HP 280 G4 Manual

Maintenance and Service Guide
HP 280 G4 MT

© Copyright 2018 HP Development Company,
L.P.
AMD is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices,
Inc. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its
proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard
Company under license. Intel, Celeron, and
Pentium are trademarks of Intel Corporation in
the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft and
Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group
of companies.
The information contained herein is subject to
change without notice. The only warranties for
HP products and services are set forth in the
express warranty statements accompanying
such products and services. Nothing herein
should be construed as constituting an
additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for
technical or editorial errors or omissions
contained herein.
First Edition May 2018
Document Part Number: L28437-001
Product notice
This user guide describes features that are
common to most models. Some features may
not be available on your computer.
Not all features are available in all editions of
Windows. This computer may require upgraded
and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers
and/or software to take full advantage of
Windows functionality. Go to
http://www.microsoft.com for details.
Software terms
By installing, copying, downloading, or otherwise
using any software product preinstalled on this
computer, you agree to be bound by the terms
of the HP End User License Agreement (EULA). If
you do not accept these license terms, your sole
remedy is to return the entire unused product
(hardware and software) within 14 days for a full
refund subject to the refund policy of your seller.
For any further information or to request a full
refund of the price of the computer, please
contact your seller.

Safety warning notice
WARNING! To reduce the possibility of heat-related injuries or of overheating the device, do not place
the device directly on your lap or obstruct the device air vents. Use the device only on a hard, at surface. Do not
allow another hard surface, such as an adjoining optional printer, or a soft surface, such as pillows or rugs or
clothing, to block airow. Also, do not allow the AC adapter to contact the skin or a soft surface, such as pillows
or rugs or clothing, during operation. The device and the AC adapter comply with the user-accessible surface
temperature limits dened by the International Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment (IEC
60950-1).
iii

iv Safety warning notice

Table of contents
1 Product features ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Standard conguration features ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Front panel components ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Rear panel components .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Serial number location ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
2 Illustrated parts catalog ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Computer major components ............................................................................................................................ 5
Miscellaneous parts ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Miscellaneous boards .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Drives ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation ................................................................................................. 8
Electrostatic discharge information ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Generating static .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Preventing electrostatic damage to equipment ............................................................................................. 9
Personal grounding methods and equipment ................................................................................................ 9
Grounding the work area .................................................................................................................................... 9
Recommended materials and equipment ..................................................................................................... 10
Operating guidelines .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Routine care ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
General cleaning safety precautions .............................................................................................................. 11
Cleaning the Computer Case ........................................................................................................................... 11
Cleaning the keyboard ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Cleaning the monitor ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Cleaning the mouse .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Service considerations .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Power supply fan ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Tools and software Requirements ................................................................................................................. 12
Screws ................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Cables and connectors ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Hard Drives ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Lithium coin cell battery ................................................................................................................................... 13
SATA hard drives ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14
SATA hard drive cables .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
v

SATA data cable .................................................................................................................................................. 14
SMART ATA drives ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Cable management ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
4 Removal and replacement procedures .............................................................................................................................................. 16
Preparation for disassembly ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Access panel ........................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Front bezel .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Front bezel security ............................................................................................................................................................... 19
Drive cage ................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Memory .................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
DIMMs .................................................................................................................................................................. 22
DIMM specications ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Populating DIMM sockets ................................................................................................................................. 22
Installing DIMMs ................................................................................................................................................. 23
Expansion cards ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Drives ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Removing a slim optical drive ......................................................................................................................... 29
Installing a slim optical drive ........................................................................................................................... 30
Removing a solid state drive ........................................................................................................................... 32
Installing a solid state drive ............................................................................................................................. 33
Removing a hard drive ...................................................................................................................................... 34
Installing a hard drive ....................................................................................................................................... 35
Rear chassis fan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Power supply .......................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Fan sink .................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Processor ................................................................................................................................................................................. 42
System board .......................................................................................................................................................................... 44
5 Computer Setup (F10) Utility ................................................................................................................................................................ 45
Computer Setup (F10) Utilities ............................................................................................................................................ 45
Using Computer Setup (F10) Utilities ............................................................................................................. 45
Computer Setup—File ...................................................................................................................................... 47
Computer Setup—Storage .............................................................................................................................. 48
Computer Setup—Security .............................................................................................................................. 49
Computer Setup—Power ................................................................................................................................. 51
Computer Setup—Advanced ........................................................................................................................... 51
Recovering the Conguration Settings ............................................................................................................................... 52
vi

6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics ................................................................................................................................................. 53
Safety and comfort ................................................................................................................................................................ 53
Before you call for technical support .................................................................................................................................. 53
Helpful hints ............................................................................................................................................................................ 54
Solving general problems ..................................................................................................................................................... 55
Solving power problems ....................................................................................................................................................... 59
Solving hard drive problems ................................................................................................................................................ 60
Solving media card reader problems .................................................................................................................................. 62
Solving display problems ...................................................................................................................................................... 63
Solving audio problems ........................................................................................................................................................ 67
Solving printer problems ...................................................................................................................................................... 69
Solving keyboard and mouse problems ............................................................................................................................. 70
Solving hardware installation problems ............................................................................................................................. 72
Solving network problems .................................................................................................................................................... 73
Solving memory problems ................................................................................................................................................... 76
Solving CD-ROM and DVD problems ................................................................................................................................... 77
Solving USB ash drive problems ........................................................................................................................................ 79
Solving front panel component problems ......................................................................................................................... 80
Solving Internet access problems ....................................................................................................................................... 81
Solving software problems .................................................................................................................................................. 82
7 POST error messages and diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes ................................................................................. 83
POST numeric codes and text messages ........................................................................................................................... 83
Interpreting system validation diagnostic front panel LEDs and audible codes .......................................................... 88
8 Password security and resetting CMOS .............................................................................................................................................. 90
Resetting the password jumper .......................................................................................................................................... 90
Changing a Setup or Power-On password ......................................................................................................................... 91
Deleting a Setup or Power-On password ........................................................................................................................... 91
9 Using HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) .......................................................................................................................................... 93
Downloading HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) to a USB device ............................................................................... 94
10 System backup and recovery ............................................................................................................................................................. 95
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 10 ..................................................................................................... 95
Creating recovery media and backups ........................................................................................................... 95
Creating HP Recovery media (select products only) ............................................................... 95
Using Windows tools ......................................................................................................................................... 96
Restore and recovery ........................................................................................................................................ 96
Recovering using HP Recovery Manager ................................................................................... 97
vii

What you need to know before you get started ................................................. 97
Using the HP Recovery partition (select products only) .................................... 98
Using HP Recovery media to recover .................................................................... 98
Changing the computer boot order ....................................................................... 98
Removing the HP Recovery partition (select products only) ............................ 98
Backing up, restoring, and recovering in Windows 7 ........................................................................................................ 99
Creating recovery media .................................................................................................................................. 99
Creating recovery media using HP Recovery Manager (select models only) ................... 100
Creating recovery discs with HP Recovery Disc Creator (select models only) .................. 101
Creating recovery discs ......................................................................................... 101
Backing up your information .................................................................................................... 101
System Restore ............................................................................................................................................... 102
System Recovery ............................................................................................................................................. 102
System Recovery when Windows is responding ................................................................... 103
System Recovery when Windows is not responding ............................................................ 103
System Recovery using recovery media (select models only) ............................................ 104
Using HP Recovery Disc operating system discs (select models only) .............................. 104
Appendix A Battery replacement .......................................................................................................................................................... 106
Appendix B Power Cord Set Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 109
General Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................ 109
Japanese Power Cord Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 109
Country-Specic Requirements ........................................................................................................................................ 110
Appendix C Statement of Volatility ....................................................................................................................................................... 111
Appendix D Specications ...................................................................................................................................................................... 113
MT Specications ................................................................................................................................................................. 113
Index ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 114
viii

1 Product features
Standard conguration features
Features may vary depending on the model. For support assistance and to learn more about the hardware and
software installed on your computer model, run the HP Support Assistant utility.
Standard conguration features 1

Front panel components
Drive conguration may vary by model. Some models have a bezel blank covering the optical drive bay.
Item Component Item Component
1 Slim Optical Drive (select products only) 4 Microphone/headphone combo jack
2 Slim Optical Drive drawer (select products only) 5 SD media card reader
3 Dual-State Power Button 6 USB 3.0 Ports (2)
7 HDD LED
NOTE: When a device is plugged into the Microphone/Headphone connector, a dialog box will pop up asking if you want to use the
connector for a microphone Line-In device or a headphone. You can recongure the connector at any time by double-clicking the Audio
Manager icon in the Windows taskbar.
NOTE: The Power On Light is normally white when the power is on. If it is ashing red, there is a problem with the computer and it is
displaying a diagnostic code.
2 Chapter 1 Product features

Rear panel components
Item Component Item Component
1 Line-Out audio connector 8 USB 2.0 Type-A ports (2)
2 Line-In audio connector (blue) 9 RJ-45 network connector
3 HDMI connector 10 Graphics card
4 Serial port 11 Security lock slot
5 VGA monitor connector 12 Access panel thumb screw
6 USB 2.0 Type-A ports (2) 13 Power cord connector
7 USB 3.x SuperSpeed ports (2)
NOTE: An optional second serial port and an optional parallel port are available from HP.
When a device is plugged into the blue Line-In audio connector, a dialog box will pop up asking if you want to use the
connector for a line-in device or a microphone. You can recongure the connector at any time by double-clicking the
Audio Manager icon in the Windows taskbar.
When a graphics card is installed in one of the system board slots, the video connectors on the graphics card and/or the
integrated graphics on the system board may be used. The specic graphics card installed and software conguration
will determine the behavior.
The system board graphics can be disabled by changing settings in Computer Setup.
Rear panel components 3

Serial number location
Each computer has a unique serial number and a product ID number that are located on the exterior of the
computer. Keep these numbers available for use when contacting customer service for assistance.
4 Chapter 1 Product features

2 Illustrated parts catalog
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts
NOTE: HP continually improves and changes product parts. For complete and current information on
supported parts for your computer, go to http://partsurfer.hp.com, select your country or region, and then follow
the on-screen instructions.
Computer major components
Item Description
(1) Access panel
(2) Hard drive
(3) Optical drive
(4) Chassis
HP 280/282/290 G4 MT
HP 288 Pro G4 PCI MT HE
HP 280 Pro G4 PCI MT
HP 282 Pro G4 MT
HP 288 Pro G4 MT HE
(5) Front bezel
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts 5

Item Description
(6) Graphics card
GFX NVIDIA GeForce GT1060 3 GB
GFX AMD Radeon R7 430 2 GB
GFX NVIDIA GeForce GT730 1 GB HDMI DVI
GFX NVIDIA GeForce GT730 2 GB DPI DVI
(7) Power supply
180 W, Energy Star
310 W, Energy Star
*not illustrated
Miscellaneous parts
Item Description
(1) Fan
(2) Fan sink (includes replacement thermal material)
(3) Graphics card
(4) WLAN
WLAN
* GNRC, 11AC + Bluetooth 4, M2 2230, PCIe USB
* Bezel dust lter
*not illustrated
6 Chapter 2 Illustrated parts catalog

Miscellaneous boards
Description
AMD R5 320, 1 GB GDDR3, PCIe x16
nVIDIA GT730, 2 GB DDR3, PCIex8
nVIDIA GT720, 2 GB DDR3, PCIex8
Intel Ethernet I210–TI GBE NIC (network adapter)
Printer port
Serial port
WLAN module, 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2x2, with Bluetooth 4.0
WLAN module caddy card + Bluetooth
Drives
Description
Hard drives/Solid-state drives
Internal drive 1
Hard drive (HDD)
1 TB, 7200 rpm SATA-6G (only available in China)
1 TB, 7200 rpm SATA 6G
2 TB 7200 rpm SATA 6G
500-GB, 7200-rpm
Solid-state drive (SSD)
128 GB SATA TLC
256 GB PCIe NVMe
256 GB SATA TLC
128 GB M.2 2280 NVMe
256 GB,M.2 2280 NVMe
Internal drive 2, (not available in China)
HDD 1 TB 7200 rpm, SATA 6G
HDD 2 TB 7200 rpm SATA 6G
HDD 500 GB,7200 rpm SATA 6G
Grommet, hard drive isolation, blue
Optical drives
DVD±RW drive 9.5 mm
DVD-ROM drive 9.5 mm
Microtower (MT) chassis spare parts 7

3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and
disassembly preparation
This chapter provides general service information for the computer. Adherence to the procedures and
precautions described in this chapter is essential for proper service.
CAUTION: When the computer is plugged into an AC power source, voltage is always applied to the system
board. You must disconnect the power cord from the power source before opening the computer to prevent
system board or component damage.
Electrostatic discharge information
A sudden discharge of static electricity from your nger or other conductor can destroy static-sensitive devices
or microcircuitry. Often the spark is neither felt nor heard, but damage occurs. An electronic device exposed to
electrostatic discharge (ESD) may not appear to be aected at all and can work perfectly throughout a normal
cycle. The device may function normally for a while, but it has been degraded in the internal layers, reducing its
life expectancy.
Networks built into many integrated circuits provide some protection, but in many cases, the discharge contains
enough power to alter device parameters or melt silicon junctions.
Generating static
The following table shows that:
●Dierent activities generate dierent amounts of static electricity.
●Static electricity increases as humidity decreases.
Relative Humidity
Event 55% 40% 10%
Walking across carpet
Walking across vinyl oor
Motions of bench worker
Removing DIPs from plastic tube
7,500 V
3,000 V
400 V
400 V
15,000 V
5,000 V
800 V
700 V
35,000 V
12,000 V
6,000 V
2,000 V
Removing DIPs from vinyl tray
Removing DIPs from Styrofoam
Removing bubble pack from PCB
Packing PCBs in foam-lined box
2,000 V
3,500 V
7,000 V
5,000 V
4,000 V
5,000 V
20,000 V
11,000 V
11,500 V
14,500 V
26,500 V
21,000 V
These are then multi-packaged inside plastic tubes, trays, or Styrofoam.
NOTE: 700 volts can degrade a product.
8 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation

Preventing electrostatic damage to equipment
Many electronic components are sensitive to ESD. Circuitry design and structure determine the degree of
sensitivity. The following packaging and grounding precautions are necessary to prevent damage to electric
components and accessories.
●To avoid hand contact, transport products in static-safe containers such as tubes, bags, or boxes.
●Protect all electrostatic parts and assemblies with conductive or approved containers or packaging.
●Keep electrostatic sensitive parts in their containers until they arrive at static-free stations.
●Place items on a grounded surface before removing them from their container.
●Always be properly grounded when touching a sensitive component or assembly.
●Avoid contact with pins, leads, or circuitry.
●Place reusable electrostatic-sensitive parts from assemblies in protective packaging or conductive foam.
Personal grounding methods and equipment
Use the following equipment to prevent static electricity damage to equipment:
●Wrist straps are exible straps with a maximum of one-megohm ± 10% resistance in the ground cords. To
provide proper ground, a strap must be worn snug against bare skin. The ground cord must be connected
and t snugly into the banana plug connector on the grounding mat or workstation.
●Heel straps/Toe straps/Boot straps can be used at standing workstations and are compatible with most
types of shoes or boots. On conductive oors or dissipative oor mats, use them on both feet with a
maximum of one-megohm ± 10% resistance between the operator and ground.
Static Shielding Protection Levels
Method Voltage
Antistatic plastic
Carbon-loaded plastic
Metallized laminate
1,500
7,500
15,000
Grounding the work area
To prevent static damage at the work area, use the following precautions:
●Cover the work surface with approved static-dissipative material. Provide a wrist strap connected to the
work surface and properly grounded tools and equipment.
●Use static-dissipative mats, foot straps, or air ionizers to give added protection.
●Handle electrostatic sensitive components, parts, and assemblies by the case or PCB laminate. Handle
them only at static-free work areas.
●Turn o power and input signals before inserting and removing connectors or test equipment.
●Use xtures made of static-safe materials when xtures must directly contact dissipative surfaces.
●Keep work area free of nonconductive materials such as ordinary plastic assembly aids and Styrofoam.
●Use eld service tools, such as cutters, screwdrivers, and vacuums, that are conductive.
Electrostatic discharge information 9

Recommended materials and equipment
Materials and equipment that are recommended for use in preventing static electricity include:
●Antistatic tape
●Antistatic smocks, aprons, or sleeve protectors
●Conductive bins and other assembly or soldering aids
●Conductive foam
●Conductive tabletop workstations with ground cord of one-megohm +/- 10% resistance
●Static-dissipative table or oor mats with hard tie to ground
●Field service kits
●Static awareness labels
●Wrist straps and footwear straps providing one-megohm +/- 10% resistance
●Material handling packages
●Conductive plastic bags
●Conductive plastic tubes
●Conductive tote boxes
●Opaque shielding bags
●Transparent metallized shielding bags
●Transparent shielding tubes
Operating guidelines
To prevent overheating and to help prolong the life of the computer:
●Keep the computer away from excessive moisture, direct sunlight, and extremes of heat and cold.
●Operate the computer on a sturdy, level surface. Leave a 10.2-cm (4-inch) clearance on all vented sides of
the computer and above the monitor to permit the required airow.
●Never restrict the airow into the computer by blocking any vents or air intakes. Do not place the keyboard,
with the keyboard feet down, directly against the front of the desktop unit as this also restricts airow.
●Occasionally clean the air vents on all vented sides of the computer. Lint, dust, and other foreign matter can
block the vents and limit the airow. Be sure to unplug the computer before cleaning the air vents.
●Never operate the computer with the cover or side panel removed.
●Do not stack computers on top of each other or place computers so near each other that they are subject
to each other’s re-circulated or preheated air.
●If the computer is to be operated within a separate enclosure, intake and exhaust ventilation must be
provided on the enclosure, and the same operating guidelines listed above will still apply.
●Keep liquids away from the computer and keyboard.
●Never cover the ventilation slots on the monitor with any type of material.
●Install or enable power management functions of the operating system or other software, including sleep
states.
10 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation

Routine care
General cleaning safety precautions
1. Never use solvents or ammable solutions to clean the computer.
2. Never immerse any parts in water or cleaning solutions; apply any liquids to a clean cloth and then use the
cloth on the component.
3. Always unplug the computer when cleaning with liquids or damp cloths.
4. Always unplug the computer before cleaning the keyboard, mouse, or air vents.
5. Disconnect the keyboard before cleaning it.
6. Wear safety glasses equipped with side shields when cleaning the keyboard.
Cleaning the Computer Case
Follow all safety precautions in General cleaning safety precautions on page 11 before cleaning the computer.
To clean the computer case, follow the procedures described below:
●To remove light stains or dirt, use plain water with a clean, lint-free cloth or swab.
●For stronger stains, use a mild dishwashing liquid diluted with water. Rinse well by wiping it with a cloth or
swab dampened with clear water.
●For stubborn stains, use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. No rinsing is needed as the alcohol will evaporate
quickly and not leave a residue.
●After cleaning, always wipe the unit with a clean, lint-free cloth.
●Occasionally clean the air vents on the computer. Lint and other foreign matter can block the vents and
limit the airow.
Cleaning the keyboard
Follow all safety precautions in General cleaning safety precautions on page 11 before cleaning the keyboard.
To clean the tops of the keys or the keyboard body, follow the procedures described in Cleaning the Computer
Case on page 11.
When cleaning debris from under the keys, review all rules in General cleaning safety precautions on page 11
before following these procedures:
CAUTION: Use safety glasses equipped with side shields before attempting to clean debris from under the
keys.
●Visible debris underneath or between the keys may be removed by vacuuming or shaking.
●Canned, pressurized air may be used to clean debris from under the keys. Caution should be used as too
much air pressure can dislodge lubricants applied under the wide keys.
●If you remove a key, use a specially designed key puller to prevent damage to the keys. This tool is
available through many electronic supply outlets.
Routine care 11

CAUTION: Never remove a wide leveled key (like the space bar) from the keyboard. If these keys are
improperly removed or installed, the keyboard may not function properly.
●Cleaning under a key may be done with a swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol and squeezed out. Be
careful not to wipe away lubricants necessary for proper key functions. Use tweezers to remove any bers
or dirt in conned areas. Allow the parts to air dry before reassembly.
Cleaning the monitor
●Wipe the monitor screen with a clean cloth moistened with water or with a towelette designed for cleaning
monitors. Do not use sprays or aerosols directly on the screen; the liquid may seep into the housing and
damage a component. Never use solvents or ammable liquids on the monitor.
●To clean the monitor body follow the procedures in Cleaning the Computer Case on page 11.
Cleaning the mouse
Before cleaning the mouse, ensure that the power to the computer is turned o.
●Clean the mouse ball by rst removing the retaining plate and the ball from the housing. Pull out any debris
from the ball socket and wipe the ball with a clean, dry cloth before reassembly.
●To clean the mouse body, follow the procedures in Cleaning the Computer Case on page 11.
Service considerations
Listed below are some of the considerations that you should keep in mind during the disassembly and assembly
of the computer.
Power supply fan
The power supply fan is a variable-speed fan based on the temperature in the power supply.
CAUTION: The cooling fan is always on when the computer is in the “On” mode. The cooling fan is o when the
computer is in “Standby,” “Suspend,” or “O” modes.
You must disconnect the power cord from the power source before opening the computer to prevent system
board or component damage.
Tools and software Requirements
To service the computer, you need the following:
●Torx T-15 screwdriver
●Torx T-15 screwdriver with small diameter shank (for certain front bezel removal)
●Flat-bladed screwdriver (may sometimes be used in place of the Torx screwdriver)
●Phillips #2 screwdriver
●Diagnostics software
●Tamper-resistant T-15 wrench
Screws
The screws used in the computer are not interchangeable. They may have standard or metric threads and may
be of dierent lengths. If an incorrect screw is used during the reassembly process, it can damage the unit. HP
12 Chapter 3 Routine care, SATA drive guidelines, and disassembly preparation