Activity

Beeps

Possible cause

Recommended action

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

running.

pause. Beeps stop after fifth

 

A fan may be blocked or

 

 

iteration but LEDs continue until

 

not turning.

2.

Open hood, press power button, and see if

problem is solved.

 

OR

 

the processor fan spins. If the processor fan

 

 

 

is not spinning, make sure the fan's cable is

 

 

The heat sink/fan

 

plugged onto the system board header.

 

 

 

 

 

 

assembly is not properly

3.

If fan is plugged in, but is not spinning, then

 

 

attached to the processor.

 

replace heat sink/fan assembly.

 

 

 

4.

Contact an authorized reseller or service

 

 

 

 

provider.

Red Power LED flashes three

3

times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.

Processor not installed (not

1.

Check to see that the processor is present.

an indicator of bad

 

 

processor).

2.

Reseat the processor.

Red Power LED flashes four

4

Power failure (power

1.

Open the hood and ensure the 4 or 6-wire

times, once every second,

 

supply is overloaded).

 

power supply cable is seated into the

followed by a two second

 

 

 

connector on the system board.

pause. Beeps stop after fifth

 

 

 

 

iteration but LEDs continue until

 

 

2.

Check if a device is causing the problem by

problem is solved.

 

 

 

removing ALL attached devices (such as

 

 

 

 

hard, 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

times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.

Pre-video memory error.

CAUTION: To avoid damage to the DIMMs or the system board, you must unplug the computer power cord before attempting to reseat, install, or remove a DIMM module.

1.Reseat DIMMs.

2.Replace DIMMs one at a time to isolate the faulty module.

3.Replace third-party memory with HP memory.

4.Replace the system board.

Interpreting POST diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes 197