HomeWhen I try to turn on my notebook the key board lights up, it starts to boot then stops, shuts down and repeats the cycle. The screen does not come up during all of this. The cycle is about tree to four seconds long. It has been suggested that the power supply might be bad. What do you think? Also I am having some trouble getting this thing apart to inspect for loose connections. How do I open this sucker up ? Thank you for any help you can give me! This is a HP Pavilion ze 4400 notebook.
Does this happen if you start the laptop on the battery power, without power supply plugged in? If yes, then most likely it’s not the power supply problem.
First of all I would check the memory. Try reseating the memory module, make sure the contacts on the module are clean. Try moving it from one slot to another. If reseating will not help, find a known good memory stick and test the laptop again. Try starting the laptop without the hard drive. Sometimes a failed hard drive can halt entire system.
Finally, minimize the laptop as much as you can. Check all connections. Remove all devices and leave only three main parts: motherboard, processor and memory. Test the laptop with an external monitor. If you still experience the same problem most likely you have a failed motherboard.
The maintenance and service guide for HP Pavilion ze4400 has step by step disassembly instructions. Take it apart at your own risk.
January 9th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Everyone who is bagging on what this guy has recommended are jerks (@ Steve) and don’t know there head from there butt (DEFINATLEY @ STEVE). This is a perfect troubleshooting procedure as to how to properly diagnosis and pin point this problem. i too had the same problem and after narrowing down the CD drive then battery i finally got to the RAM and simply removed it, cleaned it and then it all worked fine. Not that i needed this blog but i can see how this will help others. Power boot issues with NO bios or display is usually always a RAM issue. Thanks again.
January 3rd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@ norhady,
I think you are correct. It could be bad DC jack or motherboard failure. Cannot tell without looking at the laptop.
I found this page with Acer laptop manuals.
Hope it helps.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:54 pm
i all redy test with other ac adapter but it still same.ist power jack or mainbord failure.i have try use batery only but it problem still same and i test direct use adapter only it still same.plzz help thx for any advice.
1 more think can u tech how to disamble acer model extenza and aspire 4520.thx very much i want study how to assamble and dissemble laptop.sory my bad engglish.
January 1st, 2012 at 10:55 pm
@ nordady,
Have you tested your laptop with another working AC adapter. This could be AC adapter related failure.
December 30th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
hello..i have acer aspire 4520 went i turn on the power light on in 1 sec only after that nothing hapen.something like power problem.ist power problem or mainbord problem plz help..
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@ hawaii,
There are two things you can try:
1. Test this laptop with another known good AC adapter.
2. Test the laptop with only one memory module installed. Try different slots.
If it doesn’t help, most likely this is motherboard failure.
December 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 am
i have a gateway laptop that keeps booting up every 2 seconds im not too sure what happened but it does that when i take the battery out with only the power wire charged in it i tried pulling things out putting it back in n its still nothing i was trying to get into the motherboard but i cant seem to find it.. can someone please help me its a nice good computer its a gateway windows 7 ultimate please im in dire need of help thanks
October 10th, 2011 at 5:52 am
not much point in reading this page really is?
there.Replace hard drive, motherboard inc screen driver chips and memory but it might be a power supply fault too -so what’s left -the plastic case – the rubber feet on the bottom get a grip if you can’t help people don’t post. The simple answer go down to PC World and buy a new laptop keep the execs and share holders at Acer/Compaq/ Dell happy. Prooves what I’ve always felt about laptops -and I go back as far a Compaq SLTs (1988) they aren’t really worth the cash.
September 23rd, 2011 at 9:51 am
@ Seryna Duve,
Here’s something to try.
1. Remove the hard drive and turn on the laptop. If the laptop still reboots on its own, the problem is not related to the hard drive.
2. Try removing memory modules one by one. Test laptop with each memory module separately. Try different slots. If the problem still there, most likely it’s not related to memory (very unlikely that both memory modules failed at the same time).
If removing the hard drive and reseating/replacing memory doesn’t help, probably this is motherboard issue.
Failed video chip maybe? http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2011/02/23/fix-laptop-motherboard-with-failed-nvidia-graphics-chip/
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I have a compaq presario f761 and it won’t start. I press the power button and it comes on and then just shuts off after a few seconds and then it comes back on again. I have already had this problem fixed 2 times before, the first time the hard drive was replaced and the motherboard was repaired, and the second time I’m not sure what was repaired. I’ve read online that this is a common problem with the f700 models. If you have any idea what the problem could be I would greatly appreciate any help.