button  
6
7
8
9
SD card reader (optional)  
Hard drive activity light  
USB 2.0 port (black)  
USB 2.0 charging (powered) port (black)  
USB 3.0 ports (blue)  
Audio-out (headphone)/Audio-in (microphone) combo  
jack  
5
Audio-out (headphone) jack  
NOTE: When a device is plugged into the Audio-out (headphone)/Audio-in (microphone) combo jack, a dialog box will pop  
up asking if you want to use the jack for a microphone or a headphone. You can reconfigure the jack at any time by double-  
clicking the Audio Manager icon in the Windows® taskbar.  
NOTE: The USB 2.0 charging port also provides current to charge a device such as a smart phone. The charging current is  
available whenever the power cord is plugged into the system, even when the system is off.  
NOTE: The Power On light is normally white when the power is on. If it is flashing red, there is a problem with the  
computer and it is displaying a diagnostic code. Refer to Interpreting system validation diagnostic front panel LEDs and  
audible codes on page 99 to interpret the code.  
2
Chapter 1 Product features  
 
Rear panel components  
Rear panel components  
1
2
PS/2 keyboard connector (purple)  
DisplayPort monitor connectors  
7
8
Power cord connector  
PS/2 mouse connector (green)  
3
4
VGA monitor connector  
9
Serial port  
USB SuperSpeed ports (blue)  
10  
RJ-45 (network) jack  
5
6
USB SuperSpeed Plus ports (blue)*  
11  
USB 2.0 ports (black) with keyboard  
wakeup function  
Audio-out jack for powered audio devices (green) 12  
Audio-in jack (blue)  
NOTE: An optional second serial port and an optional parallel port are available from HP.  
If using a USB keyboard, HP recommends connecting the keyboard to one of the USB 2.0 ports with the wakeup feature. The  
wakeup feature is also supported on the PS/2 connector if enabled in BIOS F10 Setup.  
When a device is plugged into the microphone/headphone jack, a dialog box will pop up asking if you want to use the jack for a  
microphone or a headphone. You can reconfigure the jack at any time by double-clicking the Audio Manager icon in the  
Windows taskbar.  
When a graphics card is installed in one of the system board slots, the video connectors on the graphics card and/or the  
integrated graphics on the system board may be used. The specific graphics card installed and software configuration will  
determine the behavior.  
The system board graphics can be disabled by changing settings in BIOS F10 Setup.  
*USB SuperSpeed Plus port  
Your product has two USB SuperSpeed Plus ports. This type of port, also called a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port, supports transfer speeds  
up to 10 Gbps. For the best performance, follow these guidelines.  
Use only USB SuperSpeed Plus-certified cables, 1 meter or less, with USB SuperSpeed Plus–certified devices.  
Periodically inspect the electrical contacts of the cable and device for damage, dirt, or corrosion; replace cables that are  
worn or damaged.  
Route the USB SuperSpeed Plus cable away from other cables; do not bundle the cable with other cables.  
Place the device and cable away from other high-powered products or products that may produce high electrical  
radiation.  
Rear panel components  
3
 
Serial number location  
Each computer has a unique serial number and a product ID number that are located on the exterior of the  
computer. Keep these numbers available for use when contacting customer service for assistance.  
4
Chapter 1 Product features  
 
2 Illustrated parts catalog  
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts  
Computer major components  
NOTE: HP continually improves and changes product parts. For complete and current information on  
supported parts for your computer, go to http://partsurfer.hp.com, select your country or region, and then  
follow the on-screen instructions.  
Item  
(1)  
Description  
Access panel  
(2)  
Front bezel  
(3)  
Power supply  
280W, 92% efficient  
280W, 85% efficient  
280W, standard  
(4)  
System board (includes replacement thermal material)  
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts  
5
             
Item  
Description  
(5)  
Fan sink (includes replacement thermal material)  
Memory modules (PC4-17000)  
16-GB  
8-GB  
4-GB  
2-GB  
Processors (include replacement thermal material)  
AMD A12-9800, 3.8 GHz  
AMD A10-9700, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A8-9600, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A6-9500, 3.1 GHz  
AMD A12-8870, 3.7 GHz  
AMD A10-8770, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A6-8570, 3.5 GHz  
x
not illustrated  
6
Chapter 2 Illustrated parts catalog  
       
Misc parts  
Item  
Description  
(1)  
(2)  
(3)  
(4)  
(5)  
(6)  
(7)  
(8)  
Fan  
Front I/O assembly  
Solenoid lock  
Printer port, PCI card  
AMD Radeon R9 350 2GB PCIe x16 graphics card  
Speaker  
Secure Digital (SD) card reader  
SATA data cable, 18 inch, 1 straight end, 1 angled end  
SATA drive power cable  
WLAN modules  
(9)  
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts  
7
               
Item  
Description  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 + Bluetooth 4.0  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 + Bluetooth 4.0  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 NV  
Wireless antenna for use with WLAN modules  
Slim optical drive bezel blank  
Slim optical drive latch  
Hard drive conversion bracket, 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch  
HP Business PC Security Lock  
Center strip kit  
Rubber foot  
Keyed cable lock  
Dual-head keyed cable lock  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 3.5-inch hard drives  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 2.5-inch hard drives  
DisplayPort cable  
Adapters  
DisplayPort to HDMI 1.4  
DisplayPort to VGA  
DisplayPort to DVI  
DVI display cable  
M.2 USB cable  
Mouse  
PS2, optical  
USB, laser  
USB, optical  
Antimicrobial (People’s Republic of China only)  
Washable  
Wireless (Brazil only)  
USB, gray  
HP USB Hardened  
Keyboards  
USB, gray  
PS/2 slim  
Antimicrobial  
8
Chapter 2 Illustrated parts catalog  
   
Item  
Description  
HP USB slim  
HP USB Conferencing  
Wireless keyboard, mouse, and dongle  
USB/PS2 Washable  
USB, Smart card  
x
not illustrated  
Misc boards  
Description  
AMD Radeon R9 350 2GB PCIe x16 graphics card  
nVIDIA GT730 2 GB DDR3 PCIex8  
NVIDIA NVS 310 512MB DDR3 PCI Express Gen 2 x16 DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Display Professional Graphics Board  
Intel PRO/1000 NIC  
Printer port  
Serial port  
USB 3.1 Type Cx1 PCIe x1 card  
PCIe to M.2 adapter  
WLAN module PCI adapter + Bluetooth  
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts  
9
   
Drives  
Description  
Hard drives  
2-TB, 7200-rpm  
1-TB, 7200-rpm, 3.5-inch  
1-TB, hybrid SSD, 5400-rpm, 2.5-inch  
1-TB, hybrid SSD, 7200-rpm, 3.5-inch  
500 GB, 7200 rpm, 3.5-inch  
500-GB, 7200-rpm, 2.5-inch  
500-GB, 7200-rpm, 2.5-inch, SED  
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 2.5-inch, OPAL2, FIPS  
500-GB, 5400-rpm, hybrid SSD, 2.5-inch  
Solid-state drives, 2.5-inch  
512 GB  
512-GB, self-encrypting (SED), OPAL2, TLC  
256 GB  
256-GB, TLC  
256-GB, OPAL2  
240-GB, self-encrypting drive (SED), OPAL2, TLC  
240-GB, TLC  
128 GB  
M.2 drives  
NOTE: M.2 solid-state drives are installed into an expansion slot using the PCIe to M.2 adapter  
512-GB, M.2, 2280SS, PCIe  
512 GB, M.2, NVMe, TLC, PCIe  
256-GB, M.2, 2280SS, PCIe  
256-GB, M.2, NVMe, TLC, PCIe  
Optical drives  
DVD±RW drive  
DVD-ROM drive  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 3.5-inch hard drive  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 2.5-inch hard drive  
10 Chapter 2 Illustrated parts catalog  
     
3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and  
disassembly preparation  
This chapter provides general service information for the computer. Adherence to the procedures and  
precautions described in this chapter is essential for proper service.  
CAUTION: When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, voltage is always applied to the system  
board. You must disconnect the power cord from the power source before opening the computer to prevent  
system board or component damage.  
Electrostatic discharge information  
A sudden discharge of static electricity from your finger or other conductor can destroy static-sensitive  
devices or microcircuitry. Often the spark is neither felt nor heard, but damage occurs. An electronic device  
exposed to electrostatic discharge (ESD) may not appear to be affected at all and can work perfectly  
throughout a normal cycle. The device may function normally for a while, but it has been degraded in the  
internal layers, reducing its life expectancy.  
Networks built into many integrated circuits provide some protection, but in many cases, the discharge  
contains enough power to alter device parameters or melt silicon junctions.  
Generating static  
The following table shows how humidity affects the electrostatic voltage levels generated by different  
activities. A product can be degraded by 700 volts.  
Different activities generate different amounts of static electricity.  
Static electricity increases as humidity decreases.  
Relative Humidity  
Event  
Walking across carpet  
55%  
40%  
10%  
7,500 V  
3,000 V  
400 V  
15,000 V  
5,000 V  
800 V  
35,000 V  
12,000 V  
6,000 V  
2,000 V  
Walking across vinyl floor  
Motions of bench worker  
Removing DIPs from plastic tube  
400 V  
700 V  
Removing DIPs from vinyl tray  
Removing DIPs from Styrofoam  
Removing bubble pack from PCB  
Packing PCBs in foam-lined box  
2,000 V  
3,500 V  
7,000 V  
5,000 V  
4,000 V  
5,000 V  
20,000 V  
11,000 V  
11,500 V  
14,500 V  
26,500 V  
21,000 V  
Electrostatic discharge information 11  
           
Preventing electrostatic damage to equipment  
Many electronic components are sensitive to ESD. Circuitry design and structure determine the degree of  
sensitivity. The following packaging and grounding precautions are necessary to prevent damage to electric  
components and accessories.  
To avoid hand contact, transport products in static-safe containers such as tubes, bags, or boxes.  
Protect all electrostatic-sensitive parts and assemblies with conductive or approved containers or  
packaging.  
Keep electrostatic-sensitive parts in their containers until they arrive at static-free stations.  
Place items on a grounded surface before removing them from their containers.  
Always be properly grounded when touching a sensitive component or assembly.  
Avoid contact with pins, leads, or circuitry.  
Place reusable electrostatic-sensitive parts from assemblies in protective packaging or conductive  
foam.  
Personal grounding methods and equipment  
Use the following equipment to prevent static electricity damage to equipment:  
Wrist straps are flexible straps with a maximum of one-megohm ± 10% resistance in the ground cords.  
To provide proper ground, a strap must be worn snugly against bare skin. The ground cord must be  
connected to the banana plug connector on the grounding mat or workstation and fit snugly into it.  
Heel straps/Toe straps/Boot straps can be used at standing workstations and are compatible with  
most types of shoes or boots. On conductive floors or dissipative floor mats, use them on both feet with  
a maximum of one-megohm ± 10% resistance between the operator and ground.  
Static Shielding Protection Levels  
Method  
Voltage  
Antistatic plastic  
1,500  
7,500  
15,000  
Carbon-loaded plastic  
Metallized laminate  
Grounding the work area  
To prevent static damage at the work area, observe the following precautions:  
Cover the work surface with approved static-dissipative material. Provide a wrist strap connected to the  
work surface and use properly grounded tools and equipment.  
Use static-dissipative mats, foot straps, or air ionizers to give added protection.  
Handle electrostatic-sensitive components, parts, and assemblies by the case or PCB laminate. Handle  
them only at static-free work areas.  
Turn off power and input signals before inserting and removing connectors or test equipment.  
Use fixtures made of static-safe materials when fixtures must directly contact dissipative surfaces.  
Keep work area free of nonconductive materials such as ordinary plastic assembly aids and Styrofoam.  
Use field service tools, such as cutters, screwdrivers, and vacuums, that are conductive.  
12 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation  
       
Recommended materials and equipment  
The following grounding equipment is recommended to prevent electrostatic damage:  
Antistatic tape  
Antistatic smocks, aprons, or sleeve protectors  
Conductive bins and other assembly or soldering aids  
Conductive foam  
Conductive tabletop workstations with ground cords of one-megohm +/- 10% resistance  
Static-dissipative table or floor mats with hard ties to ground  
Field service kits  
Static awareness labels  
Wrist straps and footwear straps providing one-megohm +/- 10% resistance  
Material handling packages  
Conductive plastic bags  
Conductive plastic tubes  
Conductive tote boxes  
Opaque shielding bags  
Transparent metallized shielding bags  
Transparent shielding tubes  
Operating guidelines  
To prevent overheating and to help prolong the life of the computer:  
Keep the computer away from excessive moisture, direct sunlight, and extremes of heat and cold.  
Operate the computer on a sturdy, level surface. Leave a 10.2 cm (4-inch) clearance on all vented sides  
of the computer and above the monitor to permit the required airflow.  
Never restrict the airflow into the computer by blocking any vents or air intakes. Do not place the  
keyboard, with the keyboard feet down, directly against the front of the desktop unit as this also  
restricts airflow.  
Occasionally clean the air vents on all vented sides of the computer. Lint, dust, and other foreign matter  
can block the vents and limit the airflow. Be sure to unplug the computer before cleaning the air vents.  
Never operate the computer with the cover or side panel removed.  
Do not stack computers on top of each other or place computers so near each other that they are subject  
to each other’s re-circulated or preheated air.  
If the computer is to be operated within a separate enclosure, intake and exhaust ventilation must be  
provided on the enclosure, and the same operating guidelines listed above will still apply.  
Keep liquids away from the computer and keyboard.  
Operating guidelines 13  
     
Never cover the ventilation slots on the monitor with any type of material.  
Install or enable power management functions of the operating system or other software, including  
sleep states.  
Routine care  
General cleaning safety precautions  
1. Never use solvents or flammable solutions to clean the computer.  
2. Never immerse any parts in water or cleaning solutions; apply any liquids to a clean cloth and then use  
the cloth on the component.  
3. Always unplug the computer when cleaning with liquids or damp cloths.  
4. Always unplug the computer before cleaning the keyboard, mouse, or air vents.  
5. Disconnect the keyboard before cleaning it.  
6. Wear safety glasses equipped with side shields when cleaning the keyboard.  
Cleaning the computer case  
Follow all safety precautions in General cleaning safety precautions on page 14 before cleaning the computer.  
To clean the computer case, follow the procedures described below:  
To remove light stains or dirt, use plain water with a clean, lint-free cloth or swab.  
For stronger stains, use a mild dishwashing liquid diluted with water. Rinse well by wiping the surface  
with a cloth or swab dampened with clear water.  
For stubborn stains, use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. No rinsing is needed; alcohol will evaporate quickly  
without leaving a residue.  
After cleaning, always wipe the unit with a clean, lint-free cloth.  
Occasionally clean the air vents on the computer. Lint and other foreign matter can block the vents and  
limit the airflow.  
Cleaning the keyboard  
Follow all safety precautions in General cleaning safety precautions on page 14 before cleaning the keyboard.  
To clean the tops of the keys or the keyboard body, follow the procedures described in Cleaning the computer  
When cleaning debris from under the keys, review all rules in General cleaning safety precautions on page 14  
before following these procedures:  
CAUTION: Use safety glasses equipped with side shields before attempting to clean debris from under the  
keys.  
Visible debris underneath or between the keys may be removed by vacuuming or shaking.  
Canned, pressurized air may be used to clean debris from under the keys. Caution should be used as too  
much air pressure can dislodge lubricants applied under the wide keys.  
14 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation  
               
If you want to remove a key, use a specially designed key puller to prevent damage to the keys. This tool  
is available through many electronics supply outlets.  
CAUTION: Never remove a wide, level key (like the space bar) from the keyboard. If these keys are  
improperly removed or installed, the keyboard may not function properly.  
Cleaning under a key may be done with a swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol and then squeezed out.  
Be careful not to wipe away lubricants necessary for proper key functions. Use tweezers to remove any  
fibers or dirt in confined areas. Allow the parts to air dry before reassembly.  
Cleaning the monitor  
Wipe the monitor screen with a towelette designed for cleaning monitors or with a clean cloth  
moistened with water. Do not use sprays or aerosols directly on the screen; the liquid may seep into the  
housing and damage a component. Never use solvents or flammable liquids on the monitor.  
To clean the monitor body follow the procedures in Cleaning the computer case on page 14.  
Cleaning the mouse  
Before cleaning the mouse, ensure that the power to the computer is turned off.  
Clean the mouse ball by first removing the retaining plate and the ball from the housing. Pull out any  
debris from the ball socket and wipe the ball with a clean, dry cloth before reassembly.  
To clean the mouse body, follow the procedures in Cleaning the computer case on page 14.  
Service considerations  
Listed below are some of the considerations that you should keep in mind during the disassembly and  
assembly of the computer.  
Tools and software requirements  
To service the computer, you need the following:  
Torx T-15 screwdriver  
Flat-bladed screwdriver (may sometimes be used in place of the Torx screwdriver)  
Phillips #2 screwdriver  
Diagnostics software  
Screws  
The screws used in the computer are not interchangeable. They may have standard or metric threads and may  
be of different lengths. If an incorrect screw is used during the reassembly process, it can damage the unit. HP  
strongly recommends that all screws removed during disassembly be kept with the part that was removed,  
then returned to their proper locations.  
CAUTION: Metric screws have a black finish. U.S. screws have a silver finish and are used on hard drives only.  
CAUTION: As each subassembly is removed from the computer, it should be placed away from the work area  
to prevent damage.  
Service considerations 15  
                     
Cables and connectors  
Most cables used throughout the unit are flat, flexible cables. These cables must be handled with care to  
avoid damage. Apply only the tension required to seat or unseat the cables during insertion or removal from  
the connector. Handle cables by the connector whenever possible. In all cases, avoid bending or twisting the  
cables, and ensure that the cables are routed in such a way that they cannot be caught or snagged by parts  
being removed or replaced.  
CAUTION: When servicing this computer, ensure that cables are placed in their proper location during the  
reassembly process. Improper cable placement can damage the computer.  
Hard Drives  
Handle hard drives as delicate, precision components, avoiding all physical shock and vibration. This applies  
to failed drives as well as replacement spares.  
If a drive must be mailed, place the drive in a bubble-pack mailer or other suitable protective packaging  
and label the package “Fragile: Handle With Care.”  
Do not remove hard drives from the shipping package for storage. Keep hard drives in their protective  
packaging until they are actually mounted in the computer.  
Avoid dropping drives from any height onto any surface.  
If you are inserting or removing a hard drive, turn off the computer. Do not remove a hard drive while the  
computer is on or in standby mode.  
Before handling a drive, ensure that you are discharged of static electricity. While handling a drive, avoid  
touching the connector.  
Do not use excessive force when inserting a drive.  
Avoid exposing a hard drive to liquids, temperature extremes, or products that have magnetic fields  
such as monitors or speakers.  
Lithium coin cell battery  
The battery that comes with the computer provides power to the real-time clock and has a minimum lifetime  
of about three years.  
See the appropriate removal and replacement chapter for the chassis you are working on in this guide for  
instructions on the replacement procedures.  
WARNING! This computer contains a lithium battery. There is a risk of fire and chemical burn if the battery is  
handled improperly. Do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts, dispose in water or fire, or  
expose it to temperatures higher than 140ºF (60ºC). Do not attempt to recharge the battery.  
NOTE: Batteries, battery packs, and accumulators should not be disposed of together with general  
household waste. In order to forward them for recycling or proper disposal, please use the public collection  
system or return them to HP.  
16 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation  
           
SATA hard drives  
Serial ATA Hard Drive Characteristics  
Number of pins/conductors in data cable  
Number of pins in power cable  
Maximum data cable length  
Data interface voltage differential  
Drive voltages  
7/7  
15  
39.37 in (100 cm)  
400-700 mV  
3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V  
N/A  
Jumpers for configuring drive  
Data transfer rate  
6.0 Gb/s  
SMART ATA drives  
The Self Monitoring Analysis and Recording Technology (SMART) ATA drives for HP personal computers have  
built-in drive failure prediction that warns the user or network administrator of an impending failure (crash)  
of the hard drive. The SMART drive tracks fault prediction and failure indication parameters such as  
reallocated sector count, spin retry count, and calibration retry count. If the drive determines that a failure is  
imminent, it generates a fault alert.  
SATA hard drives 17  
   
4 Removal and replacement procedures –  
Microtower (MT) chassis  
Adherence to the procedures and precautions described in this chapter is essential for proper service. After  
completing all necessary removal and replacement procedures, run the Diagnostics utility to verify that all  
components operate properly.  
NOTE: Not all features listed in this guide are available on all computers.  
NOTE: HP continually improves and changes product parts. For complete and current information on  
supported parts for your computer, go to http://partsurfer.hp.com, select your country or region, and then  
follow the on-screen instructions.  
Preparation for disassembly  
1. Remove/disengage any security devices that prohibit opening the computer.  
2. Close any open software applications.  
3. Exit the operating system.  
4. Remove any compact disc or media card from the computer.  
5. Turn off the computer and any peripheral devices that are connected to it.  
CAUTION: Turn off the computer before disconnecting any cables.  
Regardless of the power-on state, voltage is always present on the system board as long as the system  
is plugged into an active AC outlet. In some systems the cooling fan is on even when the computer is in  
the “Standby,” or “Suspend” modes. The power cord should always be disconnected before servicing a  
unit.  
6. Disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet and then from the computer.  
7. As applicable, lay the computer down on its side to achieve a safe working position.  
NOTE: During disassembly, label each cable as you remove it, noting its position and routing. Keep all  
screws with the units removed.  
CAUTION: The screws used in the computer are of different thread sizes and lengths; using the wrong screw  
in an application may damage the unit.  
18 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
     
Access panel  
To access internal components, you must remove the access panel:  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Pull up the access panel handle (1), and then slide the panel back (2) and lift it off the computer (3).  
To replace the access panel, reverse the disassembly procedures.  
Access panel 19  
 
Front bezel  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
3. Lift up the three tabs on the side of the bezel (1), and then rotate the bezel off the chassis (2).  
To replace the front bezel, reverse the disassembly procedures.  
20 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
Front bezel security  
The front bezel can be secured in place by installing a screw through the front of the chassis into the front  
bezel.  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
3. Install a 6-32 screw through the front of the chassis and into the screw hole located below the center  
bezel release tab.  
4. Replace the computer access panel.  
5. Reconnect the power cord and any external devices, and then turn on the computer.  
6. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the access panel was removed.  
Front bezel security 21  
 
Slim optical drive bezel blank  
On some models, there is a bezel blank covering the slim optical drive bay. Remove the bezel blank before  
installing an optical drive. To remove the bezel blank:  
1. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
2. Remove the front bezel (Front bezel on page 20)  
3. To remove the bezel blank, press upward on the bottom tab and press downward on the top tab on the  
side of the blank (1), and then rotate the blank off the front of the bezel (2).  
22 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
Memory  
Description  
16-GB, PC4-17000  
8-GB, PC4-17000  
4-GB, PC4-17000  
2-GB, PC4-17000  
The computer comes with double data rate 4 synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR4-SDRAM)  
dual inline memory modules (DIMMs).  
DIMMs  
The memory sockets on the system board can be populated with up to four industry-standard DIMMs. These  
memory sockets are populated with at least one preinstalled DIMM. To achieve the maximum memory  
support, you can populate the system board with up to 64 GB of memory configured in a high-performing  
dual channel mode.  
DDR4-SDRAM DIMMs  
For proper system operation, the DIMMs must be:  
industry-standard 288-pin  
unbuffered non-ECC PC4-17000 DDR4-2133 MHz-compliant  
1.2 volt DDR4-SDRAM DIMMs  
The DIMMs must also:  
support CAS latency 15 DDR4 2133 MHz (15-15-15 timing)  
contain the mandatory JEDEC SPD information  
In addition, the computer supports:  
512-Mbit, 1-Gbit, and 2-Gbit non-ECC memory technologies  
single-sided and double-sided DIMMs  
DIMMs constructed with x8 and x16 DDR devices; DIMMs constructed with x4 SDRAM are not supported  
NOTE: The system will not operate properly if you install unsupported DIMMs.  
Populating DIMM sockets  
There are four DIMM sockets on the system board, with two sockets per channel. The sockets are labeled  
DIMM1, DIMM2, DIMM3, and DIMM4. Sockets DIMM1 and DIMM2 operate in memory channel B. Sockets DIMM3  
and DIMM4 operate in memory channel A.  
The system will automatically operate in single channel mode, dual channel mode, or flex mode, depending  
on how the DIMMs are installed.  
NOTE: Single channel and unbalanced dual channel memory configurations will result in inferior graphics  
performance.  
Memory 23  
           
The system will operate in single channel mode if the DIMM sockets are populated in one channel only.  
The system will operate in a higher-performing dual channel mode if the total memory capacity of the  
DIMMs in Channel A is equal to the total memory capacity of the DIMMs in Channel B. The technology and  
device width can vary between the channels. For example, if Channel A is populated with two 1 GB  
DIMMs and Channel B is populated with one 2 GB DIMM, the system will operate in dual channel mode.  
The system will operate in flex mode if the total memory capacity of the DIMMs in Channel A is not equal  
to the total memory capacity of the DIMMs in Channel B. In flex mode, the channel populated with the  
least amount of memory describes the total amount of memory assigned to dual channel and the  
remainder is assigned to single channel. For optimal speed, the channels should be balanced so that the  
largest amount of memory is spread between the two channels. If one channel will have more memory  
than the other, the larger amount should be assigned to Channel A. For example, if you are populating  
the sockets with one 2 GB DIMM, and three 1 GB DIMMs, Channel A should be populated with the 2 GB  
DIMM and one 1 GB DIMM, and Channel B should be populated with the other two 1 GB DIMMs. With this  
configuration, 4 GB will run as dual channel and 1 GB will run as single channel.  
In any mode, the maximum operational speed is determined by the slowest DIMM in the system.  
Installing DIMMs  
CAUTION: You must disconnect the power cord and wait approximately 30 seconds for the power to drain  
before adding or removing memory modules. Regardless of the power-on state, voltage is always supplied to  
the memory modules as long as the computer is plugged into an active AC outlet. Adding or removing  
memory modules while voltage is present may cause irreparable damage to the memory modules or system  
board.  
The memory module sockets have gold-plated metal contacts. When upgrading the memory, it is important  
to use memory modules with gold-plated metal contacts to prevent corrosion and/or oxidation resulting from  
having incompatible metals in contact with each other.  
Static electricity can damage the electronic components of the computer or optional cards. Before beginning  
these procedures, ensure that you are discharged of static electricity by briefly touching a grounded metal  
object.  
When handling a memory module, be careful not to touch any of the contacts. Doing so may damage the  
module.  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
24 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
3. Open both latches of the memory module socket (1), and insert the memory module into the socket (2).  
NOTE: A memory module can be installed in only one way. Match the notch on the module with the tab  
on the memory socket.  
Populate the black DIMM sockets before the white DIMM sockets.  
For maximum performance, populate the sockets so that the memory capacity is spread as equally as  
possible between Channel A and Channel B.  
4. Push the module down into the socket, ensuring that the module is fully inserted and properly seated.  
Make sure the latches are in the closed position (3).  
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to install any additional modules.  
6. Replace the computer access panel.  
7. Reconnect the power cord and turn on the computer.  
8. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the access panel was removed.  
The computer should automatically recognize the additional memory the next time you turn on the computer.  
Memory 25  
Expansion cards  
Description  
AMD Radeon R9 350 2GB PCIe x16 graphics card  
nVIDIA GT730 2 GB DDR3 PCIex8  
NVIDIA NVS 310 512MB DDR3 PCI Express Gen 2 x16 DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Display Professional Graphics Board  
USB 3.1 Type Cx1 PCIe x1 card  
Printer port, PCI card  
Serial port, PCI card  
PCIe to M.2 adapter  
Intel PRO/1000 NIC  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 + Bluetooth 4.0  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 + Bluetooth 4.0  
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 NV  
WLAN module PCI adapter + Bluetooth  
M.2 USB cable  
Wireless antenna for use with WLAN modules  
The computer has two PCI Express x1 expansion sockets, one PCI Express x16 expansion socket, and one PCI  
Express x16 expansion socket that is downshifted to a x4 socket.  
NOTE: You can install a PCI Express x1, x8, or x16 expansion card in the PCI Express x16 socket.  
For dual graphics card configurations, the first (primary) card must be installed in the PCI Express x16 socket  
that is NOT downshifted to a x4.  
To remove, replace, or add an expansion card:  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
26 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
     
3. Release the slot cover retention latch that secures the slot covers by lifting the tab on the latch and  
rotating the latch to the open position.  
4. Locate the correct vacant expansion socket on the system board and the corresponding expansion slot  
on the back of the computer chassis.  
5. Before installing an expansion card, remove the expansion slot cover or the existing expansion card.  
NOTE: Before removing an installed expansion card, disconnect any cables that may be attached to  
the expansion card.  
a. If you are installing an expansion card in a vacant socket, you must slide one of the expansion slot  
covers up and out of the chassis or use a flat-bladed screwdriver to pry out one of the metal  
shields on the rear panel that covers the expansion slot. Be sure to remove the appropriate shield  
for the expansion card you are installing.  
Expansion cards 27  
b. If you are removing a PCI Express x1 card, hold the card at each end and carefully rock it back and  
forth until the connectors pull free from the socket. Lift the card straight up (1) then away from the  
inside of the chassis (2) to remove it. Be sure not to scrape the card against other components.  
c. If you are removing a PCI Express x16 card, pull the retention arm on the back of the expansion  
socket away from the card and carefully rock the card back and forth until the connectors pull free  
from the socket. Lift the card straight up then away from the inside of the chassis to remove it. Be  
sure not to scrape the card against other components.  
6. Store the removed card in anti-static packaging.  
7. If you are not installing a new expansion card, install an expansion slot cover to close the open slot.  
CAUTION: After removing an expansion card, you must replace it with a new card or expansion slot  
cover for proper cooling of internal components during operation.  
28 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
8. To install a new expansion card, hold the card just above the expansion socket on the system board then  
move the card toward the rear of the chassis (1) so that the bottom of the bracket on the card slides into  
the small slot on the chassis. Press the card straight down into the expansion socket on the system  
board (2).  
NOTE: When installing an expansion card, press firmly on the card so that the whole connector seats  
properly in the expansion card socket.  
9. Rotate the slot cover retention latch back in place to secure the expansion card.  
10. Connect external cables to the installed card, if needed. Connect internal cables to the system board, if  
needed.  
11. Replace the computer access panel.  
12. Reconnect the power cord and turn on the computer.  
13. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the computer access panel was removed.  
14. Reconfigure the computer, if necessary.  
Expansion cards 29  
Drives  
Description  
Hard drives  
2-TB, 7200-rpm  
1-TB, 7200-rpm, 3.5-inch  
1-TB, hybrid SSD, 5400-rpm, 2.5-inch  
1-TB, hybrid SSD, 7200-rpm, 3.5-inch  
500 GB, 7200 rpm, 3.5-inch  
500-GB, 7200-rpm, 2.5-inch  
500-GB, 7200-rpm, 2.5-inch, SED  
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 2.5-inch, OPAL2, FIPS  
500-GB, 5400-rpm, hybrid SSD, 2.5-inch  
Solid-state drives, 2.5-inch  
512 GB  
512-GB, self-encrypting (SED), OPAL2, TLC  
256 GB  
256-GB, TLC  
256-GB, OPAL2  
240-GB, self-encrypting drive (SED), OPAL2, TLC  
240-GB, TLC  
128 GB  
M.2 drives  
NOTE: M.2 solid-state drives are installed into an expansion slot using the PCIe to M.2 adapter  
512-GB, M.2, 2280SS, PCIe  
512 GB, M.2, NVMe, TLC, PCIe  
256-GB, M.2, 2280SS, PCIe  
256-GB, M.2, NVMe, TLC, PCIe  
Optical drives  
DVD±RW drive  
DVD-ROM drive  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 3.5-inch hard drive  
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue, for 2.5-inch hard drive  
When installing drives, follow these guidelines:  
30 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
     
The primary Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive must be connected to the dark blue primary SATA connector on  
the system board labeled SATA0.  
Connect secondary hard drives and optical drives to one of the light blue SATA connectors on the system  
board (labeled SATA1 and SATA2).  
HP has provided four extra 6-32 hard drive mounting screws installed on the front of the chassis next to  
the hard drive bays (1). If you are replacing a hard drive, remove the mounting screws from the old drive  
and install them in the new drive.  
IMPORTANT: To prevent loss of work and damage to the computer or drive:  
If you are inserting or removing a drive, shut down the operating system properly, turn off the computer, and  
unplug the power cord. Do not remove a drive while the computer is on or in standby mode.  
Before handling a drive, be sure that you are discharged of static electricity. While handling a drive, avoid  
touching the connector. For more information about preventing electrostatic damage, refer to Electrostatic  
Handle a drive carefully; do not drop it.  
Do not use excessive force when inserting a drive.  
Avoid exposing a hard drive to liquids, temperature extremes, or products that have magnetic fields such as  
monitors or speakers.  
If a drive must be mailed, place the drive in a bubble-pack mailer or other protective packaging and label the  
package “Fragile: Handle With Care.”  
Drives 31  
Drive positions  
Drive positions  
1
2
3
9.5 mm slim optical drive bay  
3.5-inch secondary hard drive bay  
3.5-inch primary hard drive bay  
NOTE: The drive configuration on your computer may be different than the drive configuration shown above.  
To verify the type and size of the storage devices installed in the computer, run Computer Setup.  
Removing a 9.5 mm slim optical drive  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18)  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19)  
3. Remove the front bezel (Front bezel on page 20)  
4. Disconnect the power cable and data cable from the back of the optical drive.  
CAUTION: When removing the cables, pull the tab or connector instead of the cable itself to avoid  
damaging the cable.  
32 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
     
5. Disconnect the power cable (1) and data cable (2) from the rear of the optical drive.  
CAUTION: When removing the cables, pull the tab or connector instead of the cable itself to avoid  
damaging the cable.  
6. Press upward on the green release latch on the underside of the drive (1), and then slide the drive out of  
the drive bay (2).  
Drives 33  
Installing a 9.5 mm slim optical drive  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. If you are installing a slim optical drive in a bay covered by a bezel blank, remove the front bezel and  
then remove the bezel blank. See Front bezel on page 20 for more information.  
4. Follow the instructions for removing the optical drive if one was installed. Refer to Removing a 9.5 mm  
5. Align the small pin on the release latch with the small hole on the side of the drive and press the latch  
firmly onto the drive.  
6. Slide the optical drive through the front of the chassis (1) all the way into the bay so that the green latch  
locks onto the chassis frame (2).  
34 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
7. Connect the power cable (1) and data cable (2) to the rear of the optical drive.  
8. If installing a new drive, connect the opposite end of the data cable to one of the light blue SATA  
connectors (labeled SATA1 or SATA2) on the system board.  
9. Replace the front bezel if it was removed.  
10. Replace the computer access panel.  
11. Reconnect the power cord and any external devices, and then turn on the computer.  
12. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the access panel was removed.  
Drives 35  
Removing a hard drive  
NOTE: Before you remove the old hard drive, be sure to back up the data from the old hard drive so that you  
can transfer the data to the new hard drive.  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Disconnect the data cable (1) and power cable (2) from the rear of the hard drive.  
4. Pull the green latch next to the drive outward (1) and slide the drive out of the bay (2).  
36 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
Installing a hard drive  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. You can install a 3.5-inch hard drive or a 2.5-inch hard drive with a 3.5-inch adapter bracket similar to  
the example shown below.  
Slide the 2.5-inch drive into the bay adapter bracket, ensuring the connector on the drive is fully  
inserted into the connector on the adapter bracket.  
Secure the drive to the bay adapter bracket by installing four black M3 adapter bracket screws  
through the sides of the bracket into the drive.  
Drives 37  
 
4. Install four mounting screws into the sides of the 3.5-inch drive or the 2.5-inch drive adapter bracket  
(two on each side).  
NOTE: HP has supplied four extra mounting screws installed on the chassis next to the hard drive bays.  
Refer to Drives on page 30 for an illustration of the location of the extra mounting screws.  
5. Slide the drive into the drive bay, making sure to align the mounting screws with the guide slots, until  
the drive snaps into place.  
38 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
6. Connect the data cable (1) and power cable (2) to the rear of the hard drive.  
7. If installing a new drive, connect the opposite end of the data cable to the appropriate system board  
connector.  
NOTE: You must connect the primary hard drive data cable to the dark blue connector labeled SATA0 to  
avoid any hard drive performance problems. If you are adding a second hard drive, connect the data  
cable to one of the light blue SATA connector labeled SATA1 and SATA2.  
8. Replace the computer access panel.  
9. Reconnect the power cord and any external devices, and then turn on the computer.  
10. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the access panel was removed.  
Drives 39  
Drive power cable  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the computer access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Remove the cable from the clips on the base pan and on the side of the hard drive cage (1).  
4. Disconnect the cable from the hard drive (2) and the optical drive (3)  
5. Disconnect the cable from the system board connector labeled SATAPWR0 (4), and then remove the  
cable from the computer.  
To reinstall the drive power cable, reverse the removal procedure.  
40 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
   
Front I/O and power switch assembly  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Remove the front bezel (Front bezel on page 20).  
4. Remove the Torx T15 screw (1) that secures the assembly to the chassis, push the tab on the right side  
of the assembly (2) to disengage it from the chassis, and then push the assembly into the chassis (3).  
5. Remove the cables from the clips on the base pan.  
Front I/O and power switch assembly 41  
 
6. Disconnect the four cables from the following system board connectors:  
(1) Front USB (blue)  
(2) Front AUD (yellow)  
(3) Front USB3.1 (blue)  
(4) PB/LED (black)  
7. Remove the front I/O and power switch assembly from the inside of the computer.  
To reinstall the assembly, reverse the removal procedure.  
42 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
Fan sink  
CAUTION: The bond between the fan sink and the processor may be very tight.  
If the computer will power on, before removing the fan sink, turn on the computer until it warms the fan sink.  
Warming the fan sink lessens the bond between the heat sink and the processor, thereby making separating  
them easier.  
Make sure not to pull the processor out of the socket when you lift the fan sink, especially if you cannot warm  
the fan sink prior to removal. Inadvertently removing the processor can damage the pins.  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board connector labeled CPUFAN (1).  
4. Loosen the four silver captive Torx T15 screws (2) that secure the fan sink to the system board.  
CAUTION: Remove fan sink retaining screws in diagonally opposite pairs (as in an X) to even the  
downward forces on the processor. The pins on the socket are very fragile and any damage to them may  
require replacing the system board.  
5. Lift the heat sink from atop the processor (3).  
When reinstalling the fan sink, make sure that its bottom has been cleaned with an alcohol wipe and fresh  
thermal grease has been applied to the top of the processor.  
CAUTION: Fan sink retaining screws should be tightened in diagonally opposite pairs (as in an X) to evenly  
seat the fan sink on the processor. This is especially important as the pins on the socket are very fragile and  
any damage to them may require replacing the system board.  
Fan sink 43  
   
Processor  
Description  
AMD A12-9800, 3.8 GHz  
AMD A10-9700, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A8-9600, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A6-9500, 3.1 GHz  
AMD A12-8870, 3.7 GHz  
AMD A10-8770, 3.5 GHz  
AMD A6-8570, 3.5 GHz  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Remove the fan sink (Fan sink on page 43).  
4. Rotate the locking lever to its full open position (1).  
5. Carefully lift the processor from the socket (2).  
CAUTION: Do NOT handle the pins in the processor socket. These pins are very fragile and handling  
them could cause irreparable damage. Once pins are damaged it may be necessary to replace the  
system board.  
The heat sink must be installed within 24 hours of installing the processor to prevent damage to the  
processor’s solder connections.  
Reverse the removal procedure to install a new processor.  
44 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
   
NOTE: After installing a new processor onto the system board, update the system ROM to ensure that the  
latest version of the BIOS is being used on the computer. The latest system BIOS can be found on the Web at:  
Speaker  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Disconnect the speaker wire from the system board connector labeled SPKR (1), and then remove the  
wire from the clip.  
4. From the inside of the chassis, remove the silver Torx T15 screw (2) that secures the speaker to the  
chassis.  
5. Remove the speaker from the chassis (3).  
To replace the speaker, reverse the removal procedures.  
Speaker 45  
   
Rear chassis fan  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Remove the three silver Phillips screws that secure the fan to the rear of chassis.  
4. Disconnect the fan control cable (1) from the system board connector labeled PSFAN.  
5. Lift the fan out of the chassis (2).  
To install the fan assembly, reverse the removal procedure. Be sure to orient the air flow out of the unit.  
46 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
   
Power supply  
Description  
Power supply, 280W, 92% efficient  
Power supply, 280W, 85% efficient  
Power supply, 280W, standard  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. Remove the four silver Torx T15 screws that connect the power supply to the rear of the chassis.  
4. Remove the power cable from the clip on the base pan.  
Power supply 47  
   
5. Disconnect the power supply cable from the following system board connectors:  
(1) PWR  
(2) PWRCMD  
(3) PWRCPU  
6. Press the tab (1) on the base pan in front of the power supply that holds it in place.  
7. Slide the power supply toward the front of the computer (2), rotate toward the fan so the power supply  
clears the lip on the top of the chassis, and then lift the power supply out of the chassis (3).  
To install the power supply, reverse the removal procedure.  
48 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
System board  
1. Prepare the computer for disassembly (Preparation for disassembly on page 18).  
2. Remove the access panel (Access panel on page 19).  
3. When replacing the system board, make sure the following components are removed from the defective  
system board and installed on the replacement system board:  
Memory modules (Memory on page 23)  
Expansion cards (Expansion cards on page 26)  
Heat sink (Fan sink on page 43).  
Processor (Processor on page 44)  
4. Disconnect all cables connected to the system board, noting their location for reinstallation.  
5. Remove the eight Torx T15 screws (1) that secure the system board to the chassis.  
6. Slide the system board away from the connectors (2), and then lift it up and out of the computer (3).  
When reinstalling the system board, first insert the I/O panel back into the slots in the rear of the chassis, and  
then align the board with the chassis screw holes.  
NOTE: When replacing the system board, you must change the chassis serial number in the BIOS.  
System board 49  
   
System board callouts  
Sys Bd Label  
X4PCIEXP  
X1PCIEXP2  
X16PCIEXP  
X1PCIEXP1  
PSFAN  
color  
Component  
Sys Bd Label  
DIMM3  
color  
Black  
White  
Black  
Black  
White  
Black  
White  
White  
Component  
White  
Black  
Black  
Black  
Red  
Expansion card  
Expansion card  
Expansion card  
Expansion card  
Chassis fan  
Memory module  
Memory module  
Memory module  
Front I/O/power switch  
Power supply  
DIMM2  
DIMM1  
PB/LED  
PWRCMD  
SATA PWR0  
PWR  
HLCK  
Black  
White  
White  
Hood lock  
Drive power  
HSENSE  
Hood sensor  
6-pin main power  
Speaker  
PWRCPU  
4-pin processor power  
SPKR  
50 Chapter 4 Removal and replacement procedures – Microtower (MT) chassis  
 
Sys Bd Label  
color  
Component  
Sys Bd Label  
color  
Component  
SATA2  
Light blue Any SATA Device other  
than the primary hard  
drive  
XBT  
Black  
RTC battery  
FRONT USB3  
Blue  
Front I/O and power  
switch  
COMB  
Black  
Optional second serial  
port  
SD RDR  
XU  
Black  
Card reader  
Processor  
PSWD  
Green  
Yellow  
White  
Yellow  
Blue  
Clear system passwords  
Reset CMOS  
Black  
CMOS  
SATA0  
CPUFAN  
SATA1  
Dark blue  
White  
Hard drive  
USB C  
USB C connector  
Front I/O  
Processor fan  
USB2  
Light blue Any SATA Device other  
than the primary hard  
drive  
FRONT AUD  
Front I/O  
DIMM4  
White  
Memory module  
System board 51  
5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities  
Use Computer Setup (F10) Utility to do the following:  
Change factory default settings.  
View the system configuration, including settings for processor, graphics, memory, audio, storage,  
communications, and input devices.  
Modify the boot order of bootable devices such as hard drives, optical drives, or USB flash media devices.  
Select Post Messages Enabled or Disabled to change the display status of Power-On Self-Test (POST)  
messages. Post Messages Disabled suppresses most POST messages, such as memory count, product  
name, and other non-error text messages. If a POST error occurs, the error is displayed regardless of the  
mode selected. To manually switch to Post Messages Enabled during POST, press any key (except F1  
through F12).  
Establish an Ownership Tag, the text of which is displayed each time the system is turned on or  
restarted.  
Enter the Asset Tag or property identification number assigned by the company to this computer.  
Enable the power-on password prompt during system restarts (warm boots) as well as during power-on.  
Establish a setup password that controls access to the Computer Setup (F10) Utility and the settings  
described in this section.  
Secure integrated I/O functionality, including the serial, USB, or parallel ports, audio, or embedded NIC,  
so that they cannot be used until they are unsecured.  
Enable or disable removable media boot ability.  
Solve system configuration errors detected but not automatically fixed during the Power-On Self-Test  
(POST).  
Replicate the system setup by saving system configuration information on a USB device and restoring it  
on one or more computers.  
Enable or disable DriveLock security (when supported by drive).  
Using Computer Setup (F10) Utilities  
Computer Setup can be accessed only by turning the computer on or restarting the system. To access the  
Computer Setup Utilities menu, complete the following steps:  
1. Turn on or restart the computer.  
2. Repeatedly press F10 when the monitor light turns green to access the utility.  
You can also press Esc to a menu that allows you to access different options available at startup,  
including the Computer Setup utility.  
NOTE: If you do not press F10 at the appropriate time, you must restart the computer and again  
repeatedly press F10 when the monitor light turns green to access the utility.  
52 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
     
3. A choice of four headings appears in the Computer Setup Utilities menu: Main, Security, Advanced, and  
UEFI Drivers.  
NOTE: Selecting UEFI Drivers restarts the computer into the 3rd party option ROM management  
application. You can access this application directly by pressing F3 during startup.  
4. Use the arrow (left and right) keys to select the appropriate heading. Use the arrow (up and down) keys  
to select the option you want, then press Enter. To return to the Computer Setup Utilities menu, press  
Esc.  
5. To apply and save changes, select Main > Save Changes and Exit.  
If you have made changes that you do not want applied, select Ignore Changes and Exit.  
To reset to factory settings or previously saved default settings (some models), select Apply  
Factory Defaults and Exit. This option will restore the original factory system defaults.  
NOTE: Not all settings shown in the following sections are available for all models  
CAUTION: Do NOT turn the computer power OFF while the BIOS is saving the Computer Setup (F10) changes  
because the CMOS could become corrupted. It is safe to turn off the computer only after exiting the F10 Setup  
screen.  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities 53  
Computer Setup–Main  
NOTE: Support for specific Computer Setup options may vary depending on the hardware configuration.  
Table 5-1 Computer Setup—Main  
Option  
Description  
System Information  
Lists all information in following list if Advanced System Information is selected. Lists smaller subset if  
Basic System Information is selected.  
Product name  
Installed memory size  
Processor type  
Processor cache size (L1/L2/L3)  
Processor speed  
MicroCode Revision  
Processor Stepping  
DIMM size (for each installed module)  
System BIOS version  
Integrated Video BiOS Revision  
Born On Date  
Serial Number  
SKU number  
UUID (Universally Unique Identifier)  
Asset Tracking Number  
Feature Byte  
Build ID  
Product Family  
System Board ID  
System Board CT  
Integrated MAC Address  
System Diagnostics  
Starts HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI.  
Lets you perform the following functions:  
Memory Test  
Hard Drive Check  
Language  
Update System BIOS  
Lets you update the system BIOS. BIOS update binary (BIN) files must be located on the system hard drive  
or on a removable USB drive under the “Hewlett-Packard\BIOS\New” folder or under the “EFI\HP\BIOS  
\New” folder.  
Set Machine Unique Data Lets you update the following values:  
Feature Byte  
Build ID  
54 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
 
Table 5-1 Computer Setup—Main (continued)  
Option  
Description  
Serial Number  
SKU Number  
Product Family  
System Board CT  
Product Name  
System IDs  
Lets you clear the following values:  
Asset Tracking Number  
Ownership Tag  
Replicated Setup  
Backup current settings to USB device  
Saves system configuration to a formatted USB flash media device.  
Restore current settings from USB device  
Restores system configuration from a USB flash media device.  
NOTE: In order to protect system security, this feature does not support replicating passwords. Use the  
BIOS Configuration Utility instead.  
Save Custom Defaults  
Saves the current system configuration settings as the default.  
Apply Custom Defaults  
and Exit  
Applies the currently selected default settings and clears any established passwords.  
Apply Factory Defaults  
and Exit  
Restores the factory system configuration settings as the default.  
Ignore Changes and Exit  
Save Changes and Exit  
Exits Computer Setup without applying or saving any changes.  
Saves changes to system configuration or default settings and exits Computer Setup.  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities 55  
Computer Setup—Security  
NOTE: Support for specific Computer Setup options may vary depending on the hardware configuration.  
Table 5-2 Computer Setup—Security  
Option  
Description  
Set up BIOS  
Lets you set and enable a BIOS administrator password, which includes the following privileges:  
Administrator Password  
Manage other BIOS users  
Full access to BIOS policy and settings  
Control BIOS access of other users by setting security level  
Unlock the computer when other BIOS users fail the preboot authentication.  
NOTE: Creating a BIOS user disables the Fast Boot option.  
NOTE: If the password is set, it is required to change Computer Setup options, flash the ROM, and make  
changes to certain plug and play settings under Windows.  
Change BIOS  
Lets you change the BIOS administrator password.  
Administrator Password  
You must know the current password to be able to change it.  
(This selection is active  
only if a BIOS  
administrator password is  
set.)  
Password Policy  
Let you set the guidelines for a valid password. Options include:  
Password minimum length  
Requires at least one symbol  
Requires at least one number  
Requires at least one upper case character  
Requires at least one lower case character  
Allow spaces  
Clear Password Jumper  
Select ‘Honor’ to engage or ‘Ignore’ to disengage the password jumper. Default is ‘Honor’.  
Security Configuration  
Lets you activate HP SureStart.  
Verify Boot Block on ever Boot  
Select to enable HP SureStart.  
BIOS Data Recovery Policy  
Select ‘Automatic’ or ‘Manual’ to determine data recovery process.  
TPM Embedded Security  
TPM Device  
Lets you set the Trusted Platform Module as available or hidden.  
TPM State  
Select to enable the TPM.  
TPM Clear  
Select to reset the TPM to an unowned state. After the TPM is cleared, it is also turned off. To temporarily  
suspend TPM operations, turn the TPM off instead of clearing it.  
56 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
 
Table 5-2 Computer Setup—Security (continued)  
Option  
Description  
CAUTION: Clearing the TPM resets it to factory defaults and turns it off. You will lose all created keys and  
data protected by those keys.  
Set Up BIOS Power-On  
Password  
Lets you set and enable a BIOS power-on password. The power-on password prompt appears after a  
power cycle or reboot. If the user does not enter the correct power-on password, the unit will not boot.  
Change BIOS Power-On  
Password  
Lets you change the BIOS power-on password.  
You must know the current password to be able to change it.  
(This selection is active  
only if a BIOS power-on  
password is set.)  
DriveLock  
Allows you to assign or modify a master or user password for hard drives. When this feature is enabled,  
the user is prompted to provide one of the DriveLock passwords during POST. If neither is successfully  
entered, the hard drive will remain inaccessible until one of the passwords is successfully provided during  
a subsequent cold-boot sequence.  
NOTE: This selection will only appear when at least one drive that supports the DriveLock feature is  
attached to the system.  
CAUTION: Be aware that these settings take place immediately. A save is not necessary.  
CAUTION: Be sure to document the DriveLock password. Losing a DriveLock password will render a drive  
permanently locked.  
After you select a drive, the following options are available:  
Set DriveLock Master Password. Sets the drive’s master password but does not enable DriveLock.  
Enable DriveLock. Sets the drive’s user password and enables DriveLock.  
Secure Erase  
Lets you select a hard drive to completely erase.  
Once a hard drive has been erased with a program that utilizes Secure Erase firmware commands, no file  
recovery program, partition recovery program, or other data recovery method will be able to extract data  
from the drive.  
Save/Restore MBR of the Enabling this feature will save the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the system hard drive. If the MBR gets  
system hard drive  
changed, the user will be prompted to restore the MBR. Default is disabled.  
The MBR contains information needed to successfully boot from a disk and to access the data stored on  
the disk. Master Boot Record Security may prevent unintentional or malicious changes to the MBR, such as  
those caused by some viruses or by the incorrect use of certain disk utilities. It also allows you to recover  
the "last known good" MBR, should changes to the MBR be detected when the system is restarted.  
When MBR Security is enabled, the BIOS prevents any changes being made to the MBR of the current  
bootable disk while in MS-DOS or Windows Safe Mode.  
NOTE: Most operating systems control access to the MBR of the current bootable disk; the BIOS cannot  
prevent changes that may occur while the operating system is running.  
Restores the backup Master Boot Record to the current bootable disk. Default is disabled.  
Only appears if all of the following conditions are true:  
MBR security is enabled  
A backup copy of the MBR has been previously saved  
The current bootable disk is the same disk from which the backup copy was saved  
CAUTION: Restoring a previously saved MBR after a disk utility or operating system has modified the  
MBR, may cause the data on the disk to become inaccessible. Only restore a previously saved MBR if you  
are confident that the current bootable disk's MBR has been corrupted or infected with a virus.  
Smart Cover  
Cover Lock (Lock/Unlock)  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities 57  
Table 5-2 Computer Setup—Security (continued)  
Option  
Description  
Default is ‘Unlock’.  
Cover Removal Sensor (Disabled/Notify user/Administrator password)  
Lets you disable the cover sensor or configure what action is taken if the computer cover was removed.  
Default is ‘Disabled’.  
NOTE: Notify user alerts the user that the sensor has detected that the cover has been removed.  
Administrator Password requires that the password be entered to boot the computer if the sensor  
detects that the cover has been removed.  
System Management  
Command  
Allows authorized personnel to reset security settings during a service event. Default is enabled.  
Restore Security  
Restoring settings to default requires the BIOS Administrator password.  
Settings to Default  
Computer Setup—Advanced  
NOTE: Support for specific Computer Setup options may vary depending on the hardware configuration.  
Table 5-3 Computer Setup—Advanced (for advanced users)  
Option  
Heading  
Select Language  
Select Keyboard Layout  
Boot Options  
Lets you select the language of the menus in F10 Setup.  
Lets you select language for the keyboard.  
Startup Menu Delay(sec)  
Enabling this feature will add a user-specified delay to the POST process. This delay is sometimes needed  
for hard disks on some PCI cards that spin up very slowly, so slowly that they are not ready to boot by the  
time POST is finished. The POST delay also gives you more time to select F10 to enter Computer (F10)  
Setup. Default is ‘0’.  
Select the devices that the computer can boot from, as well as other options, including:  
Fast Boot. Default is disabled.  
CD-ROM Boot. Default is enabled.  
Network (PXE) Boot. Default is enabled.  
SD Boot. Default is enabled.  
Netclone BIOS Boot. Default is disabled.  
Prompt on Memory Size Change. Default is enabled.  
Prompt on Fixed Storage Change. Default is disabled.  
Display Diagnostic URL. Default is enabled.  
UEFI Boot Order. Default is enabled.  
Specify the order in which UEFI boot sources (such as a internal hard drive, USB hard drive, USB  
optical drive, or internal optical drive) are checked for a bootable operating system image. Each  
device on the list may be individually excluded from or included for consideration as a bootable  
operating system source.  
UEFI boot sources always have precedence over legacy boot sources.  
Legacy Boot Order  
58 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
 
Table 5-3 Computer Setup—Advanced (for advanced users) (continued)  
Option  
Heading  
Specify the order in which legacy boot sources (such as a network interface card, internal hard drive,  
USB optical drive, or internal optical drive) are checked for a bootable operating system image. Each  
device on the list may be individually excluded from or included for consideration as a bootable  
operating system source.  
Specify the order of attached hard drives. The first hard drive in the order will have priority in the  
boot sequence and will be recognized as drive C (if any devices are attached).  
NOTE: To drag a device to a preferred place, press Enter. To remove the device from consideration as a  
bootable device, press F5.  
You can use F5 to disable individual boot items, as well as disable UEFI boot and/or legacy boot.  
NOTE: MS-DOS drive lettering assignments may not apply after a non-MS-DOS operating system has  
started.  
Shortcut to Temporarily Override Boot Order  
To boot one time from a device other than the default device specified in Boot Order, restart the computer  
and press Esc (to access the boot menu) and then F9 (Boot Order), or only F9 (skipping the boot menu)  
when the monitor light turns green. After POST is completed, a list of bootable devices is displayed. Use  
the arrow keys to select the preferred bootable device and press Enter. The computer then boots from the  
selected non-default device for this one time.  
Secure Boot  
Configure Legacy Support and Secure Boot  
Configuration  
Legacy Support – Lets you turn off all legacy support on the computer, including booting to DOS, running  
legacy graphics cards, booting to legacy devices, and so on.  
Secure Boot – Lets you make sure an operating system is legitimate before booting to it, making Windows  
resistant to malicious modification from preboot to full OS booting, preventing firmware attacks. UEFI and  
Windows Secure Boot only allow code signed by pre-approved digital certificates to run during the  
firmware and OS boot process.  
Default is ‘Legacy Support Enable and Secure Boot Disable’.  
Secure Boot Key Management  
Lets you manage the custom key settings.  
Clear Secure Boot Keys  
Lets you delete any previously loaded custom boot keys. Clearing keys will disable secure boot. Default is  
disabled.  
Reset Security Boot keys to factory defaults  
Default is disabled.  
System Options  
Onboard RAID (enable/disable)  
Lets you enable onboard RAID. Default is disabled.  
Max SATA Speed (6.0 Gbps/3.0Gbps)  
Lets you set the maximum SATA drive speed to either 3.0 Gbps or 6.0 Gbps. The default is ‘6.0 Gbps’.  
USB 3.0 (XHCI) (enable/disable)  
Lets you enable the eXtensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI). If enabled, the USB 3.0 ports are routed to  
the xHCI controller before booting to OS. If disabled, the USB 3.0 ports are routed to the EHCI controller  
before booting to OS. The default is disabled.  
After Power Loss (off/on/previous state). Default is Power off. Setting this option to:  
Power off—causes the computer to remain powered off when power is restored.  
Power on—causes the computer to power on automatically as soon as power is restored.  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities 59  
Table 5-3 Computer Setup—Advanced (for advanced users) (continued)  
Option  
Heading  
Previous state—causes the computer to power on automatically as soon as power is restored, if it  
was on when power was lost.  
SVM CPU VIrtualization (enable/disable)  
Controls the virtualization features of the processor. Changing this setting requires turning the computer  
off and then back on. Default is disabled.  
Allow PCIe/PCI SERR# Interrupt (enable/disable)  
Allows PCI devices to report PCI/PCIe System Error signals, such as address parity errors, data parity  
errors, and critical errors other than parity. Default is enabled.  
Power Button Override (disable/4 sec/15 sec)  
Lets you disable or enable and select the number of seconds you have to hold down the power button for  
it to override the system. Default is ‘4 sec’.  
Built-In Device Options  
Embedded LAN Controller  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Wake On LAN  
Lets you either disable the Wake On LAN feature, or configure where the computer boots, including the  
network or hard drive. Default is Boot to Network.  
Embedded WWAN Device  
Select to enable.  
Video Memory Size  
Use this option to manage graphics memory allocation. The value you choose is allocated permanently to  
graphics and is unavailable to the operating system. For example, if you set this value to 512M on a  
system with 2 GB of RAM, the system always allocates 512 MB for graphics and the other 1.5 GB for use by  
the BIOS and operating system. Default is ‘Auto’ which sets memory allocation to 512 MB.  
Audio Device  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Internal Speakers (does not affect external speakers)  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Integrated Microphone  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Integrated Camera  
Use this option to disable the integrated video controller when another video controller is present in the  
system. Default is enabled.  
Increase Idle Fan Speed(%)  
Sets idle fan speed percentage. This setting only changes the minimum fan speed. The fan is still  
automatically controlled.  
Fingerprint Device  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Touch Panel  
Select to show the device in the operating system. Default is enabled.  
Port Options  
Allows you to hide the following ports from the operating system:  
60 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
Table 5-3 Computer Setup—Advanced (for advanced users) (continued)  
Option  
Heading  
Serial port A  
SATA0  
SATA1  
SATA2  
Front USB ports  
Rear USB ports  
Media card reader  
Restrict USB Devices  
Specify the following categories of USB devices to enable:  
Allow all USB devices  
Allow only keyboard and mouse  
Allow all but storage devices and hubs.  
Option ROM Launch  
Policy  
These policies control whether the Legacy Option ROM or the UEFI driver is loaded. Default is ‘All UEFI’.  
Configure Option ROM Launch Policy  
All legacy  
All UEFI  
All UEFI except video  
Power Management  
Options  
Runtime Power Management (enable/disable)  
Allows certain operating systems to reduce processor voltage and frequency when the current software  
load does not require the full capabilities of the processor. Default is enabled.  
Extended Idle Power States (enable/disable)  
Allows certain operating systems to decrease the processors power consumption when the processor is  
idle. Default is enabled.  
S5 Maximum Power Savings (enable/disable)  
Enabling this feature reduces the power of the system as much as possible in the S5 state. Power is  
removed from the wake up circuitry, the expansion slots, and any management features while in S5.  
Default is disabled.  
SATA Power Management (enable/disable)  
Enables or disables SATA bus and/or device power management. Default is enabled.  
PCI Express Power Management (enable/disable)  
Enabling this option permits the PCI Express links to use Active Power State Management (ASPM) to enter  
lower power states while not in use. Default is enabled.  
Unique Sleep State Blink Rates (enable/disable)  
This feature is designed to provide a visual indication of what sleep state the system is in. Each sleep  
state has a unique blink pattern. Default is disabled.  
NOTE: A normal shutdown goes to the S4 state.  
S0 (On) = Solid white LED.  
S3 (Stand By)= 3 blinks at 1Hz (50% duty cycle) followed by a pause of 2 seconds (white LED) — repeated  
cycles of 3 blinks and a pause.  
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities 61  
Table 5-3 Computer Setup—Advanced (for advanced users) (continued)  
Option  
Heading  
S4 (Hibernation)= 4 blinks at 1Hz (50% duty cycle) followed by a pause of 2 seconds (white LED) —  
repeated cycles of 4 blinks and a pause.  
S5 (Soft Off) = LED is off.  
Power On from Keyboard Ports (enable/disable)  
Enables or disables waking from S3 due to any keyboard activity. Default is disabled.  
USB Charging Port Function (enable/disable)  
Enables or disables the charging capability of the USB charging port. Default is enabled.  
Configurations  
Allows you to use F10 Setup to check for BIOS updates and apply them using either a manual selection or  
an automatically scheduled check upon boot-up.  
NOTE: If Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) is enabled, HP requires that BDE be suspended  
temporarily before the BIOS is flashed. You must get the BDE recovery password and PIN before  
suspending BDE. After updating the BIOS, you can resume BDE.  
Update Source (HP/Custom)  
Selects hp.com or a locally managed custom address to serve BIOS updates. Default is ‘HP’.  
Update Address.  
If ‘Custom’ is selected for Update Source, enter the URL of the locally managed server.  
Update BIOS via Network (Enabled/Disable)  
Enables or disables the network BIOS update scheduler. Default is ‘Enable’.  
Automatic Update Frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)  
If ‘Enable’ is selected for Update BIOS via Network, sets the frequency of checks to the BIOS update  
server. If a newer version of BIOS is available on the network server, the system will prompt to update the  
BIOS. Default is ‘Daily’.  
Automatic BIOS Update Setting  
If ‘Enable’ is selected for Update BIOS via Network, during the next boot, checks whether an updated  
BIOS is available and installs only specified updates. This value is independent of the Automatic Update  
Frequency setting.  
Available configurations include:  
Check and install all BIOS updates automatically  
Check and install only important updates automatically  
Check for BIOS updates but let me decide whether to install them  
Default is ‘Check and install all BIOS updates automatically’.  
Check for updates now  
Scheduled Power-On  
Select to check for the latest BIOS release revision on the network. Lets you decide whether to download  
the BIOS image and update the system.  
This feature wakes the system up from a powered off state at a specified date and time.  
62 Chapter 5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility  
Recovering the Configuration Settings  
This method of recovery requires that you first perform the Save to Removable Media command with the  
Computer Setup (F10) Utility before Restore is needed. (See Computer Setup–Main on page 54 in the  
Computer Setup—File table.)  
NOTE: It is recommended that you save any modified computer configuration settings to a USB flash media  
device and save the device for possible future use.  
To restore the configuration, insert the USB flash media device with the saved configuration and perform the  
Restore from Removable Media command with the Computer Setup (F10) Utility. (See Computer Setup–Main  
on page 54 in the Computer Setup—File table.)  
Recovering the Configuration Settings 63  
 
6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
This chapter provides information on how to identify and correct minor problems, such as USB devices, hard  
drive, optical drive, graphics, audio, memory, and software problems. If you encounter problems with the  
computer, refer to the tables in this chapter for probable causes and recommended solutions.  
NOTE: For information on specific error messages that may appear on the screen during Power-On Self-Test  
Safety and comfort  
WARNING! Misuse of the computer or failure to establish a safe and comfortable work environment may  
result in discomfort or serious injury. Refer to the Safety & Comfort Guide at http://www.hp.com/ergo for  
more information on choosing a workspace and creating a safe and comfortable work environment. For more  
information, refer to the Safety & Regulatory Information guide.  
Before you call for technical support  
If you are having problems with the computer, try the appropriate solutions below to try to isolate the exact  
problem before calling for technical support.  
Run the HP diagnostic tool.  
Run the hard drive self-test in Computer Setup. Refer to Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 52 for  
more information.  
Check the Power LED on the front of the computer to see if it is flashing red. The flashing lights are error  
codes that will help you diagnose the problem. Refer to POST error messages and diagnostic front panel  
LEDs and audible codes on page 94 for more information.  
If the screen is blank, plug the monitor into a different video port on the computer if one is available. Or,  
replace the monitor with a monitor that you know is functioning properly.  
If you are working on a network, plug another computer with a different cable into the network  
connection. There may be a problem with the network plug or cable.  
If you recently added new hardware, remove the hardware and see if the computer functions properly.  
If you recently installed new software, uninstall the software and see if the computer functions properly.  
Boot the computer to the Safe Mode to see if it will boot without all of the drivers loaded. When booting  
the operating system, use “Last Known Configuration.”  
Refer to the comprehensive online technical support at http://www.hp.com/support.  
Refer to Helpful hints on page 65 in this guide.  
To assist you in resolving problems online, HP Instant Support Professional Edition provides you with self-  
solve diagnostics. If you need to contact HP support, use HP Instant Support Professional Edition's online chat  
feature. Access HP Instant Support Professional Edition at: http://www.hp.com/go/ispe.  
Access the Business Support Center (BSC) at http://www.hp.com/go/bizsupport for the latest online support  
information, software and drivers, proactive notification, and worldwide community of peers and HP experts.  
64 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
         
If it becomes necessary to call for technical assistance, be prepared to do the following to ensure that your  
service call is handled properly:  
Be in front of your computer when you call.  
Write down the computer serial number, product ID number, and monitor serial number before calling.  
Spend time troubleshooting the problem with the service technician.  
Remove any hardware that was recently added to your system.  
Remove any software that was recently installed.  
Restore the system from the Recovery Disc Set that you created or restore the system to its original  
factory condition in System Software Requirement Disks (SSRD).  
CAUTION: Restoring the system will erase all data on the hard drive. Be sure to back up all data files before  
running the restore process.  
NOTE: For sales information and warranty upgrades (Care Packs), call your local authorized service provider  
or dealer.  
Helpful hints  
If you encounter problems with the computer, monitor, or software, see the following list of general  
suggestions before taking further action:  
Check that the computer and monitor are plugged into a working electrical outlet.  
Check that the voltage select switch (some models) is set to the appropriate voltage for your region  
(115V or 230V).  
Check that the computer is turned on and the white power light is on.  
Check that the monitor is turned on and the green monitor light is on.  
Check the Power LED on the front of the computer to see if it is flashing red. The flashing lights are error  
codes that will help you diagnose the problem. Refer to POST error messages and diagnostic front panel  
LEDs and audible codes on page 94 for more information.  
Turn up the brightness and contrast controls of the monitor if the monitor is dim.  
Press and hold any key. If the system beeps, then the keyboard should be operating correctly.  
Check all cable connections for loose connections or incorrect connections.  
Wake the computer by pressing any key on the keyboard or pressing the power button. If the system  
remains in suspend mode, shut down the computer by pressing and holding the power button for at  
least four seconds then press the power button again to restart the computer. If the system will not shut  
down, unplug the power cord, wait a few seconds, then plug it in again. The computer will restart if it is  
set to power on automatically as soon as power is restored in Computer Setup. If it does not restart,  
press the power button to start the computer.  
Reconfigure the computer after installing a non-plug and play expansion board or other option. See  
Be sure that all the needed device drivers have been installed. For example, if you are using a printer,  
you need a driver for that model printer.  
Remove all bootable media (CD/DVD or USB device) from the system before turning it on.  
Helpful hints 65  
   
If you have installed an operating system other than the factory-installed operating system, check to be  
sure that it is supported on the system.  
If the system has multiple video sources (embedded, PCI, or PCI-Express adapters) installed (embedded  
video on some models only) and a single monitor, the monitor must be plugged into the monitor  
connector on the source selected as the primary VGA adapter. During boot, the other monitor connectors  
are disabled and if the monitor is connected into these ports, the monitor will not function. You can  
select which source will be the default VGA source in Computer Setup.  
CAUTION: When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, there is always voltage applied to the  
system board. You must disconnect the power cord from the power source before opening the computer to  
prevent system board or component damage.  
Solving general problems  
You may be able to easily resolve the general problems described in this section. If a problem persists and you  
are unable to resolve it yourself or if you feel uncomfortable about performing the operation, contact an  
authorized dealer or reseller.  
WARNING! When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, voltage is always applied to the system  
board. To reduce the risk of personal injury from electrical shock and/or hot surfaces, be sure to disconnect  
the power cord from the wall outlet and allow the internal system components to cool before touching.  
Cannot access the Computer Setup (F10) Utility when booting the computer.  
Cause  
Solution  
The Computer Setup (F10) Utility is set to “fast boot” causing the  
F10 access screen to display too briefly when booting the  
computer.  
Before turning on the computer, press and hold F10. Turn on the  
computer and continue to hold F10 until the Computer Setup  
(F10) Utility is displayed.  
- or –  
Follow the Windows instructions for rebooting the computer into  
the Computer Setup (F10) Utility.  
Computer appears locked up and will not turn off when the power button is pressed.  
Cause  
Solution  
Software control of the power switch is not functional.  
1. Press and hold the power button for at least four seconds  
until the computer turns off.  
2. Disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet.  
Computer will not respond to keyboard or mouse.  
Cause  
Solution  
Computer is in Sleep state.  
To resume from Sleep state, press the power button.  
CAUTION: When attempting to resume from Sleep state, do not  
hold down the power button for more than four seconds.  
Otherwise, the computer will shut down and you will lose any  
unsaved data.  
System has locked up.  
Restart computer.  
66 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
     
Computer date and time display is incorrect.  
Cause  
Solution  
RTC (real-time clock) battery may need to be replaced.  
Reset the date and time under Control Panel (Computer Setup  
can also be used to update the RTC date and time). If the problem  
persists, replace the RTC battery. See the Removal and  
Replacement section for instructions on installing a new battery,  
or contact an authorized dealer or reseller for RTC battery  
replacement.  
NOTE: Connecting the computer to a live AC outlet prolongs the  
life of the RTC battery.  
To access Control Panel in Windows 7, select Start, and then  
select Control Panel.  
To access Control Panel in Windows 10, type control panelin  
the taskbar search box, and then select Control Panel.  
There is no sound or sound volume is too low.  
Cause  
Solution  
System volume may be set low or muted.  
1. Check the Computer Setup settings to make sure the  
internal system speaker is not muted (this setting does not  
affect the external speakers).  
2. Make sure the external speakers are properly connected and  
powered on and that the speakers' volume control is set  
correctly.  
3. Use the system volume control available in the operating  
system to make sure the speakers are not muted or to  
increase the volume.  
Cannot remove computer cover or access panel.  
Cause  
Solution  
Smart Cover Lock, featured on some computers, is locked.  
Unlock the Smart Cover Lock using Computer Setup.  
In case of forgotten password, power loss, or computer  
malfunction, you must manually disable the Smart Cover lock . A  
key to unlock the Smart Cover Lock is not available from HP. Keys  
are typically available from a hardware store.  
Poor performance.  
Cause  
Solution  
Processor is too hot.  
1. Make sure airflow to the computer is not blocked. Leave a  
10.2-cm (4-inch) clearance on all vented sides of the  
computer and above the monitor to permit the required  
airflow.  
2. Make sure fans are connected and working properly (some  
fans only operate when needed).  
3. Make sure the processor heat sink is installed properly.  
Hard drive is full.  
Transfer data from the hard drive to create more space on the  
hard drive.  
Solving general problems 67  
 
Poor performance.  
Cause  
Solution  
Low on memory.  
Hard drive fragmented.  
Add more memory.  
Defragment hard drive.  
Restart the computer.  
Program previously accessed did not release reserved memory  
back to the system.  
Virus resident on the hard drive.  
Too many applications running.  
Run virus protection program.  
1. Close unnecessary applications to free up memory.  
2. Add more memory.  
3. Some applications run in the background and can be closed  
by right-clicking on their corresponding icons in the task  
tray. To prevent these applications from launching at  
startup:  
In Windows 7:  
a. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run  
b. Type msconfig, and then press Enter.  
c.  
On the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility,  
clear applications that you do not want to launch  
automatically, and the click OK.  
In Windows 10:  
a. Type msconfigin the taskbar search box, and then  
select msconfig.  
b. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility,  
click Open Task Manager.  
c.  
Select applications that you do not want to launch  
automatically, and the click Disable.  
Some software applications, especially games, are stressful on  
the graphics subsystem.  
1. Lower the display resolution for the current application or  
consult the documentation that came with the application  
for suggestions on how to improve performance by  
adjusting parameters in the application.  
2. Add more memory.  
3. Upgrade the graphics solution.  
Cause unknown.  
Restart the computer.  
Computer powered off automatically and the Power LED flashes red four times and then white two times.  
Cause  
Solution  
Processor thermal protection activated:  
A fan may be blocked or not turning.  
OR  
1. Ensure that the computer air vents are not blocked and the  
processor cooling fan is running.  
2. Open the access panel, press the power button, and see if  
the processor fan (or other system fan) spins. If the fan does  
not spin, make sure the fan cable is plugged onto the system  
board header.  
The heat sink is not properly attached to the processor.  
3. If fan a plugged in and not spinning, replace it.  
68 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
System does not power on and the LEDs on the front of the computer are not flashing.  
Cause  
Solution  
System unable to power on.  
Press and hold the power button for less than 4 seconds. If the  
hard drive LED turns white, then:  
1. If equipped with a voltage selector, check that the voltage  
selector (located on the rear of the power supply) is set to  
the appropriate voltage. Proper voltage setting depends on  
your region.  
2. Remove the expansion cards one at a time until the 5V_aux  
light on the system board turns on.  
3. Replace the system board.  
OR  
Press and hold the power button for less than 4 seconds. If the  
hard drive LED does not turn on white then:  
1. Check that the unit is plugged into a working AC outlet.  
2. Open the access panel and check that the power button  
cable is properly connected to the system board.  
3. Check that the power supply cables are properly connected  
to the system board.  
4. Check to see if the 5V_aux light on the system board is  
turned on. If it is turned on, then replace the power button  
assembly.  
5. If the 5V_aux light on the system board is off, then replace  
the power supply.  
6. Replace the system board.  
Solving general problems 69  
Solving power problems  
Common causes and solutions for power problems are listed in the following table.  
Power supply shuts down intermittently.  
Cause  
Solution  
If equipped with a voltage selector, voltage selector switch on  
rear of computer chassis (some models) not switched to correct  
line voltage (115V or 230V).  
Select the proper AC voltage using the selector switch.  
Power supply will not turn on because of internal power supply  
fault.  
Replace the power supply.  
Computer powered off automatically and the Power LED flashes Red two times, once every second, followed by a two second  
pause, and the computer beeps two times. (Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Computer powered off automatically and the Power LED flashes red four times and then white two times.  
Cause  
Solution  
Processor thermal protection activated:  
A fan may be blocked or not turning.  
OR  
1. Ensure that the computer air vents are not blocked and the  
processor cooling fan is running.  
2. Open the access panel, press the power button, and see if  
the processor fan (or other system fan) spins. If the fan does  
not spin, make sure the fan cable is plugged onto the system  
board header.  
The heat sink is not properly attached to the processor.  
3. If fan a plugged in and not spinning, replace it.  
Power LED flashes Red four times, once every second, followed by a two second pause, and the computer beeps four times. (Beeps  
stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Computer powered off automatically and the Power LED flashes red three times and then white four times.  
Cause  
Solution  
Power failure (power supply is overloaded).  
1. If equipped with a voltage selector, check that the voltage  
selector, located on the rear of the power supply (some  
models), is set to the appropriate voltage. Proper voltage  
setting depends on your region.  
2. Open the access panel and ensure the power supply cable is  
seated into the connector on the system board.  
3. Check if a device is causing the problem by removing ALL  
attached devices (such as hard drives or optical drives and  
expansion cards). Power on the system. If the system enters  
POST, then power off and replace one device at a time and  
repeat this procedure until failure occurs. Replace the device  
that is causing the failure. Continue adding devices one at a  
time to ensure all devices are functioning properly.  
4. Replace the power supply.  
5. Replace the system board.  
70 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Solving hard drive problems  
Hard drive error occurs.  
Cause  
Solution  
Hard disk has bad sectors or has failed.  
1. In Windows 7, click Start, click Computer, and right-click on  
a drive. Select Properties, and then select the Tools tab.  
Under Error-checking click Check Now.  
In Windows 10, type filein the taskbar search box, and  
then select File Explorer from the list of applications. In the  
left column, expand This PC, right-click on a drive, select  
Properties, and then select the Tools tab. Under Error  
checking click Check.  
2. Use a utility to locate and block usage of bad sectors. If  
necessary, reformat the hard disk.  
Disk transaction problem.  
Cause  
Solution  
Either the directory structure is bad or there is a problem with a  
file.  
In Windows 7, click Start, expand Computer, and right-click on a  
drive. Select Properties, and then select the Tools tab. Under  
Error-checking click Check Now.  
In Windows 10, type filein the taskbar search box, and then  
select File Explorer from the list of applications. In the left  
column, expand This PC, right-click on a drive, select Properties,  
and then select the Tools tab. Under Error checking click Check.  
Drive not found (identified).  
Cause  
Solution  
Cable could be loose.  
Check cable connections.  
The system may not have automatically recognized a newly  
installed device.  
See reconfiguration directions in the Solving Hardware  
Installation Problems on page 82 section. If the system still  
does not recognize the new device, check to see if the device is  
listed within Computer Setup. If it is listed, the probable cause is a  
driver problem. If it is not listed, the probable cause is a hardware  
problem.  
If this is a newly installed drive, run the Computer Setup utility  
and try adding a POST delay under Advanced > Boot Options.  
The device is attached to a SATA port that has been hidden in  
Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure Device Available is  
selected for the device's SATA port in Advanced > Port Options.  
Drive responds slowly immediately after power-up.  
Run Computer Setup and increase the POST Delay in Advanced >  
Boot Options.  
Solving hard drive problems 71  
 
Nonsystem disk/NTLDR missing message.  
Cause  
Solution  
The system is trying to start from the hard drive but the hard  
drive may have been damaged.  
Perform Drive Protection System (DPS) testing in system  
ROM.  
System files missing or not properly installed.  
1. Insert bootable media and restart the computer.  
2. Boot to the windows installation media and select the  
recovery option. If only a restore kit is available, then select  
the File Backup Program option, and then restore the  
system.  
3. Install system files for the appropriate operating system.  
Hard drive boot has been disabled in Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and enable the hard drive entry in  
the Advanced > Boot Options list.  
Bootable hard drive is not attached as first in a multi-hard drive  
configuration.  
If attempting to boot from a hard drive, ensure it is attached to  
the system board dark blue SATA connector.  
Bootable hard drive is not listed first in the Boot Order.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and select Advanced > Boot  
Options and ensure the bootable hard drive is listed immediately  
under the Hard Drive entry.  
Computer will not boot from hard drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
The device is attached to a SATA port that has been hidden in  
Computer Setup.  
1. Check SATA cable connections.  
2. Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure Device Available  
is selected for the device's SATA port in Advanced > Port  
Options.  
Boot order is not correct.  
Hard drive is damaged.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and change boot sequence in  
Advanced > Boot Options.  
Observe if the front panel Power LED is blinking RED and if any  
causes for the blinking red and beep codes.  
See the Worldwide Limited Warranty for terms and conditions.  
Computer seems to be locked up.  
Cause  
Solution  
Program in use has stopped responding to commands.  
1. Use the task manager to close programs that do not  
respond.  
2. Attempt the normal Windows “Shut Down” procedure. If this  
fails, press the power button for four or more seconds to  
turn off the power. To restart the computer, press the power  
button again.  
72 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
Solving media card reader problems  
Media card will not work in a digital camera after formatting it in Windows.  
Cause  
Solution  
By default, Windows will format any media card with a capacity  
greater than 32MB with the FAT32 format. Some digital cameras  
use the FAT (FAT16 & FAT12) format and can not operate with a  
FAT32 formatted card.  
Either format the media card in the digital camera or select FAT  
file system to format the media card in a computer with Windows.  
A write-protected or locked error occurs when attempting to write to the media card.  
Cause  
Solution  
Media card is locked. Locking the media card is a safety feature  
that prevents writing to and deleting from an SD/Memory  
Stick/PRO card.  
If using an SD card, make sure that the lock tab located on the  
right of the SD card is not in the locked position. If using a Memory  
Stick/PRO card, make sure that the lock tab located on the bottom  
of the Memory Stick/PRO card is not in the locked position.  
Can not write to the media card.  
Cause  
Solution  
The media card is a read-only memory (ROM) card.  
Check the manufacturer’s documentation included with your card  
to see if it writable. Refer to the previous section for a list of  
compatible cards.  
Media card is locked. Locking the media card is a safety feature  
that prevents writing to and deleting from an SD/Memory  
Stick/PRO card.  
If using an SD card, make sure that the lock tab located on the  
right of the SD card is not in the locked position. If using a Memory  
Stick/PRO card, make sure that the lock tab located on the bottom  
of the Memory Stick/PRO card is not in the locked position.  
Unable to access data on the media card after inserting it into a slot.  
Cause  
Solution  
The media card is not inserted properly, is inserted in the wrong  
slot, or is not supported.  
Ensure that the card is inserted properly with the gold contact on  
the correct side. The green LED will light if inserted properly.  
Do not know how to remove a media card correctly.  
Cause  
Solution  
The computer’s software is used to safely eject the card.  
In Windows 7, click Start, select Computer, right-click on the  
corresponding drive icon, and then select Eject. Pull the card out  
of the slot.  
In Windows 10, type filein the taskbar search box, and then  
select File Explorer from the list of applications. In the left  
column, expand This PC, right-click on the corresponding drive  
icon, and then select Eject. Pull the card out of the slot.  
NOTE: Never remove the card when the green LED is flashing  
Solving media card reader problems 73  
 
After installing the media card reader and booting to Windows, the reader and the inserted cards are not recognized by the  
computer.  
Cause  
Solution  
The operating system needs time to recognize the device if the  
reader was just installed into the computer and you are turning  
the PC on for the first time.  
Wait a few seconds so that the operating system can recognize  
the reader and the available ports, and then recognize the media  
inserted in the reader.  
After inserting a media card in the reader, the computer attempts to boot from the media card.  
Cause  
Solution  
The inserted media card has boot capability.  
1. If you do not want to boot from the media card, remove it  
during boot or do not select the option to boot from the  
inserted media card during the boot process.  
2. During POST (Power On Self-Test), press F9 to modify the  
boot menu.  
3. Change the boot sequence in F10 Computer Setup.  
Solving display problems  
If you encounter display problems, see the documentation that came with the monitor and to the common  
causes and solutions listed in the following table.  
Blank screen (no video).  
Cause  
Solution  
Monitor is not turned on and the monitor light is not on.  
Bad monitor.  
Turn on the monitor and check that the monitor light is on.  
Try a different monitor.  
The cable connections are not correct.  
Check the cable connection from the monitor to the computer and  
to the electrical outlet.  
You may have a screen blanking utility installed or energy saver  
features are enabled.  
Press any key or click the mouse button and type your password  
(if set).  
System ROM is corrupted; system is running in Boot Block  
Emergency Recovery Mode (indicated by eight beeps).  
Reflash the system ROM with the latest BIOS image.  
You are using a fixed-sync monitor and it will not sync at the  
resolution chosen.  
Be sure that the monitor can accept the same horizontal scan rate  
as the resolution chosen.  
Computer is in Sleep state.  
Press the power button to resume from Sleep state.  
CAUTION: When attempting to resume from Sleep state, do not  
hold down the power button for more than four seconds.  
Otherwise, the computer will shut down and you will lose any  
unsaved data.  
Monitor cable is plugged into the wrong connector.  
Systems may have a monitor connection on both the  
motherboard or an add-in card. Try moving the monitor  
connection to a different connector on the back of the computer  
Monitor settings in the computer are not compatible with the  
monitor.  
1. In Control Panel, select Category from the View by list, then  
under Appearance and Personalization, select Adjust  
screen resolution.  
74 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Blank screen (no video).  
Cause  
Solution  
To access Control Panel in Windows 7, click Start, and then  
select Control Panel.  
To access Control Panel in Windows 10, type control  
panelin the taskbar search box, and then select Control  
Panel from the list of applications.  
2. Expand the Resolution box, and then use the sliding control  
to reset the resolution.  
Monitor is configured to use an input that is not active.  
Use the monitor's on-screen menu controls to select the input  
that is being driven by the system. Refer to the monitor's user  
documentation for more information on the on-screen controls  
and settings.  
Blank screen and the power LED flashes Red five times, once every second, followed by a two second pause, and the computer  
beeps five times. (Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Cause  
Solution  
Pre-video memory error.  
1. Reseat DIMMs. Power on the system.  
2. Replace DIMMs one at a time to isolate the faulty module.  
3. Replace third-party memory with HP memory.  
4. Replace the system board.  
Blank screen and the power LED flashes Red six times, once every second, followed by a two second pause, and the computer  
beeps six times. (Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Cause  
Solution  
Pre-video graphics error.  
For systems with a graphics card:  
1. Reseat the graphics card (if applicable). Power on the  
system.  
2. Replace the graphics card (if applicable).  
3. Replace the system board.  
For systems with integrated graphics, replace the system board.  
Blank screen and the power LED flashes Red seven times, once every second, followed by a two second pause, and the computer  
beeps seven times. (Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Cause  
Solution  
System board failure (ROM detected failure prior to video).  
Replace the system board.  
Solving display problems 75  
Monitor does not function properly when used with energy saver features.  
Cause  
Solution  
Monitor without energy saver capabilities is being used with  
energy saver features enabled.  
Disable monitor energy saver feature.  
Dim characters.  
Cause  
Solution  
The brightness and contrast controls are not set properly.  
Cables are not properly connected.  
Adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls.  
Check that the graphics cable is securely connected to the  
graphics card (if applicable) or video connector and the monitor.  
Blurry video or requested resolution cannot be set.  
Cause  
Solution  
If the graphics controller was upgraded, the correct graphics  
drivers may not be loaded.  
Install the video drivers included in the upgrade kit.  
Monitor is not capable of displaying requested resolution.  
Graphics card is bad.  
Change requested resolution.  
Replace the graphics card.  
The picture is broken up, rolls, jitters, or flashes.  
Cause  
Solution  
The monitor connections may be incomplete or the monitor may  
be incorrectly adjusted.  
1. Be sure the monitor cable is securely connected to the  
computer.  
2. In a two-monitor system or if another monitor is in close  
proximity, be sure the monitors are not interfering with each  
other’s electromagnetic field by moving them apart.  
3. Fluorescent lights or fans may be too close to the monitor.  
Monitor needs to be degaussed.  
Degauss the monitor. Refer to the documentation that came with  
the monitor for instructions.  
Image is not centered.  
Cause  
Solution  
Position may need adjustment.  
Press the monitor's Menu button to access the OSD menu. Select  
ImageControl/ Horizontal Position or Vertical Position to adjust  
the horizontal or vertical position of the image.  
76 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
“No Connection, Check Signal Cable” displays on screen.  
Cause  
Solution  
Monitor video cable is disconnected.  
Connect the video cable between the monitor and computer.  
CAUTION: Ensure that the computer power is off while  
connecting the video cable.  
“Out of Range” displays on screen.  
Cause  
Solution  
Video resolution and refresh rate are set higher than what the  
monitor supports.  
Restart the computer and enter Safe Mode. Change the settings to  
a supported setting then restart the computer so that the new  
settings take effect.  
To enter Safe Mode in Windows 7:  
1. Restart the computer.  
2. Press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts, before  
the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears,  
you must restart the computer and try again.  
3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to  
highlight the safe mode option you want, and then press  
Enter.  
4. Log on to your computer with a user account that has  
administrator rights.  
When your computer is in safe mode, Safe Mode displays in  
the corners of your monitor. To exit safe mode, restart your  
computer and let Windows start normally.  
To enter Safe Mode in Windows 10:  
1. Log into the computer using an Administrator account.  
2. Type msconfigin the taskbar search box, and then select  
msconfig from the list of applications.  
3. Click the Boot tab, select Safe boot and then click OK.  
High pitched noise coming from inside a flat panel monitor.  
Cause  
Solution  
Brightness and/or contrast settings are too high.  
Lower brightness and/or contrast settings.  
Fuzzy focus; streaking, ghosting, or shadowing effects; horizontal scrolling lines; faint vertical bars; or unable to center the  
picture on the screen (flat panel monitors using an analog VGA input connection only).  
Cause  
Solution  
Flat panel monitor’s internal digital conversion circuits may be  
unable to correctly interpret the output synchronization of the  
graphics card.  
1. Select the monitor’s Auto-Adjustment option in the  
monitor’s on-screen display menu.  
2. Manually synchronize the Clock and Clock Phase on-screen  
display functions. To download a SoftPaq that will assist you  
Solving display problems 77  
Fuzzy focus; streaking, ghosting, or shadowing effects; horizontal scrolling lines; faint vertical bars; or unable to center the  
picture on the screen (flat panel monitors using an analog VGA input connection only).  
Cause  
Solution  
with the synchronization, go to the following Web site,  
select the appropriate monitor, and download either  
SP32347 or SP32202: http://www.hp.com/support  
Graphics card is not seated properly or is bad (some models).  
1. Reseat the graphics card.  
2. Replace the graphics card.  
Certain typed symbols do not appear correct.  
Cause  
Solution  
The font you are using does not support that particular symbol.  
Use the Character Map to locate and select the appropriate  
symbol. You can copy the symbol from the Character Map into a  
document.  
In Windows 7, click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories,  
select System Tools, and then select Character Map.  
In Windows 10, type chin the taskbar search box, and then select  
Character Map from the list of applications.  
Solving audio problems  
If the computer has audio features and you encounter audio problems, see the common causes and solutions  
listed in the following table.  
Sound cuts in and out.  
Cause  
Solution  
Processor resources are being used by other open applications.  
Shut down all open processor-intensive applications.  
Sound does not come out of the speaker or headphones.  
Cause  
Solution  
Software volume control is turned down or muted.  
Double-click the Speaker icon on the taskbar, then make sure  
that Mute is not selected and use the volume slider to adjust the  
volume.  
Audio is hidden in Computer Setup.  
Enable the audio in Computer Setup: Advanced > Built-in Device  
Options.  
The external speakers are not turned on.  
Turn on the external speakers.  
The audio device may be connected to the wrong jack.  
Ensure that the device is connected to the correct jack on the  
computer. The rear audio jack output is the green receptacle. The  
speakers should be plugged into the line-out jack and the  
headphones should be plugged into the headphone jack.  
External speakers plugged into the wrong audio jack on a recently See the sound card documentation for proper speaker connection.  
installed sound card.  
The rear audio jack output is the green receptacle.  
78 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Sound does not come out of the speaker or headphones.  
Cause  
Solution  
Headphones or devices connected to the line-out connector mute Turn on and use headphones or external speakers, if connected,  
the internal speaker.  
or disconnect headphones or external speakers.  
Computer is in Sleep state.  
Press the power button to resume from Sleep state.  
CAUTION: When attempting to resume from Sleep state, do not  
hold down the power button for more than four seconds.  
Otherwise, the computer will shut down and you will lose any  
unsaved data.  
Internal speaker is disabled in Computer Setup.  
Enable the internal speaker in Computer Setup. Select Advanced >  
Built-in Device Options.  
The application is set to use a different audio device than  
speakers.  
Some graphics cards support audio over the DisplayPort  
connection (if applicable), so multiple audio devices may be listed  
in Device Manager. Make sure the correct device is being used.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select Control  
Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
Some applications can select which audio output device is used.  
Make sure the application has selected the correct audio device.  
The operating system controls may be set to use a different audio Set the operating system to use the correct audio device.  
device as the default output device than what is expected.  
Sound from headphones is not clear or muffled.  
Cause  
Solution  
Headphones are plugged into the rear audio output connector.  
Plug the headphones into the headphone connector on the front  
The rear audio output connector is for powered audio devices and of the computer.  
is not designed for headphone use.  
Computer appears to be locked up while recording audio.  
Cause  
Solution  
The hard disk may be full.  
Before recording, make sure there is enough free space on the  
hard disk. You can also try recording the audio file in a  
compressed format.  
Line-in jack is not functioning properly.  
Cause  
Solution  
Jack has been reconfigured in the audio driver or application  
In the audio driver or application software, reconfigure the jack or  
software.  
set the jack to its default value.  
Solving audio problems 79  
There is no sound or sound volume is too low.  
Cause  
Solution  
The application is set to use a different audio device than  
speakers.  
Some graphics cards support audio over the DisplayPort  
connection (if applicable), so multiple audio devices may be listed  
in Device Manager. Make sure the correct device is being used.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select Control  
Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
Some applications can select which audio output device is used.  
Make sure the application has selected the correct audio device.  
The operating system controls may be set to use a different audio Set the operating system to use the correct audio device.  
device as the default output device than what is expected.  
Solving printer problems  
If you encounter printer problems, see the documentation that came with the printer and to the common  
causes and solutions listed in the following table.  
Printer will not print.  
Cause  
Solution  
Printer is not turned on and online.  
Turn the printer on and make sure it is online.  
The correct printer drivers for the application are not installed.  
1. Install the correct printer driver for the application.  
2. Try printing using the MS-DOS command:  
DIR C:\ > [printer port]  
where [printer port]is the address of the printer being  
used. If the printer works, reload the printer driver.  
To run MS-DOS commands, press the Windows key + r, type cmd  
in the Open box, and then click OK.  
If you are on a network, you may not have made the connection  
to the printer.  
Make the proper network connections to the printer.  
Printer may have failed.  
Run printer self-test.  
Printer will not turn on.  
Cause  
Solution  
The cables may not be connected properly.  
Reconnect all cables and check the power cord and electrical  
outlet.  
80 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Printer prints garbled information.  
Cause  
Solution  
The correct printer driver for the application is not installed.  
The cables may not be connected properly.  
Printer memory may be overloaded.  
Install the correct printer driver for the application.  
Reconnect all cables.  
Reset the printer by turning it off for one minute, then turn it back  
on.  
Printer will not print.  
Cause  
Solution  
The printer may be out of paper.  
Check the paper tray and refill it if it is empty.  
Solving keyboard and mouse problems  
If you encounter keyboard or mouse problems, see the documentation that came with the equipment and to  
the common causes and solutions listed in the following table.  
A wireless keyboard/mouse is not working correctly. Symptoms include lagging mouse movement, jumpy mouse/keyboard, or no  
function of mouse/keyboard and external drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
If your computer is equipped with USB 3.0 ports, connected USB  
Connect the wireless keyboard USB receiver to a USB 2.0 port that  
3.0 devices can interfere with the wireless keyboard USB receiver. is separated from ports with USB 3.0 devices. If you still  
experience interference, you may have to place the connectors  
farther apart using an external USB hub.  
Keyboard commands and typing are not recognized by the computer.  
Cause  
Solution  
Keyboard connector is not properly connected.  
Shut down the computer, reconnect the keyboard to the back of  
the computer, and then restart the computer.  
Program in use has stopped responding to commands.  
Shut down your computer using the mouse and then restart the  
computer.  
Keyboard needs repairs.  
Computer is in Sleep state.  
See the Worldwide Limited Warranty for terms and conditions.  
Press the power button to resume from Sleep state.  
CAUTION: When attempting to resume from Sleep date, do not  
hold down the power button for more than four seconds.  
Otherwise, the computer will shut down and you will lose any  
unsaved data.  
Solving keyboard and mouse problems 81  
 
Mouse does not respond to movement or is too slow.  
Cause  
Solution  
Mouse connector is not properly plugged into the back of the  
computer.  
Shut down the computer using the keyboard.  
Windows 7:  
1. Press the Ctrl and Esc keys at the same time (or press the  
Windows logo key) to display the Start menu.  
2. Use the arrow keys to select Shut Down and then press  
Enter.  
3. After the shutdown is complete, plug the mouse connector  
into the back of the computer (or the keyboard) and restart.  
Windows 10:  
1. Press the Ctrl and Esc keys at the same time (or press the  
Windows logo key) to display the Start menu.  
2. Use the arrow keys to scroll to and select the power icon at  
the top right on the menu, and then press Enter.  
3. Use the arrow keys to select Shut Down, and then press  
Enter.  
4. After the shutdown is complete, plug the mouse connector  
into the back of the computer (or the keyboard) and restart.  
Program in use has stopped responding to commands.  
Mouse may need cleaning.  
Shut down the computer using the keyboard then restart the  
computer.  
Remove the roller ball cover on the mouse and clean the internal  
components.  
Mouse may need repair.  
See the Worldwide Limited Warranty for terms and conditions.  
Press the power button to resume from Sleep state.  
Computer is in Sleep state.  
CAUTION: When attempting to resume from Sleep state, do not  
hold down the power button for more than four seconds.  
Otherwise, the computer will shut down and you will lose any  
unsaved data.  
Mouse will only move vertically, horizontally, or movement is jerky.  
Cause  
Solution  
Mouse roller ball or the rotating encoder shafts that make contact Remove roller ball cover from the bottom of the mouse and clean  
with the ball are dirty.  
the internal components with a mouse cleaning kit available from  
most computer stores.  
Solving Hardware Installation Problems  
You may need to reconfigure the computer when you add or remove hardware, such as an additional drive or  
expansion card. If you install a plug and play device, Windows automatically recognizes the device and  
configures the computer. If you install a non-plug and play device, you must reconfigure the computer after  
completing installation of the new hardware. In Windows, use the Add Hardware Wizard and follow the  
instructions that appear on the screen.  
To open the Add Hardware Wizard, open a Command Prompt and open hdwwiz.exe.  
82 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
WARNING! When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, voltage is always applied to the system  
board. To reduce the risk of personal injury from electrical shock and/or hot surfaces, be sure to disconnect  
the power cord from the wall outlet and allow the internal system components to cool before touching.  
Table 6-1 Solving Hardware Installation Problems  
A new device is not recognized as part of the system.  
Cause  
Solution  
Device is not seated or connected properly.  
Ensure that the device is properly and securely connected and  
that pins in the connector are not bent down.  
Cable(s) of new external device are loose or power cables are  
unplugged.  
Ensure that all cables are properly and securely connected and  
that pins in the cable or connector are not bent down.  
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.  
When the system advised you of changes to the configuration,  
you did not accept them.  
Reboot the computer and follow the instructions for accepting the  
changes.  
A plug and play board may not automatically configure when  
added if the default configuration conflicts with other devices.  
Use Windows Device Manager to deselect the automatic settings  
for the board and choose a basic configuration that does not  
cause a resource conflict. You can also use Computer Setup to  
reconfigure or disable devices to resolve the resource conflict.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select Control  
Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
USB ports on the computer are disabled in Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure that Device available  
is selected for appropriate USB ports under Advanced > Port  
Options.  
Computer will not start.  
Cause  
Solution  
Wrong memory modules were used in the upgrade or memory  
modules were installed in the wrong location.  
1. Review the documentation that came with the system to  
determine if you are using the correct memory modules and  
to verify the proper installation.  
NOTE: DIMM1 or XMM1 must always be installed. DIMM1  
must be installed before DIMM2, and DIMM3 must be  
installed before DIMM4.  
2. Observe the beeps and LED lights on the front of the  
computer. Beeps and flashing LEDs are codes for specific  
problems.  
3. If you still cannot resolve the issue, contact Customer  
Support.  
Solving Hardware Installation Problems 83  
Power LED flashes Red three times and then white two times.  
Cause  
Solution  
Memory is installed incorrectly or is bad.  
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the DIMMs or the system board,  
you must unplug the computer power cord before attempting to  
reseat, install, or remove a DIMM module.  
1. Reseat DIMMs. Power on the system.  
2. Replace DIMMs one at a time to isolate the faulty module.  
NOTE: DIMM1 or XMM1 must always be installed. DIMM1  
must be installed before DIMM2, and DIMM3 must be  
installed before DIMM4  
3. Replace third-party memory with HP memory.  
4. Replace the system board.  
Solving Network Problems  
Some common causes and solutions for network problems are listed in the following table. These guidelines  
do not discuss the process of debugging the network cabling.  
Table 6-2 Solving Network Problems  
Network driver does not detect network controller.  
Cause  
Solution  
Network controller is disabled.  
1. Run Computer Setup and enable network controller.  
2. Enable the network controller in the operating system using  
Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select  
Control Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
Incorrect network driver.  
Check the network controller documentation for the correct driver  
or obtain the latest driver from the manufacturer’s Web site.  
Network status link light never flashes.  
NOTE: The network status light is supposed to flash when there is network activity.  
Cause  
Solution  
No active network is detected.  
Network controller is not set up properly.  
Check cabling and network equipment for proper connection.  
Check for the device status within Windows, such as Device  
Manager for driver load and the Network Connections applet  
within Windows for link status.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select Control  
Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
84 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Table 6-2 Solving Network Problems (continued)  
Network status link light never flashes.  
NOTE: The network status light is supposed to flash when there is network activity.  
Cause  
Solution  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
Network controller is disabled.  
1. Run Computer Setup and enable network controller.  
2. Enable the network controller in the operating system using  
Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select  
Control Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
Network driver is not properly loaded.  
System cannot autosense the network.  
Reinstall network drivers.  
Disable auto-sensing capabilities and force the system into the  
correct operating mode.  
Diagnostics reports a failure.  
Cause  
Solution  
The cable is not securely connected.  
Ensure that the cable is securely attached to the network  
connector and that the other end of the cable is securely attached  
to the correct device.  
The cable is attached to the incorrect connector.  
Ensure that the cable is attached to the correct connector.  
There is a problem with the cable or a device at the other end of  
the cable.  
Ensure that the cable and device at the other end are operating  
correctly.  
The network controller is defective.  
Contact an authorized service provider.  
Diagnostics passes, but the computer does not communicate with the network.  
Cause  
Solution  
Network drivers are not loaded, or driver parameters do not  
Make sure the network drivers are loaded and that the driver  
match current configuration.  
parameters match the configuration of the network controller.  
Make sure the correct network client and protocol is installed.  
The network controller is not configured for this computer.  
Select the Network and Sharing Center icon in the Control Panel  
and configure the network controller.  
To access Control Panel in Windows 7, click Start, and then select  
Control Panel.  
To access Control Panel in Windows 10, type control panelin  
the taskbar search box, and then select Control Panel from the  
list of applications.  
Solving Network Problems 85  
Network controller stopped working when an expansion board was added to the computer.  
Cause  
Solution  
The network controller requires drivers.  
Verify that the drivers were not accidentally deleted when the  
drivers for a new expansion board were installed.  
Network controller stops working without apparent cause.  
Cause  
Solution  
The files containing the network drivers are corrupted.  
Reinstall the network drivers using the Recovery Disc Set in  
Windows 7.  
If necessary, download the softpaq from the web (from a different  
computer).  
The cable is not securely connected.  
The network controller is defective.  
Ensure that the cable is securely attached to the network  
connector and that the other end of the cable is securely attached  
to the correct device.  
Contact an authorized service provider.  
New network card will not boot.  
Cause  
Solution  
New network card may be defective or may not meet industry-  
standard specifications.  
Install a working, industry-standard NIC, or change the boot  
sequence to boot from another source.  
Cannot connect to network server when attempting Remote System Installation.  
Cause  
Solution  
The network controller is not configured properly.  
Verify Network Connectivity, that a DHCP Server is present, and  
that the Remote System Installation Server contains the NIC  
drivers for your NIC.  
System setup utility reports unprogrammed EEPROM.  
Cause  
Solution  
Unprogrammed EEPROM.  
Contact an authorized service provider.  
86 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
Solving memory problems  
If you encounter memory problems, some common causes and solutions are listed in the following table.  
CAUTION: Power may still be supplied to the DIMMs when the computer is turned off (depending on the  
Management Engine (ME) settings). To avoid damage to the DIMMs or the system board, you must unplug the  
computer power cord before attempting to reseat, install, or remove a memory module.  
For those systems that support ECC memory, HP does not support mixing ECC and non-ECC memory.  
Otherwise, the computer will not boot the operating system.  
NOTE: The memory count will be affected by configurations with the Management Engine (ME) enabled. The  
ME uses 8MB of system memory in single channel mode or 16MB of memory in dual-channel mode to  
download, decompress, and execute the ME firmware for Out-of-Band (OOB), third-party data storage, and  
other management functions.  
System will not boot or does not function properly after installing additional memory modules.  
Cause  
Solution  
A memory module is not installed in the DIMM1 or XMM1 socket.  
Ensure that a memory module is installed in the DIMM1 or XMM1  
socket on the system board. This socket must be populated with a  
memory module.  
Memory module is not the correct type or speed grade for the  
system or the new memory module is not seated properly.  
Replace module with the correct industry-standard device for the  
computer. On some models, ECC and non-ECC memory modules  
cannot be mixed.  
Out of memory error.  
Cause  
Solution  
You have run out of memory to run the application.  
Check the application documentation to determine the memory  
requirements.  
Memory count during POST is wrong.  
Cause  
Solution  
The memory modules may not be installed correctly.  
Check that the memory modules have been installed correctly and  
that proper modules are used.  
Integrated graphics may use system memory.  
No action required.  
Insufficient memory error during operation.  
Cause  
Solution  
Too many Terminate and Stay Resident programs (TSRs) are  
installed.  
Delete any TSRs that you do not need.  
You have run out of memory for the application.  
Check the memory requirements for the application or add more  
memory to the computer.  
Solving memory problems 87  
 
Power LED flashes Red five times, once every second, followed by a two second pause, and the computer beeps five times. (Beeps  
stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue flashing.)  
Cause  
Solution  
Memory is installed incorrectly or is bad.  
1. Reseat DIMMs. Power on the system.  
2. Replace DIMMs one at a time to isolate the faulty module.  
3. Replace third-party memory with HP memory.  
4. Replace the system board.  
Solving CD-ROM and DVD problems  
If you encounter CD-ROM or DVD problems, see the common causes and solutions listed in the following table  
or to the documentation that came with the optional device.  
System will not boot from CD-ROM or DVD drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
The device is attached to a SATA port that has been hidden in the  
Computer Setup utility.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure Device Available is  
selected for the device's SATA port in Advanced > Port Options.  
Removable Media Boot is disabled in the Computer Setup utility.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and enable booting to removable  
media in Advanced > Boot Options.  
Network Boot is enabled in Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and disable Network Boot in  
Advanced > Boot Options.  
Non-bootable CD in drive.  
Boot order not correct.  
Try a bootable CD in the drive.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and change boot sequence in  
Advanced > Boot Options.  
Drive not found (identified).  
Cause  
Solution  
Cable could be loose.  
Check cable connections.  
The system may not have automatically recognized a newly  
installed device.  
See reconfiguration directions in the Solving Hardware  
Installation Problems on page 82 section. If the system still does  
not recognize the new device, check to see if the device is listed  
within Computer Setup. If it is listed, the probable cause is a driver  
problem. If it is not listed, the probable cause is a hardware  
problem.  
If this is a newly installed drive, run the Computer Setup utility  
and try adding a POST delay under Advanced > Power-On  
Options.  
The device is attached to a SATA port that has been hidden in  
Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure Device Available is  
selected for the device's SATA port in Advanced > Port Options.  
Drive responds slowly immediately after power-up.  
Run Computer Setup and increase the POST Delay in Advanced >  
Power-On Options.  
88 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
CD-ROM or DVD devices are not detected or driver is not loaded.  
Cause  
Solution  
Drive is not connected properly or not properly configured.  
See the documentation that came with the optional device.  
Movie will not play in the DVD drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
Movie may be regionalized for a different country.  
Decoder software is not installed.  
Damaged media.  
See the documentation that came with the DVD drive.  
Install decoder software.  
Replace media.  
Movie rating locked out by parental lock.  
Media installed upside down.  
Use DVD software to remove parental lock.  
Reinstall media.  
Cannot eject compact disc (tray-load unit).  
Cause  
Solution  
Disc not properly seated in the drive.  
Turn off the computer and insert a thin metal rod into the  
emergency eject hole and push firmly. Slowly pull the tray out  
from the drive until the tray is fully extended, then remove  
the disc.  
CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, or DVD-R/RW drive cannot read a disc or takes too long to start.  
Cause  
Solution  
Media is corrupt.  
Try different media to confirm whether media is valid.  
Re-insert the media with the label facing up.  
Media has been inserted upside down.  
The DVD-ROM drive takes longer to start because it has to  
determine the type of media played, such as audio or video.  
Wait at least 30 seconds to let the DVD-ROM drive determine the  
type of media being played. If the disc still does not start, read the  
other solutions listed for this topic.  
CD or DVD disc is dirty.  
Clean CD or DVD with a CD cleaning kit, available from most  
computer stores.  
Windows does not detect the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.  
1. Use Device Manager to remove or uninstall the device.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 7, click Start, select  
Control Panel, and then select Device Manager.  
To access Device Manager in Windows 10, type device  
managerin the taskbar search box, and then select Device  
Manager from the list of applications.  
2. Restart the computer and let Windows detect the CD or DVD  
driver.  
Solving CD-ROM and DVD problems 89  
Recording or copying CDs is difficult or impossible.  
Cause  
Solution  
Wrong or poor quality media type.  
1. Try using a slower speed when recording.  
2. Verify that you are using the correct media for the drive.  
3. Try a different brand of media. Quality varies widely  
between manufacturers.  
Solving USB flash drive problems  
If you encounter USB flash drive problems, common causes and solutions are listed in the following table.  
USB flash drive is not seen as a drive letter in Windows.  
Cause  
Solution  
The drive letter after the last physical drive is not available.  
Change the default drive letter for the flash drive in Windows.  
USB flash drive not found (identified).  
Cause  
Solution  
The device is attached to a USB port that has been hidden in  
Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and enable USB ports in Advanced  
> Port Options.  
The device was not properly seated before power-up.  
Ensure the device is fully inserted into the USB port before  
applying power to the system  
System will not boot from USB flash drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
Boot order is not correct.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and change boot sequence in  
Advanced > Boot Options.  
Removable Media Boot is disabled in the Computer Setup utility.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and enable booting to removable  
media in Advanced > Boot Options. Ensure USB is enabled in  
Storage > Boot Order.  
The computer boots to DOS after making a bootable flash drive.  
Cause  
Solution  
Flash drive is bootable.  
Flash drive is defective.  
Install the flash drive only after the operating system boots.  
Try a different flash drive.  
90 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
 
Solving front panel component problems  
If you encounter problems with devices connected to the front panel, refer to the common causes and  
solutions listed in the following table.  
A USB device, headphone, or microphone is not recognized by the computer.  
Cause  
Solution  
Device is not properly connected.  
1. Turn off the computer.  
2. Reconnect the device to the front of the computer and  
restart the computer.  
The device does not have power.  
If the USB device requires AC power, be sure one end is connected  
to the device and one end is connected to a live outlet.  
The correct device driver is not installed.  
1. Install the correct driver for the device.  
2. You might need to reboot the computer.  
The cable from the device to the computer does not work.  
The device is not working.  
1. If possible, replace the cable.  
2. Restart the computer.  
1. Replace the device.  
2. Restart the computer.  
USB ports on the computer are disabled in Computer Setup.  
Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure that the USB ports are  
set to Enabled in Security > USB Security.  
Solving Internet access problems  
If you encounter Internet access problems, consult your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or refer to the common  
causes and solutions listed in the following table.  
Unable to connect to the Internet.  
Cause  
Solution  
Internet Service Provider (ISP) account is not set up properly.  
Web browser is not set up properly.  
Verify Internet settings or contact your ISP for assistance.  
Verify that the Web browser is installed and set up to work with  
your ISP.  
Cable/DSL modem is not plugged in.  
Plug in cable/DSL modem. You should see a “power” LED light on  
the front of the cable/DSL modem.  
Cable/DSL service is not available or has been interrupted due to  
bad weather.  
Try connecting to the Internet at a later time or contact your ISP.  
(If the cable/DSL service is connected, the “cable” LED light on the  
front of the cable/DSL modem will be on.)  
The CAT5 UTP cable is disconnected.  
Connect the CAT5 UTP cable between the cable modem and the  
computers’s RJ-45 connector. (If the connection is good, the “PC”  
LED light on the front of the cable/DSL modem will be on.)  
IP address is not configured properly.  
Contact your ISP for the correct IP address.  
Cookies are corrupted. (A “cookie” is a small piece of information  
that a Web server can store temporarily with the Web browser.  
This is useful for having the browser remember some specific  
information that the Web server can later retrieve.)  
Windows 7:  
1. Select Start > Control Panel.  
2. Click Internet Options.  
Solving front panel component problems 91  
   
Unable to connect to the Internet.  
Cause  
Solution  
3. In the Browsing history section on the General tab, click the  
Delete button.  
4. Select the Cookies check box and click the Delete button.  
Windows 10:  
1. Type control panelin the taskbar search box, and then  
select Control Panel from the list of applications.  
2. Click Internet Options.  
3. In the Browsing history section, click the Delete button.  
4. Select the Cookies and website data check box and click the  
Delete button.  
Cannot automatically launch Internet programs.  
Cause  
Solution  
You must log on to your ISP before some programs will start.  
Log on to your ISP and launch the desired program.  
92 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics  
Solving software problems  
Most software problems occur as a result of the following:  
The application was not installed or configured correctly.  
There is insufficient memory available to run the application.  
There is a conflict between applications.  
Be sure that all the needed device drivers have been installed.  
If you have installed an operating system other than the factory-installed operating system, check to be  
sure it is supported on the system.  
If you encounter software problems, see the applicable solutions listed in the following table.  
Computer will not continue and the HP logo does not display.  
Cause  
Solution  
ROM issue - POST error has occurred.  
Observe the beeps and LED lights on the front of the computer.  
audible codes on page 94 to determine possible causes.  
See the Worldwide Limited Warranty for terms and conditions.  
“Illegal Operation has Occurred” error message is displayed.  
Cause  
Solution  
Software being used is not Microsoft-certified for your version of  
Verify that the software is certified by Microsoft for your version  
Windows.  
of Windows (see program packaging for this information).  
Configuration files are corrupt.  
If possible, save all data, close all programs, and restart the  
computer.  
Solving software problems 93  
 
7 POST error messages and diagnostic front  
panel LEDs and audible codes  
This appendix lists the error codes, error messages, and the various indicator light and audible sequences  
that you may encounter during Power-On Self-Test (POST) or computer restart, the probable source of the  
problem, and steps you can take to resolve the error condition.  
POST Message Disabled suppresses most system messages during POST, such as memory count and non-  
error text messages. If a POST error occurs, the screen will display the error message. To manually switch to  
the POST Messages Enabled mode during POST, press any key (except F10, F11, or F12). The default mode is  
POST Message Disabled.  
The speed at which the computer loads the operating system and the extent to which it is tested are  
determined by the POST mode selection.  
Quick Boot is a fast startup process that does not run all of the system level tests, such as the memory test.  
Full Boot runs all of the ROM-based system tests and takes longer to complete.  
Full Boot may also be enabled to run every 1 to 30 days on a regularly scheduled basis. To establish the  
schedule, reconfigure the computer to the Full Boot Every x Days mode, using Computer Setup.  
NOTE: For more information on Computer Setup, see Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 52.  
POST numeric codes and text messages  
This section covers those POST errors that have numeric codes associated with them. The section also  
includes some text messages that may be encountered during POST.  
NOTE: The computer will beep once after a POST text message is displayed on the screen.  
Control panel message  
Description  
Recommended action  
002-Option ROM Checksum Error  
System ROM or expansion board option ROM  
checksum.  
1. Verify the correct ROM.  
2. Flash the ROM if needed.  
3. If an expansion board was recently added,  
remove it to see if the problem remains.  
4. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
5. If the message disappears, there may be a  
problem with the expansion card.  
6. Replace the system board.  
003-System Board Failure  
DMA or timers.  
1. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
2. Remove expansion boards.  
3. Replace the system board.  
005-Real-Time Clock Power Loss  
Invalid time or date in configuration memory.  
Reset the date and time under Control Panel  
(Computer Setup can also be used). If the  
94 Chapter 7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes  
           
Control panel message  
Description  
Recommended action  
RTC (real-time clock) battery may need to  
be replaced.  
problem persists, replace the RTC battery. See  
the Removal and Replacement section for  
instructions on installing a new battery.  
008–Microcode Patch Error  
Processor is not supported by the BIOS.  
1. Upgrade BIOS to proper version.  
2. Change the processor.  
009–PMM Allocation Error during MEBx  
Download  
Memory error during POST execution of the  
Management Engine (ME) BIOS Extensions  
option ROM.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
2. Unplug the power cord, re-seat the  
memory modules, and reboot the  
computer.  
3. If the memory configuration was recently  
changed, unplug the computer, restore  
the original memory configuration, and  
reboot the computer.  
4. If the error persists, replace the system  
board.  
100-Front Audio Not Connected  
Front audio cable has been detached or  
unseated from system board.  
Reconnect or replace front audio cable.  
Use Computer Setup to update this information.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
00A-Product Information Not Valid  
00B-MEBx Module did not checksum correctly  
The product information programmed into the  
system board is missing or invalid.  
Memory error during POST execution of the  
Management Engine (ME) BIOS Extensions  
option ROM.  
2. Unplug the power cord, re-seat the  
memory modules, and reboot the  
computer.  
3. If the memory configuration was recently  
changed, unplug the power cord, restore  
the original memory configuration, and  
reboot the computer.  
4. If the error persists, replace the system  
board.  
00C-PMM Deallocation Error during MEBx  
Cleanup  
Memory error during POST execution of the  
Management Engine (ME) BIOS Extensions  
option ROM.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
2. Unplug the power cord, re-seat the  
memory modules, and reboot the  
computer.  
3. If the memory configuration was recently  
changed, unplug the power cord, restore  
the original memory configuration, and  
reboot the computer.  
4. If the error persists, replace the system  
board.  
00D-Setup Error during MEBx Execution  
MEBx selection or exit resulted in a setup  
failure.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
2. Unplug the power cord, re-seat the  
memory modules, and reboot the  
computer.  
3. If the memory configuration was recently  
changed, unplug the power cord, restore  
the original memory configuration, and  
reboot the computer.  
POST numeric codes and text messages 95  
Control panel message  
Description  
Recommended action  
4. If the error persists, replace the system  
board.  
00E-Inventory Error during MEBx Execution  
BIOS information passed to the MEBx resulted  
in a failure.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
2. If the error persists, update to the latest  
BIOS version.  
3. If the error still persists, replace the  
system board.  
00F-Interface Error during MEBx Execution  
MEBx operation experienced a hardware error  
during communication with the ME.  
1. Reboot the computer.  
2. If the error persists, update to the latest  
BIOS version.  
3. If the error still persists, replace the  
system board.  
2E1-MemorySize Error  
2E2-Memory Error  
Memory amount has changed since the last  
boot (memory added or removed).  
The system memory size is different from the  
last startup. The most common reason is the  
removal of memory from the system board.  
Press the F1 key to save the memory changes.  
If this message persists, verify that the  
memory modules are installed correctly.  
Memory module configuration failed during  
1. Ensure memory modules are correctly  
boot up.  
installed.  
2. Verify proper memory module type.  
3. Remove and replace the identified faulty  
memory module(s).  
4. If the error persists after replacing  
memory modules, replace the system  
board.  
2E3-Incompatible Memory Module in Memory  
Socket(s) X, X, ...  
A memory module in memory socket identified 1. Verify proper memory module type.  
in the error message is missing critical SPD  
2. Try another memory socket.  
information, or is incompatible with the chipset.  
3. Replace with a supported module.  
2E4-DIMM Configuration Warning  
The current memory configuration is not  
optimized.  
Rearrange the DIMMs so that each channel has  
the same amount of memory.  
2E5-ECC Memory Module Detected on  
Unsupported Platform  
Recently added memory module(s) support ECC 1. If additional memory was recently added,  
memory error correction.  
remove it to see if the problem remains.  
2. Check product documentation for  
memory support information.  
2E6–Memory Not Configured Correctly for  
Proper MEBx Execution  
DIMM1 is not installed.  
Make sure there is a memory module in the  
DIMM1 socket and that it is properly seated.  
300–Configuration Change Warning  
The storage device configuration will be  
Not applicable  
updated as shown.  
301-Hard Disk 1: SMART Hard Drive Detects  
Imminent Failure  
Hard drive is about to fail. (Some hard drives  
have a hard drive firmware patch that will fix an  
erroneous error message.)  
1. Determine if hard drive is giving correct  
error message. Run the Drive Protection  
System test under using F2 Diagnostics  
when booting the computer.  
2. Apply hard drive firmware patch  
if applicable. (Available at  
96 Chapter 7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes  
Control panel message  
Description  
Recommended action  
3. Back up contents and replace hard drive.  
302-Hard Disk 2: SMART Hard Drive Detects  
Imminent Failure  
Hard drive is about to fail. (Some hard drives  
have a hard drive firmware patch that will fix an  
erroneous error message.)  
1. Determine if hard drive is giving correct  
error message. Run the Drive Protection  
System test under using F2 Diagnostics  
when booting the computer.  
2. Apply hard drive firmware patch  
if applicable. (Available at  
3. Back up contents and replace hard drive.  
309 – 30C: Hard Disk 3–6: SMART Hard Drive  
Detects Imminent Failure  
Hard drive is about to fail. (Some hard drives  
have a hard drive firmware patch that will fix an  
erroneous error message.)  
1. Determine if hard drive is giving correct  
error message. Run the Drive Protection  
System test under using F2 Diagnostics  
when booting the computer.  
2. Apply hard drive firmware patch  
if applicable. (Available at  
3. Back up contents and replace hard drive.  
Insert boot device or load operating system.  
1. Check and/or replace cables.  
3F0–Boot Device Not Found  
3F1–Hard Disk 1 Error  
Boot device not found.  
Hard disk 1 error.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
3. Replace the hard disk drive.  
3F2–Hard Disk 2 Error  
Hard disk 2 error.  
1. Check and/or replace cables.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
3. Replace the hard disk drive.  
400-Serial Port A Address Conflict Detected  
Both external and internal serial ports are  
assigned to the same resources.  
1. Remove any serial port expansion cards.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run  
Computer Setup or Windows utilities.  
401-Serial Port B Address Conflict Detected  
402-Serial Port C Address Conflict Detected  
403-Serial Port D Address Conflict Detected  
Both external and internal serial ports are  
assigned to the same resources.  
1. Remove any serial port expansion cards.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run  
Computer Setup or Windows utilities.  
Both external and internal serial ports are  
assigned to the same resources.  
1. Remove any serial port expansion cards.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run  
Computer Setup or Windows utilities.  
Both external and internal serial ports are  
assigned to the same resources.  
1. Remove any serial port expansion cards.  
2. Clear CMOS. (See Password security and  
POST numeric codes and text messages 97  
Control panel message  
Description  
Recommended action  
3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run  
Computer Setup or Windows utilities.  
419-Out of Memory Space for Option ROMs  
41A-Front USB1/USB2 Not Connected  
Recently added PCI expansion card contains an  
option ROM too large to download during POST.  
If a PCI expansion card was recently  
added, remove it to see if the problem  
remains.  
Front USB cable has been detached or unseated Reconnect or replace front USB cable.  
from system board.  
41B-Device in PCI Express Slot Failed To  
Initialize  
There is an incompatibility or problem with a  
PCIe device and the system or PCIe link could  
not be configured to a valid bus width or speed.  
Try rebooting the system. If the error reoccurs,  
the device may not work with this system  
43A-USB Type-C I2C Not Connected  
Cable is required between I2C on card and USB- Install cable between I2C on card and USB-C on  
C on the system board.  
the system board.  
43B-More Than One USB type-C Cards Are  
Installed  
More than one USB type-C card is installed.  
Remove USB type-C card so only one is  
installed.  
500–BIOS Recovery  
60x-HP Battery Alert  
A system BIOS recovery has occurred.  
Not applicable.  
The system has detected the storage capacity  
of the battery stated below to be very low.  
For optimal performance, replace the battery.  
70x-Wireless Mode Not Supported  
800-Keyboard Error  
The system has detected a wireless module  
installed in the system that is not supported  
and has been disabled.  
Replace with a supported module.  
Keyboard failure.  
1. Reconnect keyboard with computer  
turned off.  
2. Check connector for bent or missing pins.  
3. Ensure that none of the keys are  
depressed.  
4. Replace keyboard.  
801-Keyboard or System Unit Error  
Keyboard failure.  
1. Reconnect the keyboard with computer  
turned off.  
2. Ensure that none of the keys are  
depressed.  
3. Replace the keyboard.  
4. Replace the system board.  
900-CPU Fan Not Detected  
CPU fan is not connected or may have  
malfunctioned.  
1. Reseat CPU fan.  
2. Reseat fan cable.  
3. Replace CPU fan.  
901-Chassis, Rear Chassis, or Front Chassis Fan Chassis, rear chassis, or front chassis fan is not 1. Reseat chassis, rear chassis, or front  
not Detected  
connected or may have malfunctioned.  
chassis fan.  
2. Reseat fan cable.  
3. Replace chassis, rear chassis, or front  
chassis fan.  
904-SATA Cabling Error  
One or more SATA devices are improperly  
attached. For optimal performance, the SATA 0  
Ensure SATA connectors are used in ascending  
order. For one device, use SATA 0. For two  
and SATA 1 ports should be used for hard drives devices, use SATA 0 and SATA 1. For three  
before other ports. devices, use SATA 0, SATA 1, and SATA 2.  
98 Chapter 7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes  
Control panel message  
910–Filter Warning  
90B-Fan Failure  
Description  
Recommended action  
Airflow filter is dirty.  
Replace the airflow filter.  
The system has detected that a cooling fan is  
not operating correctly.  
1. Reseat fan.  
2. Reseat fan cable.  
3. Replace fan.  
90D-System Temperature  
Thermal shutdown occurred. The system BIOS  
has detected your machine was previously shut  
down to avoid overheating. Overheating may  
occur if the cooling vents are blocked or the  
operating temperature exceeds the system  
specifications. The machine should return to  
normal operation once the situation is resolved.  
Make sure system has proper airflow.  
90E-Power Supply Fan Not detected  
Power supply fan is not connected or may have 1. Reseat power supply fan.  
malfunctioned.  
2. Reseat fan cable.  
3. Replace power supply fan.  
Interpreting system validation diagnostic front panel LEDs and  
audible codes  
During the system validation phase that occurs at system startup, the BIOS validates the functionality of the  
following subsystems and conditions:  
AC adapter  
System board power  
Processor failure  
BIOS corruption  
Memory failure  
Graphics failure  
System board failure  
BIOS authentication failure  
If an error is detected, specific patterns of long and short blinks, accompanied by long and short beeps (where  
applicable) are used to identify the error. These patterns will make up a two part code:  
Major – the category of the error  
Minor – the specific error within the category  
NOTE: Single beep/blink codes are not used.  
Number of long beeps/blinks  
Error category  
Not used  
BIOS  
1
2
3
Hardware  
Interpreting system validation diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes 99  
   
Number of long beeps/blinks  
Error category  
Thermal  
4
5
System board  
Patterns of blink/beep codes are determined by using the following parameters:  
1 second pause occurs after the last major blink.  
2 second pause occurs after the last minor blink.  
Beep error code sequences occur for the first 5 iterations of the pattern and then stop.  
Blink error code sequences continue until the computer is unplugged or the power button is pressed.  
NOTE: Not all diagnostic lights and audible codes are available on all models.  
The red LED blinks to represent the major error category (long blinks). The white LED blinks to represent the  
minor error category (short blinks). For example, ‘3.5’ indicates 3 long red blinks and 5 short white blinks to  
communicate the processor is not detected.  
Category  
Major/minor code  
Description  
BIOS  
2.2  
The main area (DXE) of BIOS has become corrupted and there is no recovery  
binary image available.  
2.3  
2.4  
3.2  
The embedded controller policy requires the user to enter a key sequence.  
The embedded controller is checking or recovering the boot block.  
Hardware  
The embedded controller has timed out waiting for BIOS to return from  
memory initialization.  
3.3  
The embedded controller has timed out waiting for BIOS to return from  
graphics initialization.  
3.4  
3.5  
3.6  
4.2  
4.3  
4.4  
5.2  
5.3  
5.4  
The system board displays a power failure (crowbar).*  
The processor is not detected.*  
The processor does not support an enabled feature.  
A processor over temperature condition has been detected.*  
An ambient temperature over temperature condition has been detected.  
An MXM over temperature condition has been detected.  
The embedded controller cannot find valid firmware.  
The embedded controller has timed out waiting for the BIOS.  
Thermal  
System board  
The embedded controller has timed out waiting for BIOS to return from  
system board initialization.  
5.5  
The embedded controller rebooted the system after a possible lockup  
condition had been detected through the use of a System Health Timer,  
Automated System Recovery Timer, or other mechanism.  
* Indicates hardware triggered event; all other events are controlled by the BIOS.  
100 Chapter 7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes  
8 Password security and resetting CMOS  
This computer supports security password features, which can be established through the Computer Setup  
Utilities menu.  
This computer supports two security password features that are established through the Computer Setup  
Utilities menu: setup password and power-on password. When you establish only a setup password, any user  
can access all the information on the computer except Computer Setup. When you establish only a power-on  
password, the power-on password is required to access Computer Setup and any other information on the  
computer. When you establish both passwords, only the setup password will give you access to Computer  
Setup.  
When both passwords are set, the setup password can also be used in place of the power-on password as an  
override to log in to the computer. This is a useful feature for a network administrator.  
If you forget the password for the computer, you can clear that password so you can gain access to the  
information on the computer by resetting the password jumper.  
CAUTION: Pushing the CMOS button will reset CMOS values to factory defaults. It is important to back up the  
computer CMOS settings before resetting them in case they are needed later. Back up is easily done through  
Computer Setup. See Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 52 for information on backing up the CMOS  
settings.  
Resetting the password jumper  
CAUTION: If you enable the stringent security feature in Computer Setup and you forget the setup password  
or the power-on password, the computer is inaccessible and can no longer be used.  
Enabling the stringent password disables the ability to reset the password by moving the jumper on the  
system board.  
If you lose or forget the password, the system board must be replaced. This scenario is not covered under  
warranty.  
To prevent the computer from becoming permanently unusable, record your configured setup password or  
power-on password in a safe place away from your computer. Without these passwords, the computer cannot  
be unlocked.  
To disable the power-on or setup password features, or to clear the power-on or setup passwords, complete  
the following steps:  
Resetting the password jumper 101  
     
1. Shut down the operating system properly, then turn off the computer and any external devices, and  
disconnect the power cord from the power outlet.  
2. With the power cord disconnected, press the power button again to drain the system of any residual  
power.  
WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury from electrical shock and/or hot surfaces, be sure to  
disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet, and allow the internal system components to cool  
before touching.  
CAUTION: When the computer is plugged in, the power supply always has voltage applied to the  
system board even when the unit is turned off. Failure to disconnect the power cord can result in  
damage to the system.  
Static electricity can damage the electronic components of the computer or optional equipment. Before  
beginning these procedures, ensure that you are discharged of static electricity by briefly touching a  
grounded metal object. See the Safety & Regulatory Information guide for more information.  
3. Remove the access panel.  
4. Locate the header and jumper.  
NOTE: The password jumper is green so that it can be easily identified. For assistance locating the  
password jumper and other system board components, see the system board components image at  
5. Remove the jumper from pins 1 and 2.  
6. Place the jumper on either pin 1 or 2, but not both, so that it does not get lost.  
7. Replace the access panel and reconnect the external equipment.  
8. Plug in the computer and turn on power. Allow the operating system to start. This clears the current  
passwords and disables the password features.  
9. Shut down the computer, unplug the power, and disconnect the external equipment.  
10. Remove the access panel.  
11. Place the jumper on pins 1 and 2.  
12. Replace the access panel.  
13. Reconnect the external equipment and plug in the computer.  
Changing a Setup or Power-On password  
To change the power-on or setup password, complete the following steps:  
1. Turn on or restart the computer.  
To change the Setup password, go to step 2.  
To change the Power-on password, go to step 3.  
2. To change the Setup password, as soon as the computer turns on:  
- Press the Esc key while “Press the ESC key for Startup Menu” message is displayed.  
- Press the F10 key to enter Computer Setup.  
102 Chapter 8 Password security and resetting CMOS  
   
3. When the key icon appears, type your current password, a slash (/) or alternate delimiter character, your  
new password, another slash (/) or alternate delimiter character, and your new password again as  
shown:  
current password/new password/new password  
NOTE: Type the new password carefully since the characters do not appear on the screen.  
4. Press Enter.  
The new password will take effect the next time the computer is restarted.  
Deleting a Setup or Power-On password  
To delete the power-on or setup password, complete the following steps:  
1. Turn on or restart the computer.  
To delete the Setup password, go to step 2.  
To delete the Power-on password, go to step 3.  
2. To delete the Setup password, as soon as the computer turns on:  
- Press the Esc key while “Press the ESC key for Startup Menu” message is displayed.  
- Press the F10 key to enter Computer Setup.  
3. When the key icon appears, type your current password, a slash (/) or alternate delimiter character, your  
new password, another slash (/) or alternate delimiter character, and your new password again as  
shown:  
current password/  
4. Press Enter.  
Clearing and resetting the CMOS  
The computer’s configuration memory (CMOS) stores information about the computer’s configuration.  
The CMOS button resets CMOS but does not clear the power-on and setup passwords.  
1. Turn off the computer and any external devices, and disconnect the power cord from the power outlet.  
2. Disconnect the keyboard, monitor, and any other external equipment connected to the computer.  
WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury from electrical shock and/or hot surfaces, be sure to  
disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet, and allow the internal system components to cool  
before touching.  
CAUTION: When the computer is plugged in, the power supply always has voltage applied to the  
system board even when the unit is turned off. Failure to disconnect the power cord can result in  
damage to the system.  
Static electricity can damage the electronic components of the computer or optional equipment. Before  
beginning these procedures, ensure that you are discharged of static electricity by briefly touching a  
grounded metal object. See the Safety & Regulatory Information guide for more information.  
3. Remove the access panel.  
Deleting a Setup or Power-On password 103  
       
CAUTION: Pushing the CMOS button will reset CMOS values to factory defaults. It is important to back  
up the computer CMOS settings before resetting them in case they are needed later. Back up is easily  
done through Computer Setup. See Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 52 for information on backing  
up the CMOS settings.  
4. Locate, press, and hold the CMOS button in for five seconds.  
NOTE: Make sure you have disconnected the AC power cord from the wall outlet. The CMOS button will  
not clear CMOS if the power cord is connected.  
NOTE: For assistance locating the CMOS button and other system board components, see the system  
board components image at System board callouts on page 50.  
5. Replace the access panel.  
6. Reconnect the external devices.  
7. Plug in the computer and turn on power.  
NOTE: You will receive POST error messages after clearing CMOS and rebooting advising you that  
configuration changes have occurred. Use Computer Setup to reset any special system setups along with  
the date and time.  
For instructions on Computer Setup, see Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 52.  
104 Chapter 8 Password security and resetting CMOS  
9 HP PC Hardware Diagnostics  
To help troubleshoot and diagnose failures, use the UEFI-based hardware diagnostic solution that HP includes  
on all products. This tool can even be used if the computer will not boot to the operating system.  
Why run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics  
The HP PC Hardware Diagnostic tools simplify the process of diagnosing hardware issues and expedite the  
support process when issues are found. The tools save time by pinpointing the component that needs to be  
replaced.  
Isolate true hardware failures: The diagnostics run outside of the operating system so they effectively  
isolate hardware failures from issues that may be caused by the operating system or other software  
components.  
Failure ID: When a failure is detected that requires hardware replacement, a 24-digit Failure ID is  
generated. This ID can then be provided to the call agent, who will either schedule support or provide  
replacement parts.  
How to access and run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics  
You can run the diagnostics from one of three places, depending on your preference and the health of the  
computer.  
1. Turn on the computer and press Esc repeatedly until the BIOS Boot Menu appears.  
2. Press F2 or select Diagnostics (F2).  
Pressing F2 signals the system to search for the diagnostics in the following locations:  
a. A connected USB drive (to download the diagnostics tools to a USB drive, see the instructions in  
b. The hard disk drive  
c. A core set of diagnostics in the BIOS (for memory and hard disk drive) that are accessible only if the  
USB or hard disk drive versions are not detected  
Downloading HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) to a USB device  
NOTE: Instructions for downloading HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) are provided in English only.  
There are two options to download HP PC Hardward Diagnostics to USB device.  
Option 1: HP PC Diagnostics homepage–Provides access to the latest UEFI version  
2. Click the UEFI Dowload link, and then select Run.  
Option 2: Support and Drivers pages–Provides downloads for a specific product for earlier and later  
versions.  
Why run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics 105  
         
1. Go to http://www.hp.com.  
2. Point to Support, located at the top of the page, and then click Download Drivers.  
3. In the text box, enter the product name, and then click Go.  
– or –  
Click Find Now to let HP automatically detect your product.  
4. Select your computer model, and then select your operating system.  
5. In the Diagnostic section, click HP UEFI Support Environment.  
6. Click Download, and then select Run.  
106 Chapter 9 HP PC Hardware Diagnostics  
10 System backup and recovery  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 10  
This section provides information about the following processes. The information in the section is standard  
procedure for most products.  
Creating recovery media and backups  
Restoring and recovering your system  
For additional information, refer to Help and Support.  
Type helpin the taskbar search box, and then select Help and Support.  
Creating recovery media and backups  
The following methods of creating recovery media and backups are available on select products only. Choose  
the available method according to your computer model.  
Use HP Recovery Manager to create HP Recovery media after you successfully set up the computer. This  
step creates a backup of the HP Recovery partition on the computer. The backup can be used to reinstall  
the original operating system in cases where the hard drive is corrupted or has been replaced. For  
information on creating recovery media, see Creating HP Recovery media (select products only)  
on page 107. For information on the recovery options that are available using the recovery media, see  
Use Windows tools to create system restore points and create backups of personal information.  
For more information, see Using Windows tools on page 109.  
NOTE: If storage is 32 GB or less, Microsoft System Restore is disabled by default.  
Creating HP Recovery media (select products only)  
If possible, check for the presence of the Recovery partition and the Windows partition. From the Start menu,  
select File Explorer.  
If your computer does not list the Windows partition and the Recovery partition, you can obtain recovery  
media for your system from support. See the Worldwide Telephone Numbers booklet included with the  
computer. You can also find contact information on the HP website. Go to http://www.hp.com/support,  
select your country or region, and follow the on-screen instructions.  
You can use Windows tools to create system restore points and create backups of personal information,  
If your computer does list the Recovery partition and the Windows partition, you can use HP Recovery  
Manager to create recovery media after you successfully set up the computer. HP Recovery media can be  
used to perform system recovery if the hard drive becomes corrupted. System recovery reinstalls the  
original operating system and software programs that were installed at the factory and then configures  
the settings for the programs. HP Recovery media can also be used to customize the system or restore  
the factory image if you replace the hard drive.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 10 107  
       
Only one set of recovery media can be created. Handle these recovery tools carefully, and keep  
them in a safe place.  
HP Recovery Manager examines the computer and determines the required storage capacity for  
the media that will be required.  
To create recovery discs, your computer must have an optical drive with DVD writer capability, and  
you must use only high-quality blank DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, or DVD+R DL discs. Do not use  
rewritable discs such as CD±RW, DVD±RW, double-layer DVD±RW, or BD-RE (rewritable Blu-ray)  
discs; they are not compatible with HP Recovery Manager software. Or, instead, you can use a high-  
quality blank USB flash drive.  
If your computer does not include an integrated optical drive with DVD writer capability, but you  
would like to create DVD recovery media, you can use an external optical drive (purchased  
separately) to create recovery discs. If you use an external optical drive, it must be connected  
directly to a USB port on the computer; the drive cannot be connected to a USB port on an external  
device, such as a USB hub. If you cannot create DVD media yourself, you can obtain recovery discs  
for your computer from HP. See the Worldwide Telephone Numbers booklet included with the  
computer. You can also find contact information on the HP website. Go to http://www.hp.com/  
support, select your country or region, and follow the on-screen instructions.  
Be sure that the computer is connected to AC power before you begin creating the recovery media.  
The creation process can take an hour or more. Do not interrupt the creation process.  
If necessary, you can exit the program before you have finished creating all of the recovery DVDs.  
HP Recovery Manager will finish burning the current DVD. The next time you start HP Recovery  
Manager, you will be prompted to continue.  
To create HP Recovery media:  
1. Type recoveryin the taskbar search box, and then select HP Recovery Manager.  
2. Select Create recovery media, and then follow the on-screen instructions.  
If you ever need to recover the system, see Recovering using HP Recovery Manager on page 109.  
108 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
Using Windows tools  
You can create recovery media, system restore points, and backups of personal information using Windows  
tools.  
NOTE: If storage is 32 GB or less, Microsoft System Restore is disabled by default.  
For more information and steps, see Help and Support.  
Type helpin the taskbar search box, and then select Help and Support.  
Restore and recovery  
There are several options for recovering your system. Choose the method that best matches your situation  
and level of expertise:  
IMPORTANT: Not all methods are available on all products.  
Windows offers several options for restoring from backup, refreshing the computer, and resetting the  
computer to its original state. For more information see Help and Support.  
Type helpin the taskbar search box, and then select Help and Support.  
If you need to correct a problem with a preinstalled application or driver, use the Reinstall drivers and/  
or applications option (select products only) of HP Recovery Manager to reinstall the individual  
application or driver.  
Type recoveryin the taskbar search box, select HP Recovery Manager, select Reinstall drivers  
and/or applications, and then follow the on-screen instructions.  
If you want to recover the Windows partition to original factory content, you can choose the System  
Recovery option from the HP Recovery partition (select products only) or use the HP Recovery media.  
For more information, see Recovering using HP Recovery Manager on page 109. If you have not already  
On select products, if you want to recover the computer's original factory partition and content, or if you  
have replaced the hard drive, you can use the Factory Reset option of HP Recovery media. For more  
On select products, if you want to remove the recovery partition to reclaim hard drive space, HP  
Recovery Manager offers the Remove Recovery Partition option.  
Recovering using HP Recovery Manager  
HP Recovery Manager software allows you to recover the computer to its original factory state by using the  
HP Recovery media that you either created or that you obtained from HP, or by using the HP Recovery  
partition (select products only). If you have not already created recovery media, see Creating HP Recovery  
What you need to know before you get started  
HP Recovery Manager recovers only software that was installed at the factory. For software not provided  
with this computer, you must either download the software from the manufacturer's website or reinstall  
the software from the media provided by the manufacturer.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 10 109  
       
IMPORTANT: Recovery through HP Recovery Manager should be used as a final attempt to correct  
computer issues.  
HP Recovery media must be used if the computer hard drive fails. If you have not already created  
To use the Factory Reset option (select products only), you must use HP Recovery media. If you have not  
If your computer does not allow the creation of HP Recovery media or if the HP Recovery media does not  
work, you can obtain recovery media for your system from support. See the Worldwide Telephone  
Numbers booklet included with the computer. You can also find contact information from the HP  
website. Go to http://www.hp.com/support, select your country or region, and follow the on-screen  
instructions.  
IMPORTANT: HP Recovery Manager does not automatically provide backups of your personal data. Before  
beginning recovery, back up any personal data you want to retain.  
Using HP Recovery media, you can choose from one of the following recovery options:  
NOTE: Only the options available for your computer display when you start the recovery process.  
System Recovery—Reinstalls the original operating system, and then configures the settings for the  
programs that were installed at the factory.  
Factory Reset—Restores the computer to its original factory state by deleting all information from the  
hard drive and re-creating the partitions. Then it reinstalls the operating system and the software that  
was installed at the factory.  
The HP Recovery partition (select products only) allows System Recovery only.  
Using the HP Recovery partition (select products only)  
The HP Recovery partition allows you to perform a system recovery without the need for recovery discs or a  
recovery USB flash drive. This type of recovery can be used only if the hard drive is still working.  
To start HP Recovery Manager from the HP Recovery partition:  
1. Type recoveryin the taskbar search box, select Recovery Manager, and then select HP Recovery  
Environment.  
- or -  
Press f11 while the computer boots, or press and hold f11 as you press the power button.  
2. Select Troubleshoot from the boot options menu.  
3. Select Recovery Manager, and then follow the on-screen instructions.  
Using HP Recovery media to recover  
You can use HP Recovery media to recover the original system. This method can be used if your system does  
not have an HP Recovery partition or if the hard drive is not working properly.  
1. If possible, back up all personal files.  
2. Insert the HP Recovery media, and then restart the computer.  
NOTE: If the computer does not automatically restart in HP Recovery Manager, change the computer  
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.  
110 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
   
Changing the computer boot order  
If your computer does not restart in HP Recovery Manager, you can change the computer boot order, which is  
the order of devices listed in BIOS where the computer looks for startup information. You can change the  
selection to an optical drive or a USB flash drive.  
To change the boot order:  
1. Insert the HP Recovery media.  
2. Access BIOS.  
Restart the computer, quickly press esc, and then press f9 for boot options.  
3. Select the optical drive or USB flash drive from which you want to boot.  
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.  
Removing the HP Recovery partition (select products only)  
HP Recovery Manager software allows you to remove the HP Recovery partition to free up hard drive space.  
IMPORTANT: After you remove the HP Recovery partition, you will not be able to perform System Recovery  
or create HP recovery media from the HP Recovery partition. So before you remove the Recovery partition,  
NOTE: The Remove Recovery Partition option is only available on products that support this function.  
Follow these steps to remove the HP Recovery partition:  
1. Type recoveryin the taskbar search box, and then select HP Recovery Manager.  
2. Select Remove Recovery Partition, and then follow the on-screen instructions.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7  
Your computer includes tools provided by HP and Windows to help you safeguard your information  
and retrieve it if you ever need to. These tools will help you return your computer to a proper working state or  
even back to the original factory state, all with simple steps.  
This section provides information about the following processes:  
Creating recovery media and backups  
Restoring and recovering your system  
NOTE: This section describes an overview of backing up, restoring, and recovering options. For more details  
about the Windows Backup and Restore tools provided, see Help and Support. To access Help and Support,  
select Start > Help and Support.  
Recovery after a system failure is only as good as your most recent backup.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7 111  
         
1. After you successfully set up the computer, create recovery media. This media can be used to reinstall  
the original operating system in cases where the hard drive is corrupted or has been replaced. See  
2. As you add hardware and software programs, create system restore points. A system restore point is a  
snapshot of certain hard drive contents saved by Windows System Restore at a specific time. A system  
restore point contains information that Windows uses, such as registry settings. Windows creates a  
system restore point for you automatically during a Windows update and during other system  
maintenance (such as a software update, security scanning, or system diagnostics). You can also  
manually create a system restore point at any time. For more information and steps for creating specific  
system restore points, see Help and Support. To access Help and Support, select Start > Help and  
Support.  
3. As you add photos, video, music, and other personal files, create a backup of your personal information.  
If files are accidentally deleted from the hard drive and they can no longer be restored from the Recycle  
Bin, or if files become corrupted, you can restore the files that you backed up. In case of system failure,  
you can use the backup files to restore the contents of your computer. See Backing up your information  
NOTE: HP recommends that you print the recovery procedures and save them for later use, in case of  
system instability.  
Creating recovery media  
After you successfully set up the computer, create recovery media. The media can be used to reinstall the  
original operating system in cases where the hard drive is corrupted or has been replaced.  
There are two types of recovery media. To determine which steps to follow for your computer:  
1. Click the Start button.  
2. Click All Programs.  
If Security and Protection is listed, continue with the steps in Creating recovery media using HP  
If Productivity and Tools is listed, continue with the steps in Creating recovery discs with HP  
Creating recovery media using HP Recovery Manager (select models only)  
To create recovery discs, your computer must have a DVD writer. Use DVD+R or DVD-R discs (purchased  
separately). The discs you use will depend on the type of optical drive you are using.  
NOTE: DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, or DVD±RW disc are not supported.  
You have the option of creating a recovery USB flash drive instead, using a high-quality USB drive.  
If you are creating recovery discs, be sure to use high-quality discs. It is normal for the system to reject  
defective discs. You will be prompted to insert a new blank disc to try again.  
The number of discs in the recovery-disc set depends on your computer model (typically 3 to 6 DVDs).  
The Recovery Media Creation program tells you the specific number of blank discs needed to make the  
set. If you are using a USB flash drive, the program will tell you the size of the drive required to store all  
the data (minimum of 8 GB).  
NOTE: The process of creating recovery media is lengthy. You can quit the process at any time. The  
next time you initiate the process, it resumes where it left off.  
112 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
         
NOTE: Do not use media cards for creating recovery media. The system may not be able to boot up from a  
media card and you may not be able to run system recovery.  
To create recovery discs:  
1. Close all open programs.  
2. Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Security and Protection, click Recovery Manager, and  
then click HP Recovery Media Creation. If prompted, click Yes to allow the program to continue.  
3. Click Create recovery media using blank DVD(s), and then click Next.  
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. Label each disc after you make it (for example, Recovery 1, Recovery  
2), and then store the discs in a secure place.  
To create a recovery USB flash drive:  
NOTE: You must use a USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 8 GB.  
NOTE: Recovery Media Creation formats the USB flash drive, deleting any files on it.  
1. Close all open programs.  
2. Insert the USB flash drive into a USB port on the computer.  
3. Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Security and Protection, click Recovery Manager, and  
then click Recovery Media Creation.  
4. Click Create recovery media with a USB flash drive, and then click Next.  
5. Select the USB flash drive from the list of media. The program will let you know how much storage is  
required to create the recovery drive. If the USB flash drive does not have enough storage capacity, it will  
appear grayed out, and you must replace it with a larger USB flash drive. Click Next.  
6. Follow the on-screen instructions. When the process is complete, label the USB flash drive and store it in  
a secure place.  
Creating recovery discs with HP Recovery Disc Creator (select models only)  
HP Recovery Disc Creator is a software program that offers an alternative way to create recovery discs on  
select models. After you successfully set up the computer, you can create recovery discs using HP Recovery  
Disc Creator. The recovery discs allow you to reinstall your original operating system as well as select drivers  
and applications if the hard drive becomes corrupted. HP Recovery Disc Creator creates two kinds of recovery  
discs:  
Windows 7 operating system DVD—Installs the operating system without additional drivers or  
applications.  
Driver Recovery DVD—Installs specific drivers and applications only, in the same way that the HP  
Software Setup utility installs drivers and applications.  
To create recovery discs, your computer must have a DVD writer. Use any of the following types of discs  
(purchased separately): DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, or DVD±RW. The discs you use will depend on  
the type of optical drive you are using.  
Creating recovery discs  
NOTE: The Windows 7 operating system DVD can be created only once. The option to create that media will  
not be available after you create a Windows DVD.  
To create the Windows DVD:  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7 113  
         
1. Select Start > All Programs > Productivity and Tools > HP Recovery Disc Creator.  
2. Select Windows disk.  
3. From the drop-down menu, select the drive for burning the recovery media.  
4. Click the Create button to start the burning process. Label the disc after you create it, and store it in a  
secure place.  
After the Windows 7 operating system DVD has been created, create the Driver Recovery DVD:  
1. Select Start > All Programs > Productivity and Tools > HP Recovery Disc Creator.  
2. Select Driver disk.  
3. From the drop-down menu, select the drive for burning the recovery media.  
4. Click the Create button to start the burning process. Label the disc after you create it, and store it in a  
secure place.  
Backing up your information  
You should create your initial backup immediately after initial system setup. As you add new software and  
data files, you should continue to back up your system on a regular basis to maintain a reasonably current  
backup. Your initial and subsequent backups allow you to restore your data and settings if a failure occurs.  
You can back up your information to an optional external hard drive, a network drive, or discs.  
Note the following when backing up:  
Store personal files in the Documents library, and back it up regularly.  
Back up templates that are stored in their associated directories.  
Save customized settings that appear in a window, toolbar, or menu bar by taking a screen shot of your  
settings. The screen shot can be a time-saver if you have to reset your preferences.  
When backing up to discs, number each disc after removing it from the drive.  
NOTE: For detailed instructions on various backup and restore options, perform a search for these topics in  
Help and Support. To access Help and Support, select Start > Help and Support.  
NOTE: You may be prompted by User Account Control for your permission or password when you perform  
certain tasks. To continue a task, select the appropriate option. For information about User Account Control,  
see Help and Support: Select Start > Help and Support.  
To create a backup using Windows Backup and Restore:  
NOTE: The backup process may take over an hour, depending on file size and the speed of the computer.  
1. Select Start > All Programs > Maintenance > Backup and Restore.  
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your backup.  
System Restore  
If you have a problem that might be due to software that you installed on your computer, or if you want to  
restore the system to a previous state without losing any personal information, use System Restore to return  
the computer to a previous restore point.  
NOTE: Always use this System Restore procedure before you use the System Recovery feature.  
To start System Restore:  
114 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
         
1. Close all open programs.  
2. Click the Start button, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.  
3. Click System protection, System Restore, click Next, and then follow the on-screen instructions.  
System Recovery  
WARNING! This procedure will delete all user information. To prevent loss of information, be sure to back up  
all user information so you can restore it after recovery.  
System Recovery completely erases and reformats the hard disk drive, deleting all data files that you have  
created, and then reinstalls the operating system, programs, and drivers. However, you must reinstall any  
software that was not installed on the computer at the factory. This includes software that came on media  
included in the computer accessory box, and any software programs you installed after purchase. Any  
personal files must be restored from backups you made.  
If you were not able to create system recovery DVDs or USB flash drive, you can order a recovery disc set from  
support. Go to http://www.hp.com/support, select your country or region, and follow the on-screen  
instructions.  
NOTE: Always use the System Restore procedure before you use the System Recovery program. See System  
You must choose one of the following methods to perform a System Recovery:  
Recovery image — Run System Recovery from a recovery image stored on your hard disk drive. The  
recovery image is a file that contains a copy of the original factory-shipped software. To perform a  
System Recovery from a recovery image, see System Recovery when Windows is responding  
Recovery media — Run System Recovery from recovery media that you have created from files stored  
on your hard disk drive or purchased separately. See System Recovery using recovery media (select  
System Recovery when Windows is responding  
CAUTION: System Recovery deletes all data and programs you created or installed. Before you begin, back  
up any important data to a CD or DVD or to a USB flash drive.  
NOTE: In some cases, you must use recovery media for this procedure. If you have not already created this  
media, follow the instructions in Creating recovery media on page 112.  
If the computer is working and Windows 7 is responding, use these steps to perform a System Recovery:  
1. Turn off the computer.  
2. Disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.  
3. Turn on the computer.  
4. When Windows has loaded, click the Start button, and then click All Programs.  
If Security and Protection is listed, continue with step 5.  
If Productivity and Tools is listed, follow the steps in System Recovery when Windows is not  
5. Click Security and Protection, click Recovery Manager, and then click Recovery Manager. If prompted,  
click Yes to allow the program to continue.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7 115  
       
6. Under I need help immediately, click System Recovery.  
7. Select Yes, and then click Next. Your computer restarts.  
8. When the computer restarts, you will see the Recovery Manager welcome screen again. Under I need  
help immediately, click System Recovery. If you are prompted to back up your files, and you have not  
done so, select Back up your files first (recommended), and then click Next. Otherwise, select Recover  
without backing up your files, and then click Next.  
9. System Recovery begins. After System Recovery is complete, click Finish to restart the computer.  
10. When Windows has loaded, shut down the computer, reconnect all peripheral devices, and then turn the  
computer back on.  
System Recovery when Windows is not responding  
CAUTION: System Recovery deletes all data and programs you created or installed.  
If Windows is not responding, but the computer is working, follow these steps to perform a System Recovery.  
1. Turn off the computer. If necessary, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off.  
2. Disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer, except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.  
3. Press the power button to turn on the computer.  
4. As soon as you see the HP logo screen, repeatedly press the F11 key on your keyboard until the Windows  
is Loading Files… message appears on the screen.  
5. At the HP Recovery Manager screen, follow the on-screen instructions to continue.  
6. When Windows has loaded, shut down the computer, reconnect all peripheral devices, and then turn the  
computer back on.  
System Recovery using recovery media (select models only)  
Use the steps provided in this section if you created recovery media using Creating recovery media using HP  
Recovery Manager (select models only) on page 112. If you used HP Recovery Disc Creator to create a  
Windows 7 operating system DVD and a Driver Recovery DVD, use the steps in Using HP Recovery Disc  
CAUTION: System Recovery deletes all data and programs you have created or installed. Back up any  
important data to a CD or DVD or to a USB flash drive.  
To perform a System Recovery using recovery media:  
1. If you are using a set of DVDs, insert the first recovery disc into the DVD drive tray, and close the tray. If  
you are using a recovery USB flash drive, insert it into a USB port.  
2. Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.  
or  
If the computer is not responding, press and hold the power button for approximately 5 seconds or until  
the computer turns off.  
3. Disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.  
4. Press the power button to turn on the computer, and press Esc as the computer is powering on to  
display the startup menu.  
5. Use the arrow keys to select the boot menu, and press Enter. Use the arrow keys to select the location  
where the recovery media is inserted (USB or DVD). Press Enter to boot from that device.  
116 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
     
6. If Recovery Manager asks if you want to run System Recovery from Media or Hard Drive, select Media. On  
the Welcome screen, under I need help immediately, click Factory Reset.  
7. If you are prompted to back up your files, and you have not done so, select Back up your files first  
(recommended), and then click Next. Otherwise, select Recover without backing up your files, and  
then click Next.  
8. If you are prompted to insert the next recovery disc, do so.  
9. When Recovery Manager is finished, remove the recovery disc or the recovery USB flash drive from the  
system.  
10. Click Finish to restart the computer.  
Using HP Recovery Disc operating system discs (select models only)  
Use the steps provided in this section if you used HP Recovery Disc Creator to create a Windows 7 operating  
system DVD and a Driver Recovery DVD. If you created recovery media using Creating recovery media using HP  
If you cannot use the recovery discs you previously created using the HP Recovery Disc Creator (select models  
only), you must purchase a Windows 7 operating system DVD to reboot the computer and repair the operating  
system.  
To order a Windows 7 operating system DVD, contact support. Go to http://www.hp.com/support, select your  
country or region, and follow the on-screen instructions.  
CAUTION: Using a Windows 7 operating system DVD completely erases the hard drive contents and  
reformats the hard drive. All files that you have created and any software that you have installed on the  
computer are permanently removed. When reformatting is complete, the recovery process helps you restore  
the operating system, as well as drivers, software, and utilities.  
To initiate recovery using a Windows 7 operating system DVD:  
NOTE: This process takes several minutes.  
1. If possible, back up all personal files.  
2. Restart the computer, and then insert the Windows 7 operating system DVD into the optical drive before  
the Windows operating system loads.  
NOTE: If the computer does not boot to the DVD, restart the computer and press Esc as the computer  
is powering on to see the startup menu. Use the arrow keys to select the boot menu and press Enter. Use  
the arrow keys to select the location where the recovery DVD is inserted. Press Enter to boot from that  
device.  
3. When prompted, press any keyboard key.  
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.  
5. Click Next.  
6. Select Install now.  
7. Follow the on-screen instructions.  
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7 117  
   
After the repair is completed:  
1. Eject the Windows 7 operating system DVD and then insert the Driver Recovery DVD.  
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Hardware Enabling Drivers first, and then install  
Recommended Applications.  
118 Chapter 10 System backup and recovery  
A Battery replacement  
The battery installed on the computer provides power to the real-time clock. When replacing the battery, use  
a battery equivalent to the battery originally installed on the computer. The computer has a 3-volt lithium  
coin cell battery installed.  
WARNING! The computer contains an internal lithium manganese dioxide battery. There is a risk of fire and  
burns if the battery is not handled properly. To reduce the risk of personal injury:  
Do not attempt to recharge the battery.  
Do not expose to temperatures higher than 60°C (140ºF).  
Do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts, or dispose of in fire or water.  
Replace the battery only with the HP spare designated for this product.  
CAUTION: Before replacing the battery, it is important to back up the computer CMOS settings. When the  
battery is removed or replaced, the CMOS settings will be cleared.  
Static electricity can damage the electronic components of the computer or optional equipment. Before  
beginning these procedures, ensure that you are discharged of static electricity by briefly touching a  
grounded metal object.  
NOTE: The lifetime of the lithium battery can be extended by plugging the computer into a live AC wall  
socket. The lithium battery is only used when the computer is NOT connected to AC power.  
HP encourages customers to recycle used electronic hardware, HP original print cartridges, and rechargeable  
batteries. For more information about recycling programs, go to http://www.hp.com/recycle.  
1. Remove/disengage any security devices that prohibit opening the computer.  
2. Remove all removable media, such as compact discs or USB flash drives, from the computer.  
3. Turn off the computer properly through the operating system, then turn off any external devices.  
4. Disconnect the power cord from the power outlet and disconnect any external devices.  
CAUTION: Regardless of the power-on state, voltage is always present on the system board as long as  
the system is plugged into an active AC outlet. You must disconnect the power cord to avoid damage to  
the internal components of the computer.  
5. Remove the computer access panel.  
6. Locate the battery and battery holder on the system board.  
NOTE: On some computer models, it may be necessary to remove an internal component to gain  
access to the battery.  
7. Depending on the type of battery holder on the system board, complete the following instructions to  
replace the battery.  
Type 1  
a. Lift the battery out of its holder.  
119  
   
b. Slide the replacement battery into position, positive side up. The battery holder automatically  
secures the battery in the proper position.  
Type 2  
a. To release the battery from its holder, squeeze the metal clamp that extends above one edge of  
the battery. When the battery pops up, lift it out (1).  
b. To insert the new battery, slide one edge of the replacement battery under the lip of the holder  
with the positive side up. Push the other edge down until the clamp snaps over the other edge of  
the battery (2).  
Type 3  
a. Pull back on the clip (1) that is holding the battery in place, and remove the battery (2).  
120 Appendix A Battery replacement  
b. Insert the new battery and position the clip back into place.  
NOTE: After the battery has been replaced, use the following steps to complete this procedure.  
8. Replace the computer access panel.  
9. Plug in the computer and turn on power to the computer.  
10. Reset the date and time, your passwords, and any special system setups using Computer Setup.  
11. Lock any security devices that were disengaged when the computer access panel was removed.  
121  
B Power Cord Set Requirements  
The power supplies on some computers have external power switches. The voltage select switch feature on  
the computer permits it to operate from any line voltage between 100-120 or 220-240 volts AC. Power  
supplies on those computers that do not have external power switches are equipped with internal switches  
that sense the incoming voltage and automatically switch to the proper voltage.  
The power cord set received with the computer meets the requirements for use in the country where you  
purchased the equipment.  
Power cord sets for use in other countries must meet the requirements of the country where you use the  
computer.  
General Requirements  
The requirements listed below are applicable to all countries:  
1. The power cord must be approved by an acceptable accredited agency responsible for evaluation in the  
country where the power cord set will be installed.  
2. The power cord set must have a minimum current capacity of 10A (7A Japan only) and a nominal voltage  
rating of 125 or 250 volts AC, as required by each country’s power system.  
3. The diameter of the wire must be a minimum of 0.75 mm2 or 18AWG, and the length of the cord must be  
between 1.8 m (6 feet) and 3.6 m (12 feet).  
The power cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon it or  
against it. Particular attention should be paid to the plug, electrical outlet, and the point where the cord exits  
from the product.  
WARNING! Do not operate this product with a damaged power cord set. If the power cord set is damaged in  
any manner, replace it immediately.  
Japanese Power Cord Requirements  
For use in Japan, use only the power cord received with this product.  
CAUTION: Do not use the power cord received with this product on any other products.  
122 Appendix B Power Cord Set Requirements  
     
Country-Specific Requirements  
Additional requirements specific to a country are shown in parentheses and explained below.  
Country  
Accrediting Agency  
Country  
Accrediting Agency  
Australia (1)  
Austria (1)  
Belgium (1)  
Canada (2)  
EANSW  
OVE  
Italy (1)  
IMQ  
Japan (3)  
Norway (1)  
Sweden (1)  
METI  
CEBC  
CSA  
NEMKO  
SEMKO  
Denmark (1)  
Finland (1)  
France (1)  
DEMKO  
SETI  
Switzerland (1)  
SEV  
BSI  
UL  
United Kingdom (1)  
United States (2)  
UTE  
Germany (1)  
VDE  
1. The flexible cord must be Type HO5VV-F, 3-conductor, 0.75mm2 conductor size. Power cord set fittings (appliance coupler and  
wall plug) must bear the certification mark of the agency responsible for evaluation in the country where it will be used.  
2. The flexible cord must be Type SVT or equivalent, No. 18 AWG, 3-conductor. The wall plug must be a two-pole grounding type  
with a NEMA 5-15P (15A, 125V) or NEMA 6-15P (15A, 250V) configuration.  
3. Appliance coupler, flexible cord, and wall plug must bear a “T” mark and registration number in accordance with the Japanese  
Dentori Law. Flexible cord must be Type VCT or VCTF, 3-conductor, 0.75 mm2 conductor size. Wall plug must be a two-pole  
grounding type with a Japanese Industrial Standard C8303 (7A, 125V) configuration.  
Country-Specific Requirements 123  
 
C Statement of Volatility  
HP confirms that AMD-based business desktop HP EliteDesk 705 G3 Microtower and Small Form Factor  
systems contain DDR4 volatile memory (memory amount depends on the customer configuration). In  
addition, the motherboard in the condition originally shipped without subsequent modification or the addition  
or installation of any applications, features, or functionality, contain the following nonvolatile memory: Real  
Time Clock battery backed-up configuration memory (256 Bytes), DIMM Serial Presence Detect (SPD)  
configuration data (256 Bytes per module, 128 Bytes programmable), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) ROM  
for System BIOS (8M Bytes) and Super I/O’s: masked keyboard ROM (overall 2K Bytes). In addition, these units  
contain a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) that contains 16K Bytes of non-volatile memory for user data. The  
volatile memory will not hold any user data once power has been removed for 30 seconds or longer.  
The following procedure shows the steps that should be taken to restore the Non-Volatile memory:  
1. Download the latest BIOS (system ROM) from the HP website.  
2. Follow the instructions to flash the BIOS that are found on the website.  
Flashing the BIOS will reset it back to factory settings.  
3. Turn on the system, and while system is powering on, and after the HP splash screen, press the F10 key  
to enter BIOS setup screen.  
4. Select Security > System Security from the main menu. If the Embedded Security Device Support  
option is set to “Disable”, skip to step 7.  
5. To erase all security keys from the TPM:  
Under Embedded Security Device in the System Security menu, configure Reset to Factory Settings to  
Reset.  
NOTE: Although the TPM security keys will be cleared, data in the non-volatile memory indices may  
not be. Data stored in these indices should not contain security sensitive information. If an application  
locks down and secures the non-volatile indices, these indices cannot be cleared.  
6. Press F10 to accept changes.  
7. To clear the secure boot key database:  
a. Enter the F10 setup utility.  
b. Go to the Security menu.  
c. Select Secure Boot Configuration.  
d. In the Key Management section, select clear Secure boot keys.  
e. Use space key to select clear.  
f.  
Press the F10 key to accept changes.  
g. From the main menu select File > Save Changes and Exit.  
8. If the Ownership Tag or Asset Tag is set, manually clear it under Security > System Ids.  
9. Select File > Save Changes and Exit.  
10. To clear the Setup or Power-On passwords if set, and clear any other settings, power down the computer  
and remove the AC power cord and the computer hood.  
124 Appendix C Statement of Volatility  
 
11. Locate the green two pin password jumper on header E49 (labeled PSWD) and remove it.  
12. Remove the AC power, wait 10 seconds until the unit AC power has drained out, then press the clear  
CMOS button. This is typically a yellow push button (labeled CMOS).  
13. Replace the hood and AC power cord and turn the computer on. The passwords are now cleared and all  
other user-configurable, non-volatile memory settings are reset to their factory default values.  
14. Enter the F10 setup utility.  
15. Select File > Default Setup > Restore Factory Settings as Default. This will set the default settings  
back to the factory defaults.  
16. Select File > Apply Defaults and Exit.  
17. Shut down the computer, remove the AC power cord and place the (blue/green) jumper back on header  
E49. Replace the computer hood and power cord.  
If Computrace is enabled on the computer, see the service provider for instruction to disable the feature.  
125  
D Specifications  
MT Specifications  
Table D-1 Specifications  
U.S.  
Metric  
Chassis  
Height  
Width  
14.0 in  
6.7 in  
355 mm  
170 mm  
340 mm  
13.4 in  
Depth  
Approximate Weight  
14.9 lb  
6.76 kg  
Temperature Range  
Operating  
50° to 95°F  
10° to 35°C  
-30° to 60°C  
-22° to 140°F  
Nonoperating  
NOTE: Operating temperature is derated 1.0° C per 300 m (1000 ft) to 3000 m (10,000 ft) above sea level; no direct  
sustained sunlight. Maximum rate of change is 10° C/Hr. The upper limit may be limited by the type and number of options  
installed.  
Relative Humidity (noncondensing)  
10-90%  
5-95%  
10-90%  
5-95%  
Operating  
Nonoperating (38.7°C max wet bulb)  
Maximum Altitude (unpressurized)  
Operating  
10,000 ft  
30,000 ft  
3048 m  
9144 m  
Nonoperating  
Power Supply  
90-264 VAC  
100-240 VAC  
50-60 Hz  
Operating Voltage Range  
Rated Voltage Range1  
Rated Line Frequency  
Operating Line Frequency  
47-63 Hz  
Standard Efficiency  
280W active PFC  
280W active PFC  
80 PLUS Bronze  
280W active PFC; 82/85/82% efficient at 20/50/100%  
load (115V)  
280W active PFC; 82/85/82% efficient at 20/50/100%  
load (230V)  
80 PLUS Platinum  
280W active PFC  
280W active PFC; 90/92/89% efficient at 20/50/100%  
load (115V)  
126 Appendix D Specifications  
       
Table D-1 Specifications (continued)  
U.S.  
Metric  
280W active PFC; 91/93/90% efficient at 20/50/100%  
load (230V)  
The 280W power supply meets the 5000m requirements of CCC.  
Rated Input Current  
3.6A  
Current Leakage (NFPA 99)  
With ground  
< 100 μA  
< 275 μA  
Without ground  
1
This system utilizes an active power factor corrected power supply. This allows the system to pass the CE mark requirements for use  
in the countries of the European Union. The active power factor corrected power supply also has the added benefit of not requiring an  
input voltage range select switch.  
MT Specifications 127  
 
Index  
A
Computer Setup  
front bezel, MT  
illustrated  
front I/O assembly  
illustrated  
front panel components  
front panel problems 91  
front USB panel  
access panel  
locked 67  
removal 19  
access panel, MT  
access problem 66  
country power cord set  
requirements 123  
Customer Support 64  
illustrated  
D
audible codes 99  
audio problems 78  
deleting a Power-On password 103  
deleting a Setup password 103  
DIMMs. See memory  
disassembly preparation  
removal and replacement 41  
B
G
backup and recovery, Windows 7  
general problems 66  
grounding methods 12  
Backup and Restore, Windows 7  
backups  
creating Windows 7 112, 114  
battery  
drive power cable  
removal and replacement 40  
Driver Recovery DVD,  
creating 113  
using for restore 117  
drives  
H
hard drive  
installation 37  
proper handling 16  
removal 36  
disposal 16  
SATA characteristics 17  
hard drive conversion bracket  
battery replacement 119  
beep codes 99  
booting options  
Full Boot 94  
cable connections 30  
installation 30  
locations 32  
illustrated  
hard drive problems 71  
hard drive recovery  
E
Quick Boot 94  
electrostatic discharge (ESD) 11  
preventing damage 12  
error  
Windows 7 115  
hard drives  
C
cautions  
sizes 10, 30  
AC power 11  
cables 16  
codes 94, 99  
messages 94  
expansion card  
installation 26  
removal 26  
hardware installation problems 82  
heat sink  
removal and replacement 43  
Help and Support  
Windows 7 111  
helpful hints 65  
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI)  
downloading 105  
HP Recovery Disc Creator, using 113  
electrostatic discharge 11  
keyboard cleaning 14  
keyboard keys 15  
CD-ROM or DVD problems 88  
changing a Power-On password 102  
changing a Setup password 102  
clamp lock  
F
F10 Setup  
access problem 66  
fan  
illustrated  
cleaning  
illustrated  
fan sink, MT  
illustrated  
I
installing  
computer 14  
mouse 15  
battery 119  
flash drive problems 90  
flashing LEDs 99  
front bezel  
drive cables 30  
expansion card 26  
hard drive 37  
memory 23  
safety precautions 14  
CMOS  
backing up 101  
clearing and resetting 103  
computer cleaning 14  
blank removal 22  
MT removal 20  
security 21  
optical drive 34  
Internet access problems 91  
128 Index  
 
K
power problems 70  
power supply  
operating voltage range 126  
removal and replacement 47  
power supply, MT  
removal and replacement  
drive power cable 40  
front USB panel 41  
heat sink 43  
keyboard  
cleaning 14  
keyboard problems 81  
power supply 47  
processor 44  
L
illustrated  
locks  
Power-On password 102, 103  
power-on password 101  
printer port  
illustrated 7, 26  
printer problems 80  
problems  
rear chassis fan 46  
speaker 45  
system board 49  
removing  
front bezel 21  
M
media card reader  
problems 73  
memory  
installation 23  
problems 87  
socket population 23  
specifications 23  
memory modules  
access panel 19  
battery 119  
bezel blank 22  
expansion card 26  
front bezel 20  
hard drive 36  
audio 78  
CD-ROM or DVD 88  
Computer Setup 66  
F10 Setup 66  
flash drive 90  
front panel 91  
general 66  
optical drive 32  
resetting  
illustrated  
CMOS 101  
monitor problems 74  
mouse  
hard drive 71  
password jumper 101  
hardware installation 82  
Internet access 91  
keyboard 81  
Media Card Reader 73  
memory 87  
monitor 74  
mouse 81  
network 84  
power 70  
cleaning 15  
problems 81  
S
safety and comfort 64  
safety precautions  
cleaning 14  
MT  
disassembly preparation 18  
heat sink removal and  
replacement 43  
preparation for disassembly 18  
SATA  
connectors on system board 17  
hard drive characteristics 17  
SATA data cable  
N
illustrated  
SATA drive cable, MT  
illustrated  
printer 80  
software 93  
network problems 84  
numeric error codes 94  
processor  
screws, correct size 15  
security  
front bezel 21  
serial number location  
serial port  
removal and replacement 44  
processors  
O
operating guidelines 13  
optical drive  
illustrated  
product ID location  
installation 34  
options 10, 30  
problems 88  
R
illustrated 26  
rear chassis fan  
service considerations 15  
Setup password 102, 103  
setup password 101  
software  
problems 93  
servicing computer 15  
solenoid lock  
removal 32  
removal and replacement 46  
rear panel components  
overheating, prevention 13  
recovery discs, steps for creating  
Windows 7 113  
recovery discs, using for restore  
recovery media, creating 113  
recovery media, creating Windows  
P
password  
clearing 101  
power-on 101  
setup 101  
illustrated  
speaker  
illustrated  
passwords 102, 103  
POST error messages 94  
power cord set requirements  
country specific 123  
7
recovery USB flash drive, steps for  
creating Windows 7 113  
removal and replacement 45  
Index 129  
specifications  
Windows 7 operating system media  
creating 113  
computer 126  
memory 23  
static electricity 11  
system board  
illustrated  
removal and replacement 49  
SATA connectors 17  
System Recovery using Windows 7  
recovery media 116  
System Recovery, Windows 7 115  
system restore points, creating  
Windows 7 112  
System Restore, Windows 7 114  
T
temperature control 13  
tools, servicing 15  
Torx T15 screwdriver 15  
V
ventilation, proper 13  
W
Windows 10  
backup and restore 107  
Windows 7  
backing up information 114  
backup and recovery 111  
Backup and Restore 114  
creating backups 112  
creating recovery media 112  
creating system restore points  
hard drive recovery 115  
Help and Support 111  
steps for creating recovery  
discs 113  
steps for creating recovery  
media 112  
steps for creating recovery USB  
flash drive 113  
System Recovery 115  
System Recovery using recovery  
media 116  
System Restore 114  
Windows 7 operating system discs  
using for restore 117  
Windows 7 operating system DVD  
creating 113  
using for restore 117  
130 Index  

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