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United States January 2, 2003
Presario 1600 Series
Models: 1600T, 1600-XL140, 1600-XL141, 1600-XL142, 1600-XL143,
1600-XL144, 1600-XL145, 1600-XL146, 1600-XL147, and 1600-XL150
Before You Begin Product Description Parts Catalog
Specifications Battery Operations Pin Assignments
Removal Sequence Troubleshooting MSG Index
Preliminary
Steps
Clearing the
Power-On
Password
Power-On Self
Test (POST)
Compaq
Diagnostics
Diagnostic
Error Codes
Troubleshooting
Without
Diagnostics
Solving Minor
Problems
Contacting
Compaq
Support
Troubleshooting
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
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
Computer does
not beep after
the Power-On
Self-Test
(POST).
This is typical;
it indicates
successful
completion of
the Power-On
Self-Test
(POST).
No action is
required.
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
Solution(s)
Computer
won't turn on
when battery
pack is
inserted and
power cord is
unplugged.
Battery pack
is
discharged.
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.
Computer is
beeping
and battery
icon is
blinking.
Battery
charge is
low.
Immediately save
any open file(s).
Then complete
either 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.
Computer
battery icon
(front on the
unit) blinks to
indicate low
battery
condition, but
computer
does not
beep.
Volume is
turned down
too low.
Adjust the volume.
Battery icon
doesn't light
and battery
pack won't
fast charge.
Battery pack
is already
charged.
No action is
necessary.
Battery pack
was exposed
to
temperature
extremes.
Allow time for the
battery pack to
return to room
temperature.
Battery pack
is at end of
its life.
Replace battery
pack.
You have to
set the date
and time
every time
you turn on
the computer.
RTC battery
is dead.
Replace the RTC
battery.
See
Removing the
RTC Battery
section in this
guide.
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Battery Pack/Gauge Problems
Continued
Problem
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
Battery
charge does
not last as
long as
expected.
Battery is
being
exposed to
high
temperatures
or extremely
cold
temperatures.
Keep the battery
pack within the
recommended
temperature
range for
operation or
storage.
● Operating
Range:
50° F to 104°
F
(10° C to 40°
C)
● Storage
Range:
-4° F to 86° F
(-20° C to 30°
C)
Recharge the
battery pack.
Battery has
partially self-
discharged.
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 the
battery.
Turn off or
disconnect
external devices
when not using
them.
Battery pack
is warm to
the touch
after
charging.
Normal
warming has
occurred due
to charging.
No action is
required.
Battery pack
operating
time is far
less than the
documented
average
operating
time.
Power
management
is turned off
or disabled.
Enable power
management in
Computer Setup
and in Windows
Power Properties.
An external
device or PC
Card is
draining the
battery.
Turn off or
disconnect
external devices
when not using
them.
Battery pack
has partially
self-
discharged.
Condition the
battery pack by
fully 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
temperatures
or extremely
cold
temperatures.
Keep the battery
pack within the
recommended
temperature
range for
operation or
storage.
● Operating
Range:
50° F to 104°
F
(10° C to 40°
C)
● Storage
Range:
-4° F to 86° F
(-20° C to 30°
C)
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 Drive Problems
Some common causes and solutions for diskette
drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving Diskette Drive Problems
Problem
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
Diskette drive
cannot write to
a diskette.
Diskette is
write-
protected.
Disable the
diskette's write-
protect feature
or use a
diskette that is
not write-
protected.
Computer is
writing to
the wrong
drive.
Check the
drive letter in
the path
statement.
Not enough
space is left
on the
diskette.
Use another
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 drive
cannot read a
diskette.
The wrong
type of
diskette is
being used.
Use the type
of diskette
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
formatted.
Format the
diskette. At
the system
prompt, enter:
FORMAT A:
Cannot boot
from diskette.
Bootable
diskette is not
in drive A.
Put the
bootable
diskette in
drive A.
Diskette Boot
has incorrect
setting in
Computer
Setup.
Run Computer
Setup and set
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 self-test on an
external VGA color or monochrome monitor by
disconnecting the monitor from the computer. To
do so, complete the following steps:
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
Solution(s)
Screen is dim. Control for
brightness
Adjust the
Brightness of
the display by
using Fn+F7
(¯) or
Fn+F8 (-).
Computer
screen is in
direct light.
Tilt display or
move
computer.
Screen is
blank.
Screen save
was initiated
by Power
Management
due to lack of
user activity.
Press any key
or touch the
TouchPad.
Display has
overheated.
If computer is
in direct
sunlight, move
it and allow it
to cool off.
Display is blank
and the Half-
Moon icon
appears on the
Disqplay2
status.
System is in
Suspend
mode.
Press any key
or touch the
TouchPad.
Internal display
is blank and
the screen on
an external
monitor
displays
information.
Display
function was
switched to
the external
monitor.
Use Fn+F3 to
switch
between LCD
or CRT.
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Solving Display Problems Continued
Problem
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
Internal
display flashes
or has garbled
characters
when
computer is
connected to
external
monitor.
Using 1024
× 768 or
higher
resolution
on external
monitor and
have
toggled
back to
internal
display,
which
supports up
to
800 × 600.
Restart the
computer.
The light
tubes on the
edge of the
display panel
do not light up
at all and
Power-On Self-
Test (POST)
completes
when the unit
is powered
up.**
Improper
backlight or
display
cable
connections
Replace the
display assembly.
Defective
inverter
board.
Replace the
display assembly.
Defective
display
cable.
Replace the
display assembly.
Defective
display
panel.
Replace the
display assembly.
Defective
system
board.
Replace the
system board.
The light
tubes on the
edge of the
display panel
do not light up
at all and
Power-On Self-
Test (POST)
does not
complete
when the unit
is powered
up.**
Defective
system
board.
Replace the
system board.
Backlight
(brightness)
cannot be
adjusted with
Fn+F7 (¯) or
Fn+F8 (-).***
Improper
display
cable
connections.
1. Reseat the
display cable to
the system
board.
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.
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Solving Display Problems Continued
Problem
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
This display
panel has a
continuous
pattern across
it (e.g., a
"jailbars"
pattern), has a
single color on
it, or has
garbled
graphics across
the entire
panel. This
failure is for
patterns across
the entire panel
(not just on one
section).
Improper
display
cable
connections
Reseat the
display cable to
the following until
the problem is
solved:
1. System board
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
appears on the
display panel.
This failure
occurs in only a
section of the
display panel.
Defective
display
panel.
Replace the
display assembly.
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NOTE:
To perform a "self-test" on an
external VGA color or
monochrome monitor,
complete the following steps:
The screen 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 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
up-to-date backup of your hard
drive at all times, in case of
errors or failures.
Solving Hard Drive Problems
Problem
Probable
Cause
Solution(s)
Reading hard
drive takes an
unusually long
time after
restarting the
computer.
System
entered
Hibernation
due to low
battery
condition and
is now exiting
from it.
Give the
system time to
restore the
previously
saved data to
its exact state
before
Hibernation.
Hard drive
error occurs.
Hard drive has
bad sectors or
has failed.
Run Computer
Checkup.
Hard drive
does not work.
Hard drive is
not seated
properly.
Turn off and
unplug the
computer,
remove the
battery pack,
and remove
and then
reinstall the
hard drive.
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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 part of
the computer
system.
Cable(s) of
new external
device are
loose or
power cables
are
unplugged.
Ensure that all
cables are
properly and
securely
connected.
Power switch
of new
external
device is not
turned on.
Turn off the
computer,
turn 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 computer
keyboard is
disabled.
Num Lock
function is
not enabled.
Press the
Fn+NumLk
keys to
enable the
Num Lock
function and
embedded
numeric
keypad. The
Num Lock
icon on the
status panel
turns on.
Embedded
numeric keypad
is disabled and
Num Lock
function is on.
External
numeric
keypad is
connected to
the computer.
Disconnect
the external
numeric
keypad from
the 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 Power-
On Self-Test
(POST) is
incorrect.
Optional
memory
expansion
card
is installed
incorrectly,
is incompatible
with
the computer,
or is defective.
Ensure that
the optional
memory
expansion
card is
installed
correctly.
"Out of
Memory"
message is
displayed on
the screen or
insufficient
memory
error occurs
during
operation.
System ran
out of
memory for
the
application.
Check the
application
documentation
for memory
requirements.
Install
additional
memory.
Too many TSR
(terminate-
and stay-
resident)
applications
are running.
Remove from
memory any
TSR
applications
that you do
not need.
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Solving Minor Problems continued