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United States January 2, 2003
Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 1800 Series
Models: 1805 and 1810
| Home Page | Notice | Preface | Product Description | Troubleshooting
Illustrated Parts Catalog | Removal & Replacement Procedures | Specifications
Pin Assignments | Battery Pack Operations
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.
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.
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 LED
icon is blinking.
Battery charge is low. Immediately save any open file(s). Then
do any 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 LED 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 LED 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.
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 operating temperature
range 50° F to 104° F (10° C to 40° C)
or recommended 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 ranges.
Operating: 50° F to 104° F
(10° C to 40° C)
Storage: -4° F to 86° F
(-20° C to 30° C )
Recharge the battery pack.
Some common causes and solutions for CD/DVD drive problems are listed in the following table.
Solving CD/DVD Drive Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution(s)
CD/DVD drive cannot read a compact
disc or digital versatile disc.
Compact disc or digital versatile disc
is upside down or is improperly
inserted in the CD/DVD drive.
Open the CD/DVD loading tray, lay the
compact disc or digital versatile 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.
Some common causes and solutions for diskette and diskette drive problems are listed in the
following table.
Solving Diskette and 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.
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 (if
applicable) is not set properly.
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
Touch Pad.
Display has overheated. If computer is in direct sunlight,
move it and allow it to cool off.
Display is blank and the Suspend
icon is flashing.
System is in Suspend mode. Press any key or touch the
Touch Pad.
Internal display is blank and the
screen on an external monitor
displays information.
Display function was switched
to the external monitor.
Use Fn + F2 to switch between
LCD or CRT.
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.
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 LEDs turn on at the front of the computer.
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.
NOTE:
To perform a "self-test" on an external VGA color 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.
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.
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.
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 Shift+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.
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.
Solving Minor Problems (continued)
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