HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx Troubleshooting

The computer does not respond when you press the power button.

First, ensure that the power adapter is plugged in to the laptop. If it is, make sure that the light on the adapter is on. Next, make sure that the adapter is compatible with your laptop. If it is not the one that came with your laptop, it may not be of the correct type. Not all HP adapters are compatible with all HP laptops. If your adapter fulfills all of the requirements but still fails to charge the computer, it will need to be replaced. You can purchase a compatible AC power adapter for the HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx here.

If your laptop fails to power on except when the power adapter is plugged in, you may have a faulty battery. This could be due to either a hardware or software problem. To find out, you must flash your BIOS.

To update your BIOS, navigate to this page. Follow the instructions to enter your OS and model information, then run the download provided. After your computer has restarted, test and see if your laptop will power on without being plugged in. If not, you will need to purchase a new battery and install it. You can view instructions on how to replace it here.

Your computer will not start up from the off position.

If your laptop fails to boot up while making beeping sounds, your internal memory (RAM) is most likely corrupted. You will need to replace your RAM, which you can find out how to do here.

If your laptop is constantly crashing, particularly during difficult tasks such as graphics-intensive games, it is likely you do not have enough RAM for these processes. You will need to purchase additional memory cards and install them.

If the hard drive on which your OS is installed (usually C:\) fails, you will see a system error screen such as here. If so, you will need to replace your main hard drive, which you can find out how to do here.

Something is wrong with your sound system. To determine whether your audio problems are related to hardware or software, try playing the same audio through multiple sources, such as built-in speakers, headphones, Bluetooth, or external speakers via the headphone jack.

If playing the same audio through a different device fixes the problem, but you need audio to play through the original device correctly, you will most likely need to replace either the device or its connection cable. Most audio inputs use a connection called a 3.5mm jack.

If playing the same audio through a different device produces the same results or does not fix the problem, you will need to update your audio drivers. Open up your Start menu, either by clicking in the bottom left corner of your screen or pressing the Start key. Type the words “Device Manager” and click the first displayed option. Drop down the menu titled “Audio inputs and outputs.” Then for each option in the menu, do the following: Right-click the option and select “Update driver software.” Select the option “Search automatically for updated driver software.” You may need to contact HP Customer Support here.

Something is wrong with your screen.

If your screen seems stretched, blurry, or squished, you will need to adjust your resolution. Open your Control Panel by pressing Start and typing in “Control Panel.” Select the option “Adjust screen resolution” under the heading “Appearance and Personalization.” Make sure the drop-down box has selected “1280x800,” or if another resolution has the “Recommended” tag, use that instead.

If your screen has become stuck in a rotated position, you can use the rotate hotkeys to right it. In succession, hold down the following keys: Ctrl, Alt, arrow-up button.

If your screen seems to be distorted, flickering, off-color, or otherwise not behaving normally, your video drivers may be out of date. Follow the instructions under the “Outdated Audio Driver” section, located here, for opening the Device Manager. Drop down the section labeled “Display Adapters,” then update the driver for each device listed in the section as per the instructions in the “Outdated Audio Driver” section.

Your computer is overheating.

If your computer randomly shuts off without warning, if may be due to excessive dust in the cooling systems. Use a compressed air canister with a narrow-width extension to blow dust off the vents and fans.

If clearing dust in the cooling systems fails to fix the problem, you may need to add more thermal paste to your system. You can find instructions on how to do this here.

Your keyboard is not responding how it should.

If a key seems to be stuck in a pressed position or difficult to press/release, it may be obstructed by some sort of object. Remove the battery and disconnect the power, in addition to removing all external devices. Then remove the key clean with a few drops of water and compressed air. More detailed instructions can be found How to repair stuck key in built-in keyboard?.

If your computer seems to not be displaying characters for every time you strike a key, you may have your sensitivity set too low. To fix this, you will need to open your Start menu and navigate to the Control Panel by searching the words “Control Panel” and selecting the first result. Then open the option labeled “Keyboard.” It will open in a dialogue window that displays the options “Character Repeat” and “Cursor Blink Rate.” Under “Character Repeat,” slide the slider labeled “Repeat Delay” closer to the “Short” marker, then press OK.