Compaq 1694, 1687 Solving Minor Problems, Solving Audio Problems, Solving Hard Drive Problems

Presario 1600 Series

Models: 1683, 1685, 1687, 1688, 1690, 1692, 1693, and 1694

Before You Begin	Specifications	Parts Catalog
Removal Sequence	Troubleshooting	Battery Operations
		Index
Product Description	Pin Assignments

Preliminary

Steps

Clearing the

Power-On

Password

Power-OnTest

(POST)

Compaq Diagnostics

Diagnostic Error Codes

Solving Minor Problems

Contacting

Compaq

Support

Solving Minor Problems

Some minor problems and possible solutions are outlined in the following tables. If the problem appears related to a software application, check the documentation provided with the software.

Solving Audio Problems

Some common audio problems and solutions are listed in the following table.

Solving Audio Problems

Problem	Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Computer does not beep after the	This is typical; it indicates	No action is required.
Power-On Self-Test (POST).	successful completion of the
	Power-On Self-Test (POST).

Solving Battery Pack and Battery Gauge Problems

Some common causes and solutions for battery pack problems are listed in the following table. The "Solving Power Problems" section in this chapter may also be applicable.

Solving Battery Pack and Battery Gauge Problems

Problem	Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Computer won't turn on when battery	Battery pack is discharged.	Connect the computer to an external
pack is inserted and power cord is		power source and charge the battery
unplugged.		pack.
		Replace the battery pack with a fully
		charged battery pack.
		Check the battery connectors on the
		system board to verify they are evenly
		spaced and that they are not bent or
		broken.
Computer is beeping and battery LED	Battery charge is low.	Immediately save any open file(s). Then
icon is blinking.		do any one of the following:
		● Connect the computer to an
		external power source to charge
		the battery pack.
		● Turn off the computer or initiate
		Hibernation until you can find
		another power source or charge
		the battery pack.
Computer battery LED icon (front on the	Volume is turned down too low.	Adjust the volume.
unit) blinks to indicate low battery
condition, but computer does not beep.

Battery LED icon doesn't light and battery pack won't fast charge.

You have to set the date and time every time you turn on the computer.

Battery pack is already charged.

Battery pack was exposed to temperature extremes.

Battery pack is at end of its life. RTC battery is dead.

No action is necessary.

Allow time for the battery pack to return to room temperature.

Replace battery pack. Replace the RTC battery.

Problem

Battery charge does not last as long as expected.

Battery pack is warm to the touch after charging.

Battery pack operating time is far less than the documented average operating time.

Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Battery is being exposed to high	Keep the battery pack within the
temperatures or extremely cold	recommended operating temperature
temperatures.	range 50° F to 104° F (10° C to 40° C)
	or recommended storage range
	-4° F to 86° F (-20° C to 30° C ).
	Recharge the battery pack.
Battery has partially self-discharged.	Recharge the battery. Discharge the
	battery completely and then recharge it.
Power management is disabled.	Set a power management level in
	Computer Setup.
An external device or PC Card is draining	Turn off or disconnect external devices
the battery.	when not using them.
Normal warming has occurred due to	No action is required.
charging.
Power management is turned off or	Enable power management in Computer
disabled.	Setup and in Windows Power Properties.
An external device or PC Card is draining	Turn off or disconnect external devices
the battery.	when not using them.
Battery pack has partially self-	Condition the battery pack by fully
discharged.	charging, fully discharging, then fully
	recharging it.
	To maintain the charge, leave battery
	packs in the computer when it is
	connected to external power.
	If the computer is disconnected from
	external power for more than two
	weeks, remove battery packs from the
	computer to reduce the discharge rate.
Battery pack is being exposed to high	Keep the battery pack within the
temperatures or extremely cold	recommended temperature ranges.
temperatures.	Operating: 50° F to 104° F
	(10° C to 40° C)
	Storage: -4° F to 86° F
	(-20° C to 30° C )
	Recharge the battery pack.

Solving CD Drive Problems

Some common causes and solutions for CD drive problems are listed in the following table.

Solving CD Drive Problems

Problem Probable Cause Solution(s)

CD drive cannot read a compact disc.

Compact disc is upside down or is improperly inserted in the CD drive.

Open the CD loading tray, lay the compact disc in it (label side up), then close the tray.

CD is CD Plus or Pregap/Track 0 type. Cannot read these type CDs in 24x.

Remove the CD.

Solving Diskette and Diskette Drive Problems

Some common causes and solutions for diskette and diskette drive problems are listed in the following table.

Solving Diskette and Diskette Drive Problems

Problem Probable Cause Solution(s)

Diskette drive cannot write to a diskette. Diskette is write-protected.

Disable the diskette's write-protect feature or use a diskette that is not write-protected.

Computer is writing to the wrong drive.

Not enough space is left on the diskette.

Drive error has occurred. Diskette is not formatted.

Check the drive letter in the path statement.

Use another diskette.

Run Computer Checkup from the Compaq Diagnostics diskette.

Format the diskette. At the system prompt, enter

FORMAT A:

Diskette drive cannot read a diskette.	The wrong type of diskette is being	Use the type of diskette required by the
	used.	drive.
	Diskette has a bad sector.	Copy files to hard drive or another
		diskette. Reformat bad floppy.
	Drive error has occurred.	Run Computer Checkup from the
		Compaq Diagnostics diskette.
	Diskette is not	Format the diskette. At the
	formatted.	system prompt, enter FORMAT
		A:

Cannot boot from diskette. Bootable diskette is not in drive A.

Diskette Boot has incorrect setting in

Computer Setup.

Put the bootable diskette in drive A.

Run Computer Setup and set diskette as first to boot.

Solving Display Problems

This section lists some common causes and solutions for computer display and external monitor problems.

You can perform a monitor self-test on an external VGA color or monochrome monitor by disconnecting the monitor from the computer. To do so, complete the following steps:

1.Turn off the monitor.

2.Turn off the computer.

3.Disconnect the monitor signal cable from the computer.

4.Turn on the monitor and allow it to warm up for one minute.

The display should be white. A narrow black border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of these displays indicates that the monitor is working properly.

Problem

Screen is dim.

Screen is blank.

Display is blank and the Suspend icon is flashing.

Internal display is blank and the screen on an external monitor displays information.

Problem

Internal display flashes or has garbled characters when computer is connected to external monitor.

Solving Display Problems

Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Control for brightness or contrast (if	Adjust the Brightness of the display by
applicable) is not set properly.	using Fn + F7 (¯ ) or
	Fn + F8 (- ).
	Adjust the Contrast of the display by
	using Fn + F5 (¯ ) or
	Fn + F6 (- ).
Computer screen is in direct light.	Tilt display or move computer.
Screen save was initiated by Power	Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.
Management due to lack of user
activity.
Display has overheated.	If computer is in direct sunlight, move it
	and allow it to cool off.
System is in Suspend mode.	Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.
Display function was switched to the	Use Fn + F2 to switch between LCD or
external monitor.	CRT.

Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Using 1024 x 768 or higher resolution	Restart the computer.
on external monitor and have toggled
back to internal display, which
supports up to
800 x 600.

The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) completes when the unit is powered up.**

The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) does not complete when the unit is powered up.**

Improper backlight or display cable connections

Defective inverter board.

Defective display cable.

Defective display panel.

Defective system board. Defective system board.

Replace the display assembly.

Replace the display assembly.

Replace the display assembly.

Replace the display assembly.

Replace the system board. Replace the system board.

Backlight (brightness) cannot be	Improper display cable connections.	1.	Reseat the display cable to the
adjusted with Fn + F7 (¯ ) or		2.	system board.
Fn + F8 (- ).***			Replace the display assembly.

	Defective inverter board.	Replace the display assembly.
	Defective display cable.	Replace the display assembly.
	Defective system board.	Replace the system board.
Contrast cannot be adjusted with	Improper display cable connections.	1.	Reseat the display cable to the
Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6 (- ).		2.	system board.
			Replace the display assembly.
	Defective inverter board.	Replace the display assembly.
	Defective display cable.	Replace the display assembly.
	Defective system board.	Replace the system board.

**This problem indicates that the backlight or its power circuitry has failed. Since you cannot observe the POST result on the display panel when the backlight is not functioning, connect the unit to an external monitor before powering the unit up. If an external monitor is not available, verify that POST completes by opening and closing the display, listening for the single or double beep, and watching for the LEDs turn on at the front of the computer.

Problem

This display panel has a continuous pattern across it (e.g., a "jailbars" pattern), has a single color on it, or has garbled graphics across the entire panel. This failure is for patterns across the entire panel (not just on one section).

Ghost bars extending from graphics on the display.

A single line, small group of lines, or block appears on the display panel. This failure occurs in only a section of the display panel.

Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Improper display cable	Reseat the display cable to the following
connections	until the problem is solved:
	1.	System board
	2.	Display assembly
Defective display cable.	Replace the display assembly.
Defective inverter board.	Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board.	Replace the system board.
Common characteristic of STN	1.	Change the background colors.
displays.	2.	Adjust the Contrast of the display
		by using Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6
		(- ).
Defective display panel.	Replace the display assembly.

To perform a "self-test" on an external VGA color or monochrome monitor, complete the following steps: The

NOTE: screen should be white. A narrow black border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of these displays indicates that the monitor is working properly.

Solving Hard Drive Problems

Some common causes and solutions for hard drive problems are listed in the following table.

CAUTION: To prevent loss of information, always maintain an up-to-date backup of your hard drive at all times, in case of errors or failures.

	Solving Hard Drive Problems
Problem	Probable Cause
Reading hard drive takes an unusually	System entered Hibernation due to
long time after restarting the computer.	low battery condition and is now
	exiting from it.
Hard drive error occurs.	Hard drive has bad sectors or has
	failed.
Hard drive does not work.	Hard drive is not seated properly.

Solution(s)

Give the system time to restore the previously saved data to its exact state before Hibernation.

Run Computer Checkup.

Turn off and unplug the computer, remove the battery pack, and remove and then reinstall the hard drive.

Solving Hardware Installation Problems

Some common causes and solutions for hardware installation problems are listed in the following table.

Solving Hardware Installation Problems

Problem	Probable Cause	Solutions(s)
A new device is not recognized	Cable(s) of new external	Ensure that all cables are
as part of the computer system. device are loose or		properly and securely
	power cables are unplugged.	connected.
	Power switch of new external	Turn off the computer, turn on
	device is not turned on.	the external device, then turn
		on the computer to integrate
		the device with the computer
		system.
	Device is not seated properly.	Turn off the computer and
		reinsert the device.

Solving Keyboard/Numeric Keypad Problems

Some common causes and solutions for keyboard/numeric keypad problems are listed in the following table.

Solving Keyboard/Numeric Keypad Problems

Problem	Probable Cause	Solution(s)
Embedded numeric keypad on computer	Num Lock function is not enabled.	Press the Shift+NumLk keys to enable
keyboard is disabled.		the Num Lock function and embedded
		numeric keypad. The Num Lock icon on
		the status panel turns on.

Embedded numeric keypad is disabled and Num Lock function is on.

External numeric keypad is connected to the computer.

Disconnect the external numeric keypad from the computer.

Solving Memory Problems

Some common causes and solutions for memory problems are listed in the following table.

Solving Memory Problems

Problem

Memory count during Power-On Self-Test (POST) is incorrect.

"Out of Memory" message is displayed on the screen or insufficient memory error occurs during operation.

Probable Cause

Optional memory expansion card

is installed incorrectly, is incompatible with the computer, or is defective.

System ran out of memory for the application.

Too many TSR (terminate-and stay- resident) applications are running.

Solution(s)

Ensure that the optional memory expansion card is installed correctly.

Check the application documentation for memory requirements.

Install additional memory.

Remove from memory any TSR applications that you do not need.

Solving Minor Problems (continued)