computer help please

[dru]

I seem to be having issues with my laptop. Its an HP dv5.

It powers on but the screen remains blank, it does not appear to go through its boot cycle and the Caps Lock/Num Lock just flash simultaneoously at about a 1 second on/ 3 seconds off.

Can anyone help a brother out?

ETA: I have tried performing a hard reset where I disconnect all power sources, hold the power button for 15 seconds, and then reconnect my laptop using only AC power and that didn't help at all.

 

[MyMonkey]

There are a few computer savvy folks on this board. I am sure they will have a better answer. However, I myself would be of no help!

JJ

 

[davek]

My condolences on the death of your laptop. I hope it's under warranty. Your disk is probably intact so your files should be recoverable.

LEDs near Caps Lock and Number Lock keys blink when starting notebook
The LED lights near the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys will blink if an error is detected during the start up process. The LEDs will blink a number of times in a sequence and then stop. The number of blinks in the sequence indicates what component caused an error when it was being tested during start up.
If the LEDs stop blinking and the computer does not start, you can press the power button again to repeat the tests. Count the number of blinks, and use the chart to identify the error condition.
Knowing the number of blinks is helpful when you contact an HP support agent for technical help.
Caps Lock/Num Lock LED Component Tested Error Condition
LEDs blink 1 time CPU CPU not functional
LEDs blink 2 times BIOS BIOS corruption failure
LEDs blink 3 times Memory Module error not functional
LEDs blink 4 times Graphics Graphics controller not functional
LEDs blink 5 times System board General system board failure
LEDs blink 6 times BIOS BIOS authentication failure

 

[dru]

My condolences on the death of your laptop. I hope it's under warranty. Your disk is probably intact so your files should be recoverable.

LEDs near Caps Lock and Number Lock keys blink when starting notebook
The LED lights near the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys will blink if an error is detected during the start up process. The LEDs will blink a number of times in a sequence and then stop. The number of blinks in the sequence indicates what component caused an error when it was being tested during start up.
If the LEDs stop blinking and the computer does not start, you can press the power button again to repeat the tests. Count the number of blinks, and use the chart to identify the error condition.
Knowing the number of blinks is helpful when you contact an HP support agent for technical help.
Caps Lock/Num Lock LED Component Tested Error Condition
LEDs blink 1 time CPU CPU not functional
LEDs blink 2 times BIOS BIOS corruption failure
LEDs blink 3 times Memory Module error not functional
LEDs blink 4 times Graphics Graphics controller not functional
LEDs blink 5 times System board General system board failure
LEDs blink 6 times BIOS BIOS authentication failure

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. It is under warranty, by about 2 weeks or so. It appears that the LEDs are blinking once so isn't that just great

My only problem with the data on the drive is that the drive has full disk encryption with TrueCrypt. Do you maybe know the best way to get the data off there before shipping the stupid thing off to be repaired? Ugh. If anyone here can help me with that I'd be more than happy to pay you for your time.

 

[davek]

If I was local I'd image your hard drive on to another disk drive.
Doing a physical image doesn't require knowledge of the encryption, it just makes a block by block copy of the drive.

 

[LightningCrash]

I would ask them if you could send the laptop without the hard drive.

It's easy enough to remove the drive, and they don't need it anyway.... just food for thought.

 

[gunnut]

Most of the time, if it's a warranty swap out, they will tell you to pull and keep your own hard drive, then slip it in back in when you get the replacement.