Probable Causes For HP Computer Crashes

HP Computer Crashes Caused By Bad Drivers

Drivers can be updated automatically or manually based on your settings. If you recently updated a driver manually, there is the possibility you mistakenly installed the wrong version or installed a driver for a 64-bit Operating System as opposed to a 32-bit Operating System. The best way to correct this is to go to the manufacturer’s website and search for the correct driver. Major brand name computer manufacturers will have their drivers online for immediate download. You can then update the driver via the Device Manager.

You can also use the Driver Roll-Back feature in the Device Manager. Driver Roll Back allows you to revert the driver to a previous working version. To do this in Windows 7, go to Start, then type Device Manager into the search box. In the Device Manager right-click on the device, then click the Driver tab. Select the Roll Back Driver button to revert the driver to its previous state.

HP Computer Crashes Caused By Hard Drive Errors

A faulty hard drive can cause your computer to crash. Data written to a bad hard drive sector will cause the system to crash–especially if the file is integral to the Operating System. To scan your hard drive for errors, open Computer, then right-click the C drive and select Properties. Under the Tools tab, click the Check Now button and tick the boxes for Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. The computer will need to reboot in order to perform the scan.

HP Crashes Caused By Memory Problems

Computer memory, also referred to as RAM, can wreak havoc with a computer. Because Windows stores a lot of important data in RAM, bad RAM can cause immediate Blue Screens of Death and errors that can cause permanent damage to the Operating System. If your system is crashing routinely, you can use the built-in memory scanner in Windows 7 to check the memory for problems. To do this, go to Start and type Windows Memory Diagnostic into the search box. When the utility launches, click the Restart now and check for problems option. Windows will run the memory scanner following the reboot.

HP Crashes Due to Heat

A computer is more likely to lock-up or freeze if the system is running too hot. Make sure your computer is located in a well-ventilated area and that all fans (including the CPU, Video card and Power Supply) are free of dirt and debris that can be causing the system to overheat. In addition, try to arrange cables inside the case in such a way that they do not block the airflow.

If you continue to experience HP computer crashes, be sure to join our free computer forums and ask for more advice.

Order HP Recovery Disks

To begin the process, you’ll need to write down some information about your computer. You will need to know both the model number and serial number. You can find this information on the back of your computer.

In the example above, the HP model number is dv7-1000 and the s/n is CNA209XXX. Your particular tag will probably look different depending on your model. But you will find that information somewhere on the back of your computer. Once you have it, visit HP.com and click on the Support and Drivers section.

Type in the model number of your computer from the information from the sticker on the back of your computer. If the model number you put down has multiple variances, they will be listed. Be sure to pick the exact model you have or your HP recovery disks may not work or the ordering process might fail.

Next, choose your Operating System. Make sure you pick the correct version.

You will then need to put in the serial number from the sticker, enter the number of disks you want, the shipping method and the zip code the disks will ship to.

You will then be taken to a screen where the shipping and disk prices have been calculated. If the information is correct, press Next to complete the transaction. You will likely have the disks within a week and can use them to restore your HP computer to factory condition.

Order HP Recovery Disks Or Upgrade

Keep in mind, you may not be able to order HP recovery disks for older models. If they are available the link will clearly be marked Recovery Media in the Software and Driver Downloads section. If it’s not listed, you can try calling their support department to see if they can be purchased. Otherwise, you might want to take this opportunity to update your Operating System to the latest version of Windows or buy a Windows installation disk and download the HP drivers from their website.

Start HP System Recovery From Within Windows

If your computer is booting normally, the quickest and easiest way to do a system recovery for your HP is right within Windows 7. To begin the process, click the Start button, then select All Programs>Recovery Manager and then click Recovery Manager from the menu. Be sure to disconnect any external devices, such as printers, cameras and extra hard drives as these could interfere with the recovery process.

In the I Need Help Immediately section, choose System Recovery. When asked if you want to revert your HP back to factory condition, select Yes and then click Next.

The computer will restart. If you still have the system recovery partition on the hard drive, it should reboot to a screen similar to the one you were at before restarting your computer. Click the System Recovery option from the I Need Help Immediately section and then choose if you want to backup any data before beginning. If you already have backups, you can just click Next. If you see any warning messages, just click through them.

The system recovery process begins at this point. It will reinstall the factory image from the recovery partition on your hard drive.  Once the factory restore is complete, click finish to restart the computer.

Start The HP System Recovery From The Boot Screen

You can also initiate  HP System Recovery in Windows 7 by tapping the F11 key when first booting the machine. You will see the Recovery Manager. Follow the steps from above to restore your computer.

Perform HP System Recovery Using Recovery Disks

You should take the time to create a set of recovery disks. You can do this from the Recovery Manager. If you choose to make the disks, you should use DVDs if possible, as this will require less disks. If you have the disks made and want to use them to perform the system recovery on your HP computer, simply insert the first disk into the drive and reboot the computer. Again, make sure all external devices are unplugged with the exception of the keyboard, mouse and video monitor. The Recovery Manager will launch automatically.

Select Factory Restore from your options, then click Yes on the screen that follows, then click Next. Click through the backup options and any warnings that appear. You will be asked to insert the various DVDs or CDs you have during the recovery process. When you see the message  “Restoration Complete,” click Finish and restart your computer.

Reinstall Updates After System Recovery

The final step in restoring your HP computer in Windows 7 is to reinstall your old data and any security patches and updates from Microsoft. Visit Microsoft Update to download whatever patches you might be missing. You can then reinstall the driver software for your printer and any other USB devices you have. Once the driver software is installed, plug in those USB devices and they will be ready for use.

If you have any questions about HP System Recovery in Windows 7, be sure to join our free forums and ask.

HP Black Screen Troubleshooting

Reset The BIOS On Your HP Computer

On HP computers, tap the F1 key when first booting until you see the phrase “Entering Setup.” Once in the BIOS, look for the option to Restore Default Settings. Once you click that, press F10 to save and exit.  This will revert the BIOS back to its original state. When your computer restarts,you might see a boot options menu. Select Last Known Good Configuration.

If you continue to experience the HP black screen with a flashing cursor, you likely have a hardware problem. Try disconnecting any external devices.  Depending how knowledgeable you are with computers, you can also try re-seating the memory and disconnecting any internal devices that are not necessary for the computer to run, such as DVD drives, floppy drives, modems, etc.

HP Black Screen – The BLack Screen of Death

The HP black screen problem is often referred to as the Black Screen of Death, is difficult to troubleshoot and can be caused by a variety of things. Troubleshooting the BSoD is a process of elimination. If you continue to have issues, read our other HP articles for more troubleshooting tips.

HP Laptop Will Not Boot – Laptop Hard Reset

This is one of the first things you should try with any PC, whether it is a desktop or a laptop. A hard reset will drain any lingering power from the motherboard capacitors that could be preventing your computer from powering up. To perform a hard reset, disconnect everything from the laptop, remove the power adapter and the battery. Next, hold down the power button for at least twenty seconds. Reconnect only the power adapter and then press the power button. If you see LEDs lighting and hear the power supply spinning, you should be fine. But if your HP laptop will not boot, you’ll need to continue troubleshooting.

No Lights on Laptop

If you do not see any LEDs lit up, then you have a no power issue. You will need to swap in a new power adapter or a new laptop battery. If the laptop is a couple years old, then you should replace it. Otherwise, a power adapter is cheaper to purchase and you should start there. If you swap out both of these and still have no power, your issue might be at the motherboard level.

Beeps But HP Laptop Will Not Boot

If your laptop beeps more than once, then you have some type of hardware issue and the BIOS is trying to alert you by producing that code. Listen to the code carefully and refer to the HP website for more details. You will need to look up your model under the support section and refer to the post codes for clues as to the nature of the problem.

Laptop Seems to Boot But Monitor is Blank

If you have not made any recent changes with your HP laptop, and if  your laptop sounds like it is booting normally but the screen is black, then you probably have a problem with your screen  or the screen inverter. Refer to this guide to troubleshoot laptop screens or screen inverters. If your HP laptop will not boot and you need additional help, be sure to join our forums and ask.

Troubleshooting No Sound On HP Computer

We first need to rule out the obvious. Try pressing the mute button on your keyboard to make sure the sound hasn’t accidentally been muted. Or you can click the Windows button, then select Control Panel. Choose Hardware and Sound, and then click Adjust Sound Volume. Again, make sure nothing is muted here and that all levels are raised.

Some monitors will have built in speakers. If you have this setup, try the volume controls directly on the monitor.

If you have “powered” speakers, meaning they need to be plugged in, confirm the plug wasn’t accidentally pulled from the wall or power strip.

Try powering down the computer and make sure the speakers are plugged into the proper port. Usually, this will be a green port on the back of the PC. To eliminate the speakers as being the problem, you can also try plugging in a set of headphones or a set of speakers you know work. If you have headphones plugged into the front of the computer, remove them to make sure they are not interfering with the functionality of the speakers.

Try playing an audio CD. Make sure the volume is turned up within the playback program, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player. If you cannot hear any sound, try going to a video website, such as YouTube and see if you can hear any sound from the video playing.

No Sound on HP Computer Conclusion

If you’re still having no sound on HP computer issues, try updating the driver by visiting the HP support site and downloading a new driver. You can update the driver after you download it through the control panel’s device manager. If this still doesn’t work, it’s quite possible your sound card has failed and need to be replaced. If you have integrated audio on your motherboard, you can purchase a PCI sound card and install it yourself or take it to a computer repair shop and have them look at the computer.

You can join our free forums to discuss your no sound on HP computer problems or read our other HP tutorials for additional help.

How To Troubleshoot If Your Monitor Is Blank

Does the Monitor Work on Another PC?
One of the first things to check is if the monitor works on another PC. Most newer monitors will have a self-diagnostic that will show a message if it is not receiving a signal from the computer. If you are seeing this message, then your monitor is probably fine. If the screen is black, try the monitor on another PC.

Do You Hear Any Beeps?
HP uses a Phoenix BIOS, so if you are hearing a code, check the codes here. A beep code is a way for the computer to tell you what is wrong. Often, these codes are produced because there is a hardware problem that is preventing Windows from booting. It is important to listen to the amount of beeps and compare them to the list.

Check The Cable
Seems obvious, but pets can chew or knock cables loose and leave leave the monitor with power but no physical connection to the computer. You should even check the cable for bent pins or damage to the external insulation.

Confirm The Settings
Check to make sure the monitor’s brightness settings are correct. A child or pet can sometimes accidentally change these setting and leave you in the dark.

Reset The BIOS
You can get into the BIOS without even being able to see the screen. But be careful. Press F10 when the keyboard light comes on, then wait a few seconds. Press F5 to restore default settings, then wait several seconds and hit ENTER to accept.

Monitor Is Blank Conclusion

As you can see, there are many factors that can cause a blank display. If your monitor is blank and none of these options have worked for you, please join our free forums and post your problem so our tech community can help. Or if your monitor is blank, feel free to read more on troubleshooting HP computers here.

Find and Download HP Drivers

Before you reformat your PC, or if you realize you have misplaced the the HP driver disk that came with your HP computer, you should visit the HP website and download the software drivers.  Try HP Drivers and Downloads for easy access to the appropriate driver downloads. You may need to know the serial number or model number of your PC to find the drivers.  If you happen to be on the HP computer, they have an auto detect feature that will help to identify the HP model number and take you to the page you need to be at.

Download HP Drivers and Install

Installing HP drivers is normally a painless process, but if you have reloaded the Operating System manually, you may have found that nothing works correctly.  For instance, your display might be stuck at 600 x 480 resolution with 256 colors or the you will not be able to get onto the Internet.  This is because the drivers haven’t been installed for the hardware.  If you navigate to the Device manager, you’ll probably see a lot of errors next to the hardware icons. Normally this is in the form of a yellow circle with an exclamation point inside.  Either that, or you will see numerous Unknown Devices.

After you download HP drivers, install the and then go into the Device manager (START>CONTROL>SYSTEM>HARDWARE>DEVICE MANAGER) and remove these unknown devices after the driver has been installed.  Then reboot the machine. XP should auto detect the new hardware and then load the hp driver you had previously installed.

If you need more help with HP Recovery, visit our HP Recovery Disk page.