Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 1800 Series
Models: 1825 and 1800T
Home Page Notice Preface Product Description Troubleshooting Illustrated Parts Catalog Removal & Replacement Procedures Specifications Pin Assignments Battery Pack Operations
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
Computer does not beep after the
Probable Cause | Solution(s) |
This is typical; it indicates successful | No action is required. |
completion of the |
|
(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 |
Computer won't turn on when battery | Battery pack is discharged. |
pack is inserted and power cord is |
|
unplugged. |
|
Computer is beeping and battery icon is Battery charge is low. blinking.
Computer battery icon (front on the | Volume is turned down too low. |
unit) blinks to indicate low battery |
|
condition, but computer does not beep. |
|
Battery icon doesn't light and battery | Battery pack is already charged. |
pack won't fast charge. | Battery pack was exposed to |
| |
| temperature extremes. |
| Battery pack is at end of its life. |
You have to set the date and time every | RTC battery is dead. |
time you turn on the computer. |
|
Solution(s)
Connect the computer to an external power source and charge the battery 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.
Immediately save any open file(s). Then 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.
Adjust the volume.
No action is necessary.
Allow time for the battery pack to return to room temperature.
Replace battery pack. 
Replace the RTC battery.
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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 |
| |
| Recharge the battery pack. |
Battery has partially | 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: |
| |
| Recharge the battery pack. |
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Solving DVD or CD Drive Problems
Some common causes and solutions for DVD or CD drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving DVD or CD Drive Problems
Problem | Probable Cause | Solution(s) |
DVD or CD drive cannot read a compact disc.
Disc is upside down or is improperly inserted in the DVD or CD drive.
Open the 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.
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Solving Diskette or LS120 Drive Problems
Some common causes and solutions for diskette and LS120 drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving Diskette and Diskette Drive Problems
Problem | Probable Cause | Solution(s) |
Diskette or LS120 drive cannot | Diskette is | Disable the diskette's write- |
write to a diskette. |
| protect feature or use a |
|
| diskette that is not write- |
|
| protected. |
| Computer is writing to | Check the drive letter in the |
| the wrong drive. | path statement. |
| Not enough space is left | Use another diskette. |
| on the diskette. |
|
| Drive error has occurred. | Run Computer Checkup from |
|
| the Compaq Diagnostics |
|
| diskette. |
| Diskette is not formatted. | Format the diskette. At |
|
| the system prompt, enter |
|
| FORMAT A: |
Diskette or LS120 drive cannot | The wrong type of diskette is | Use the type of diskette |
read a diskette. | being used. | required by the 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 | Put the bootable diskette in |
| drive A. | drive A. |
| Diskette Boot has incorrect | Run Computer Setup and set |
| setting in Computer Setup. | diskette as first to boot. |
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Solving Display Problems
This section lists some common causes and solutions for computer display and external monitor problems.
You can perform a monitor
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.
Solving Display Problems
Problem | Probable Cause |
Screen is dim. | Control for brightness |
| Computer screen is in direct |
| light. |
Screen is blank. | Screen save was initiated by |
| Power Management due to |
| lack of user activity. |
| Display has overheated. |
Display is blank and the Suspend System is in Suspend mode. icon is flashing.
Internal display is blank and the Display function was switched screen on an external monitor to the external monitor. displays information.
Solution(s)
Adjust the Brightness of the display by using Fn + F7 (¯ ) or
Fn + F8 (- ).
Tilt display or move computer.
Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.
If computer is in direct sunlight, move it and allow it to cool off.
Press any key or touch the TouchPad.
Use Fn + F3 to switch between LCD or CRT.
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Problem
Internal display flashes or has garbled characters when computer is connected to external monitor.
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and
Probable Cause
Using 1024 × 768 or higher resolution on external monitor and have toggled back to internal display, which supports up to
800 × 600.
Improper backlight or display cable connections
Defective inverter board.
Defective display cable.
Defective display panel.
Defective system board. Defective system board.
Solution(s)
Restart the computer.
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 adjusted with | Improper display cable | 1. Reseat the display cable to the | |
Fn + F7 | (¯ ) or | connections. | system board. |
Fn + F8 | (- ).*** |
|
|
|
|
| 2. 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 icons to turn on at the front of the computer.
Problem | Probable Cause | Solution(s) | |
This display panel has a continuous pattern | Improper display cable | Reseat the display cable to the following | |
across it (e.g., a "jailbars" pattern), has a | connections | until the problem is solved: | |
single color on it, or has garbled graphics |
|
|
|
across the entire panel. This failure is for |
| 1. | System board |
patterns across the entire panel (not just on |
| ||
|
|
| |
one section). |
| 2. | Display assembly |
|
| ||
Defective display cable. | Replace the display assembly. |
Defective inverter board. | Replace the display assembly. |
Defective system board. | Replace the system board. |
A single line, small group of lines, or block | Defective display panel. | Replace the display assembly. |
appears on the display panel. This failure |
|
|
occurs in only a section of the display panel. |
|
|
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To perform a
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
Solving Hard Drive Problems
Problem
Reading hard drive takes an unusually long time after restarting the computer.
Hard drive error occurs.
Hard drive does not work.
Probable Cause
System entered Hibernation due to low battery condition and is now exiting from it.
Hard drive has bad sectors or has failed.
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 as Cable(s) of new external | Ensure that all cables are | |
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. |
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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 | Num Lock function is not | Press the Shift+NumLk keys |
computer keyboard is disabled. | enabled. | to enable the Num Lock |
|
| function and embedded |
|
| numeric keypad. The Num |
|
| Lock icon on the status panel |
|
| turns on. |
Embedded numeric keypad is | External numeric keypad is | Disconnect the external |
disabled and Num Lock function is | connected to the computer. | numeric keypad from the |
on. |
| computer. |
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Solving Memory Problems
Some common causes and solutions for memory problems are listed in the following table.
Solving Memory Problems
Problem | Probable Cause | Solution(s) |
Memory count during | Ensure that the optional | |
Test (POST) is incorrect. | card is installed incorrectly, | memory expansion card is |
| is incompatible with | installed correctly. |
| the computer, or is defective. |
|
"Out of Memory" message is displayed on the screen or insufficient memory error occurs during operation.
System ran out of
memory for the application.
Too many TSR (terminate- and
Check the application documentation for memory requirements.
Install additional memory.
Remove from memory any TSR applications that you do not need.
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Solving Minor Problems continued
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