Hard Reset laptop HP

The Steps for a Hard Reset on an HP Laptop

For a computer user, boot-up failures are as bad as it gets. They bring everything to a screeching halt until you solve the issue, and there are many possible culprits: power loss, hard drive problems, defective memory or a bad display. One possibility that's easy to overlook is stored energy in the motherboard capacitors. Sometimes draining this energy with a hard reset can get your HP laptop working again.

Remove Power Sources

Since the purpose of a hard reset is to discharge your laptop's motherboard capacitors, you should start by removing their sources of power. Do this by unplugging your laptop's power cord and removing the battery from its battery compartment.

Remove External Devices and Connections

It's also important to disconnect your laptop from any docking station, port replicator, printer, external monitor, as well as peripheral devices such as headphones, external speakers, USB drives, memory cards, input devices or webcams. This also includes wireless peripherals that are Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabled. Turn them off.

Hold Down the Power Button

Now that your laptop is stripped of accessories and power supplies, hold down its power button for 15 seconds to completely discharge the motherboard capacitors that protect its memory.

Replace Power Sources

After you've drained your laptop's motherboard capacitors, you can reinstall the battery and reconnect the power cord. Don't hook up anything else at this point.

Boot Into Windows and Install Updates

Now it's time to find out if you fixed the problem. Press the power button to turn on your laptop. If you're asked to enter "Safe Mode," use your your arrow keys to choose the "Start Windows Normally" option and hit "Enter." When your laptop finishes its boot-up cycle, you can reconnect its peripherals and run "HP Support Assistant" and "Windows Update" to get the latest device drivers.

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