HP 280 G1 manual Activity Beeps Possible cause Recommended action

Interpreting POST diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes

This section covers the front panel LED codes as well as the audible codes that may occur before or during POST that do not necessarily have an error code or text message associated with them.

WARNING! When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, voltage is always applied to the system board. To reduce the risk of personal injury from electrical shock and/or hot surfaces, be sure to disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet and allow the internal system components to cool before touching.

NOTE: If you see flashing LEDs on a PS/2 keyboard, look for flashing LEDs on the front panel of the computer and refer to the following table to determine the front panel LED codes.

Recommended actions in the following table are listed in the order in which they should be performed. Not all diagnostic lights and audible codes are available on all models.

Activity	Beeps	Possible cause	Recommended action
White Power LED On.	None	Computer on.	None
White Power LED flashes every	None	Computer in Suspend to	None required. Press any key or move the mouse to
two seconds.		RAM mode (some models	wake the computer.
		only) or normal Suspend
		mode.
Red Power LED flashes two	2	Processor thermal	1. Ensure that the computer air vents are not
times, once every second,		protection activated:		blocked and the processor cooling fan is
followed by a two second pause.		A fan may be blocked or not		running.
Beeps stop after fifth iteration
		turning.	2. Open hood, press power button, and see if the
but LEDs continue until problem
				processor fan spins. If the processor fan is not
is solved.		OR
				spinning, make sure the fan's cable is plugged
		The heat sink/fan assembly		onto the system board header.
		is not properly attached to	3.	If fan is plugged in, but is not spinning, then
		the processor.
				replace heat sink/fan assembly.
			4.	Contact an authorized reseller or service
				provider.
Red Power LED flashes four	4	Power failure (power supply	1. Open the hood and ensure the 4 or 6-wire
times, once every second,		is overloaded).		power supply cable is seated into the
followed by a two second pause.				connector on the system board.
Beeps stop after fifth iteration			2.	Check if a device is causing the problem by
but LEDs continue until problem
				removing ALL attached devices (such as hard,
is solved.
				diskette, or optical drives, and expansion
				cards). Power on the system. If the system
				enters the POST, then power off and replace
				one device at a time and repeat this procedure
				until failure occurs. Replace the device that is
				causing the failure. Continue adding devices
				one at a time to ensure all devices are
				functioning properly.
			3.	Replace the power supply.
			4.	Replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes five	5	Pre-video memory error.	CAUTION: To avoid damage to the DIMMs or the
times, once every second,			system board, you must unplug the computer power
followed by a two second pause.			cord before attempting to reseat, install, or remove
Beeps stop after fifth iteration			a DIMM module.
but LEDs continue until problem			1.	Reseat DIMMs.
is solved.

100 Chapter 8 POST error messages