How to Fix It When an HP Laptop Isn't Working

Troubleshooting issues with HP laptops

By
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
    Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology editor and writer for over a dozen years. She runs product reviews for Lifewire, overseeing the process from hands-on testing to publishing.
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    Updated on September 12, 2024
    Reviewed by
    Ryan Perian
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    Reviewed by Ryan Perian
    • Western Governors University
    Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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    This article outlines the most common issues that can crop up on your HP laptop and how to troubleshoot and fix them. Before you proceed, restart your computer, if you can, and see if that resolves the issue. If not, try the tips below.

    How to Fix a Broken HP Laptop

    You can fix a lot of problems without deep technical knowledge or consulting tech support. To troubleshoot the difficulties at home, follow these steps in order.

    You might need to locate the serial number for the HP laptop while troubleshooting.

    1. Troubleshoot the microphone. Make sure you're not muted and check your settings before trying more complex solutions.

    2. Figuring out problems with speakers. As with microphones, make sure you haven't muted your speakers first. Then dig into the settings.

    3. Troubleshooting your camera. Make sure you haven't disabled the webcam first. And check that the lens isn't covered before trying anything else.

    4. Tackle keyboard issues. Sometimes a non-working keyboard on an HP laptop is locked, or there's debris among the keys; it can also be a software or driver issue.

    5. Troubleshoot the touchpad. Similarly, it's possible to lock your touchpad accidentally. (Here's how to unlock the touchpad on an HP laptop.)

    6. Diagnose performance issues. If your laptop is running hot, use these tips to cool it down. If it's running slow, finding out the root cause will lead to the solution.

    7. Figure out display issues. These can range from a black screen to screen flickering caused by an array of potential problems.

    8. Fix battery problems. When your laptop doesn't turn on or can't detect the battery, there are several solutions you can try.

    9. If you have multiple issues or one that you can't fix, consider factory resetting your HP laptop.

    10. If all these steps haven't worked, consider contacting the manufacturer. If you're over it with this laptop, though, it might be time to consider purchasing a new one.

    Causes of a Broken HP Laptop

    Like any computer, an HP laptop can run into hardware and software problems, many of which you can fix at home.

    Here are the most common issues you might come across:

    • Audio and Visual: The microphone, speakers, and camera can stop working due to problems with the drivers or software. It can also be because you've muted yourself or covered the camera.
    • Keyboard and touchpad: The keyboard and touchpad can stop responding, or some of the keys can stop working.
    • Performance: A common issue is a severe slowdown caused by limited RAM or storage space. Overheating is a related problem with similar causes but can also be due to dust buildup in the fan and other moving parts.
    • Display: Screens can flicker, turn black, or display nothing at all. It could be as simple as the brightness setting or a problem with the hardware or drivers.
    • Power/Battery: It's difficult to know why a laptop won't turn on. It could be a dead battery or one that can no longer hold a charge.
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