HP Pavillion 4535

maryelle · 28th August 2002

I cannot get into this computer at all . When it is turned on the page Hewlett Packard comes on than it does not move. I have tried entering setup but when I press the F1 a black message is on the Hewlett Packard page saying entering setup. There it sits.
There were some things wrong with this computer the network wasn`t working right and someone installed an old anti virus and repair disk onto it than everything started to go I think they did the repair thing and probably deleted info anyway. Couldnt get anything to work tried to load drivers off of win 98 and than noticed the CD Rom had disappeared. Went to new hardware and tried to install a cd rom than boom the computer shut down and when I went to turn it on the above happened. Since than just once I got into windows but didn`t have mouse installed so didn`t go any further since than nothing but the above mentioned. Think it is something to do with the BIOS as its not reading it could it be the motherboard or can it be fixed. What if I removed battery and than put battery back in. Would need someone to tell me how to remove battery if that would help??? I do thank anyone who can help me in this anyone at all to give me a clue to what is going on.

maureen · 29th August 2002

Hi Maryelle. I had something similar not too long ago, turned on the computer and couldn’t get into it, just a the fan running with a blue screen - no post activity, not even a beep. Didn’t even get a splash screen like you did, just the blue s of d with some dos error message on it that I can’t remember now. I thought it was a goner.

Rebooted the computer with a floppy emergency disk in the A: drive, and it booted. I fdisked, and then formatted the HD, and then rebooted from A: choosing to start the computer with CDRom support. Once I had the CDRom, I was able to reinstall the operating system. Real peppy now, healthy as can be, still running good.

Surprised me, because I thought the machine was dead. So give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose. It's encouraging that you got windows to start loading at one point, at least the basics seem to be functional. Stick an emergency disk in there and turn it back on. Hopefully A: is in the boot sequence in the bios. don’t forget to plug in your mouse, keyboard and monitor or you won’t get a post.

If you can start the machine with the emergency disk's dos system, and if you can afford to lose the data on the hard drive, I would format and reinstall your os. Looks like your windows system that is in there is pretty unstable. If you do that, You will have to id your internal devices and get drivers for them, if it is an HP, they may have updated drivers for all the components of that model on their website. My old gateway did.

However, if you need to keep the info on that drive, take another approach. Change the jumpers on it to make it a slave drive in another system, and copy your data off to the master drive or to removable media. Then go ahead and format your drive and install your os and remaining apps, and copy your data back onto the HD.

Don’t know anything about HPs, so this is all I can suggest at the moment. Good luck.

-maureen

maryelle · 29th August 2002

I think I would just have the blue screen as you mentioned as thats what has Hewlett Packard written on it. So mine is definitely doing the same as yours was but I can`t get into my A drive as the light stays on and it doesn`t seem to work at all. So I just sit there.
I wouldn`t care if I had to format it as I have all the drivers and everything so that is not the problem the problem is trying to get into computer at all.
The fan works, and like I said all the lights to the CD Rom come on so am at a loss what to do now.. Wish there was someone who could help.

maureen · 30th August 2002

Maryelle,

check to see that the cable is securely seated in your A: drive. Sounds like the computer is not seeing A:, and it will not post if it can't find A: With all that you have been doing inside that computer, it is quite possible that you may have tugged it a little, and it may not be securely plugged in.

Also, make sure the cable didn't accidently get plugged in backwards.

Hope it is this simple!
-maureen

bobmc32 · 30th August 2002

maryelle - Do you have the HP Recovery disk that came with this HP? I don't know a lot about this subject but I do have a HP 4440 and if you are getting close to a point where you think might have to fdisk or somesuch you might be able to get into the Recovery disk as it comes up right after the HP splash screen. There are a couple of options from within the Recovery disk you might try short of complete fdisk and format.

**Rockster2U** · 30th August 2002

Of course the cable is backwards - switch it around at the Floppy drive end and start with a boot disk in the drive. Hey, how about that - it still works (kinda)

maryelle · 31st August 2002

Just thought I would give you an update on my problem. The A drive is connected right and it does work checked ribbons and a drive on my computer and both worked fine. The connection is right as it will only go in one way on both ends.
I did try everything and still no go just the logo page of HP and if I press the F1 key it does say but it comes across the screen with the logo staartingsetup but doesn`t move any further.
I am pretty well convinced I will need a new motherboard unless someone else gives me an idea.
I do appreciate all your help thanks so much.

maureen · 31st August 2002

Maryelle,

One last thought before you change mobos, it is possible that one or more of your ram sticks has gone bad which could also account for the fact that it is not booting or even posting.

Have you got some other memory you can stick in there to see if it changes anything? That would be my next step, if it were me.

Thanks for keeping us posted.

-maureen

**Rockster2U** · 31st August 2002

Maryelle

If your floppy drive light is on and stays on, your floppy cable is not attached correctly. If you've corrected this or the problem went away mysteriously, I didn't read anything acknowledging this since your post about the floppy drive light staying on.

Before you trash your machine or the MB, pull all cards except video. Re-seat the video card and pull out your memory, rub an eraser along both sides of the contacts, clean with alcohol and re-seat your memory. If you have onboard video, then just pull all the cards out. Now try restarting.

maryelle · 1st September 2002

My floppy drive is connected right have checked it with my other computer everything works with Floppy drive but doesn`t work with the HP Pavillion it doesn`t come on at all. Right now it is not connected I am trying to get into BIOS . If I can`t get into BIOS than guess I can`t go any further.
My computer sort of freezes on the logo screen but if I press esc several times can get into the post startup it lists BIOS, memory cache memory type of computer speed etc. Does not list IDE or A drivce but lists CD Rom now that I have connected it back up.
I do not have Recovery disks for this computer was sent two different kinds but was told both times they were the wrong recovery disks . So just downloaded the drivers and have been running the computer with that. So am sure HP can`t help me.
I did clean the memory but still doesn`t work the video is built in.
Thanks

maryelle · 2nd September 2002

Just AN UPDATE ON WHAT IS happening.
I still am having to keep pushing esc to get into the post. Once I connected my hard drive up again I now have it displayed in the posts. Can`t get into BIOS so don`t know what I will do . Other than toss the whole thing.
It has to be the a drive connections as I have tried the a drive and all the cables with my other computer and they all work . I only have one power connector for my a drive in the computer and of ourse one place on the mother board to connect a drive.
What about trying to connect an USB Floppy Drive would I still need to get into BIOS