Please Help! I have a HP ZV5242qv laptop. When I turned it on last night all I got was a black screen. I unplugged everything and tried again same thing. I hooked it up to a desktop monitor still nothing. I am running WinXP. I can hear the computer booting and can see a very very faint image like my yahoo messenger on the desk top. Any suggestions? It is a little over 4 years old and out of warranty. Where can I take it? I can't be w/o a computer long I will have withdrawals.
FROM YOUR MANUAL: 1) From the Windows desktop, hold the Fn key and press the F7 and F8 keys to increase or decrease the brightness of the display. If using the function keys does not resolve the problem, determine whether the Lid Actuator switch is stuck. The image on the key should resemble the following images: F7: Brightness Level Down F8: Brightness Level Up 2) Adjust brightness control using the control panel. Some notebook PCs have the ability to adjust the brightness through video drivers. A) Click Start , Control Panel and then double click Display. B) Select the Settings tab and click Advanced . C) If the feature is available, a tab with the video card name will be present. If it is, select that tab. Adjust the desired brightness. 3) Try the one I posted on the Lid Acuator Switch being bad or dirty. http://www.4042.com/4042forums/showthread.php?t=17647 If those don't work, PM me.
I can't diagnose what your problem is but I can offer a location that might help. I take my computers to PC Warehouse in Cary. They actually have 2 locations; one near Crabtree somewhere and Maynard Rd in Cary. I had them build my desktop and as of January it is 5 years old and runs better and more reliable than most of my friends' computers. I average a couple hundred dollars a year in upgrades and/or repairs. I wouldn't have anyone else touch my stuff.
BLACK SCREEN on my laptop?? Dan, Thank you! I tried the steps you recommended nothing happened. Then I remember earlier reading your suggestion on the lid switch I pressed it a couple of times and it tried coming on so I pressed it several more time and it came back to life. I rebooted and everythings seems ok now. I have not cleaned it yet but that will be my next step. Do these ever need replacing or can they be?
You've asked me a legitimate question about their turn around time. I will have to answer you in this manner: My profession requires my computer to be up and running just about every day. Sam at PC Warehouse knows this from the years of working with me. For me, if he can repair/upgrade while I'm standing there he will do so for me. At the most I have had to leave it over night. But having said that, I can not say that is exactly how things flow.
Your welcome. Glad it worked. Very rarely do I replace them. It's a simple lever assembly with a pressure switch. The dirt fouls the spring in the lever. Cleaning usually does the trick. But I will add; if that hole is dirty than your unit also needs to be disassembled and cleaned internally. That switch problem typically tells me it's time to clean the fan assembly on the processor. Think of you PC as a car. It needs periodical maintenance too. If you want to extend the life of your PC maintenance is imperative. It's the Fram Filter scenario, "You can pay me now, or pay me later."
Wanted to give you a update. Turns out out that there was a shortage in the motherboard. Since the laptop was as old as it was and I had gotten good use out of it as bad as I hated to do it I know it is time to replace it. Thanks again for your help
