Table 10-2Diagnostic Front Panel LEDs and Audible Codes (continued)

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

 

A fan may be blocked or

 

running.

pause. Beeps stop after fifth

 

 

 

 

not turning.

2.

Open hood, press power button, and see if

iteration but LEDs continue until

 

 

 

 

the processor fan spins. If the processor fan

problem is solved.

 

OR

 

 

 

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

2.

Reseat the processor.

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

 

 

2. Check if a device is causing the problem by

iteration but LEDs continue until

 

 

 

 

 

removing ALL attached devices (such as hard

problem is solved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

196 Chapter 10 POST Error Messages