HP Vectra VL410 User manual

troubleshooting
guide
hp vectra vl410
www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport

Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited
to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall
not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with
the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved.
No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without
the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Adobe, Acrobatand AcrobatReader™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Adobe Systems
Incorporated.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NTare U.S registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
HP France
Business Desktop Division
38053 Grenoble Cedex 9
France
© 2001 Hewlett-Packard Company

3
Table of Contents
If You Have a Problem
What to Do First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
My PC Doesn’t Start Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
My PC Isn’t Working Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Hardware Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
My PC Has an Audio (Sound) Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Startup Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Need More Help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Diagnose Your Hardware (e-Diagtools). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Recovery CD-ROMs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
HP Setup Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Clearing Your PC’s CMOS (BIOS) Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Your PC’s BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Accessing Components in the PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Support and Information Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
HP Customer Care Center Phone Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . 41

4
Important Safety Information
If you are in any doubt that you can lift the equipment safely, do not try to move it without help.
For your safety, never remove the PC's cover without first removing the power cord from the power
outlet and any connection to a telecommunications network. If a Power Protection Device is fitted to
your PC, you must shut down your computer using the on/off switch, then remove the power cord before
removing the PC’s cover. Remove the Power Protection Device cables before any servicing operation.
Always replace the cover before switching the PC on again.
To avoid electric shock, do not open the Power Supply Unit. There are no serviceable parts inside. For
your safety only replace with a Power Supply Unit provided by HP Support Services.
Ensure that the electrical power requirements of your PC (refer to the label on the Power Supply Unit)
can be suitably provided by your electrical installation.
There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly installed. For your safety, never attempt to
recharge, disassemble, or burn an old battery. Only replace the battery with the same or equivalent type,
as recommended by the manufacturer. The battery in this PC is a lithium battery which does not contain
any heavy metals. Nevertheless, in order to protect the environment, do not dispose of batteries in
household waste. Please return used batteries either to the shop from which you bought them, to the
dealer from whom you purchased your PC, or to HP so that they can either be recycled or disposed of in
the correct way. Returned batteries will be accepted free of charge.
If you have a modem:
Do not attempt to connect this product to the phone line during a lightning storm. Never install
telephone jacks in wet locations unless the telephone line has been disconnected at the network
interface. Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the telephone line has been
disconnected at the network interface. Use caution when installing or modifying telephone lines. Avoid
using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during an lightning storm. There may be a risk from
lightning.
Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.
Never touch or remove the communications board without first removing the connection to the
telephone network.
Use minimum Nº 26 AWG wire for telephone cable.
Warning: Some parts inside the computer may be hot, please wait for them to cool down before touching
them.

5
Vectra VL410 Information Roadmap
Troubleshooting Guide
The HP Vectra VL410 Troubleshooting Guide (this manual) contains detailed problem-solving
information to help you:
•Troubleshoot your PC
•Find out where to get more information.
Upgrade Guide
The HP Vectra VL410 Upgrade Guide, available in PDF format on the HP Vectra support web site
(www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport), will help you:
•Upgrade and replace components in your PC
Quick Start Card (provided with some models only)
The Quick Start card provided with your PC will help you:
•Set up and begin using your PC for the first time
•Upgrade and replace components in your PC, including the hard drive, processor memory, add-on
cards and 5.25-inch drives. More information is available on the web at:
www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
•Find out where to get more information.
Quick user’s guide
The Quick User’s Guide provides basic information on:
•Setting up and troubleshooting your PC
•Your warranty conditions
•Contacting HP support.
Service Handbook Chapter
The HP Vectra VL410 chapter of the HP Vectra PC Service Handbook, available in PDF format on the
HP Vectra support web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport) provides information on:
•Vectra VL410 configurations
•Replacement parts
•Available accessories.
Technical Reference Manual
The HP Vectra VL410 Technical Reference Manual, available in PDF format on the HP Vectra support
web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport)provides information on:
•Your PC’s hardware components
•The drivers, software and BIOS used in your PC.
Information on the HP Vectra Support Web Site
Go to the HP Vectra support web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport) for a wide range of
information, including:
• Downloadable documentation
• Service and support options
• The latest BIOS, drivers and utilities
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Status
If You Have a Problem

If You Have a Problem
8
What to Do First
Don’t panic! Most things that go wrong with computers can be fixed relatively easily — provided you do
not rush into them. Use the following checklist to see where you can find help.
Is the problem hardware- or software-
related? Ö•Run HP e-Diagtools to see whether you have a hardware
or software problem (refer to page 26).
Is the problem related to an
application? Ö•Refer to the application’s online and/or printed
documentation. You can also check the software
manufacturer’s website
Check for viruses? Ö•Your problem might be caused by a virus. Use your
antivirus software to check for viruses. It is
recommended that you run a thorough check on your
entire system.
Is the problem with Windows? ÖYes
Refer to Windows Help, accessed by selecting H
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•For other help, refer to the troubleshooting sections
starting on page 9 or the Frequently Asked Questions
starting on page 24.
Still Need Help? Ö•Collect information on your PC (see page 38) then
contact your authorized support provider. For Customer
Care Center numbers, refer to page 39.
•For a wide range of information and support, refer to the
HP Web at:
www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
•For information on your warranty, refer to the Quick
User’s Guide provided with your PC or he HP Web at:
www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.

If You Have a Problem
9
My PC Doesn’t Start Properly
The PC Doesn’t Power On
Have you checked that... How
The PC’s power cord is correctly connected ÖConnect the power cord to a grounded power outlet and to the PC
The PC’s power outlet is working ÖPlug another device into the power outlet and check that it works
The PC’s voltage switch is correctly set Ö1Disconnect the power cord.
2 Select the correct setting on the voltage switch located beside
the power connector in the rear of the PC.
3 Reconnect the power cord.
4 Start the PC.
You did not hear a series of beeps when you
turned the PC on ÖIf you hear a series of beeps when you turn the PC on, refer to
page 19.
The PC’s power-on LED lights when you press the
On/Off switch ÖIf the LED does not light, check that the status panel connector is
connected correctly to the system board, refer to page 37.
Advanced Troubleshooting
The problem is not being caused by an internal
device Ö1Disconnect the PC’s power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (refer to page 32).
3 Remove internal power connectors from all internal devices.
4 Reconnect the PC’s power cord.
5 Reconnect the power connectors one by one to the internal
devices to see which device is defective.
6 Contact your authorized support provider.
The power supply is working properly Ö1When you power on the PC, check that the light on the On/Off
button comes on and that you hear the power supply fan.
2 If nothing happens, contact your authorized support provider. The
original power supply unit may have to be replaced.
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An on-screen error or a series of beeps when the PC starts means there is a configuration problem
Have you checked that... How
The part of your configuration with which the
Power-On Self Test has detected an error ÖFor more specific troubleshooting information, refer to “Software Problems” on page 16
If you still have a problem ÖRun HP e-Diagtools (refer to page 26)

If You Have a Problem
10
The PC Beeps During Startup but the Screen Remains Blank
These beeps indicate errors in the very early stages of the boot sequence
Have you checked that... How
Your memory modules are of the correct type Ö1Disconnect the PC’s power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (refer to page 32).
3 Replace the memory module with a known working memory
module.
4 Reconnect the PC’s power cord and start up the PC.
The expansion card you have installed is
compatible Ö1Disconnect the PC’s power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (see page 32).
3 Remove the expansion card (see the HP Vectra XE310 Upgrade
Guide, details on page 5).
4 Reconnect the PC’s power cord and start up the PC.
That you have not made any changes to the
PC’s Setup program that may be causing the
problem
Ö1Press F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup. Refer to page 27 for more information.
2 Reload the default Setup values by pressing F9.
3 Press F10 to exit the Setup program saving changes.
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You Get a “non-system disk” or ”operating system not found” Message
Have you checked that... How
You didn’t leave a non-bootable floppy disk in
your floppy drive when you started the PC Ö1Check for a non-bootable floppy disk in the floppy drive.
2 Remove the floppy disk if there is one in the drive.
3 Restart the PC.
The device boot order is correct in the Setup
program Ö1Press F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup. Refer to page 27 for more information.
2 Reload the default Setup values by pressing F9.
3 Press F10 to exit the Setup program saving changes.

If You Have a Problem
11
My PC Isn’t Working Properly
The PC is Stuck in Sleep Mode
Have you checked that... How
The PC is really stuck Ö1Press any key on the keyboard. Wait for a minute to see if the
PC wakes up.
2 Press the power button once and, if the power LED stops
blinking, wait for one minute.
3 Press in the power button for 5 seconds. The PC will shut
down. Note that any unsaved data will be lost.
4 Unplug the PC’s power cord, wait for a few seconds then plug
it in again. If your PC does not restart automatically, press the
On/Off button.
The PC Freezes All of a Sudden
Have you checked that... How
One of your applications has not crashed Ö1Try pressing the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys
simultaneously. A window appears showing the applications
currently running. One of these may be marked as not
responding.
2 Select the application and click on the End Task button.
3 Restart the program to see if it is working normally.
4 If it does not work normally, restart the PC and try again.
There is not a hardware problem Ö1Run e-Diagtools (refer to page 26).
2 If the problem persists, try removing any added memory or
expansion cards.
You have installed enough memory in your PC.
It is recommended that you install 128MB of
RAM to run Windows 2000 on your PC. Installing
less than this may cause problems running
applications.
Ö1Restart your PC.
2 Press F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select
Summary. Check the information on RAM, then press Esc
and select Exit discarding changes.
The processor in your PC has not overheated. Ö1Disconnect the PC’s power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (see page 32).
3 Make sure the heatsink fan connector is properly connected.
Refer to the HP Vectra XE310 Upgrade Guide (see page 5).
4 Restart your PC and check whether the PC displays an error
with the heatsink fan when it boots.
I Can’t Shut Down My PC
Have you checked that... How
The PC did not hang when you tried to shut it
down Ö1If you can’t shut down and restart the PC normally, press in the
power button for 5 seconds. The PC will shut down. Note that
any unsaved data will be lost.
2 Unplug the power cord from your PC, wait for a few seconds
and then plug it in again. Your PC will restart automatically.
The PC will not shut down if you press the power
button Ö1Save all data and exit all programs (if you can).
2 Press the power button and keep it pressed for 5 seconds. The
PC will turn off.

If You Have a Problem
12
Hardware Problems
This section provides information on how to solve problems with your keyboard, monitor, drives or
printer.
WARNING Be sure to disconnect the power cord and any telecommunication cables from your computer before you remove the cover
to check the cable connections or jumper settings.
To avoid electrical shock and harm to your eyes by laser light, do not open the laser module of the CD-ROM. The laser
module should only be serviced by service personnel. Do not attempt to make any adjustment to the laser unit. Refer to
the label on the CD-ROM for power requirements and wavelength. This PC is a class 1 laser product.
The Keyboard Doesn’t Work Properly
Have you checked that... How
The keyboard cable is correctly connected ÖPlug the cable into the correct connector on the back of the PC. Color
coding is used for easy matching.
The keyboard is clean and no keys are stuck
down ÖCheck all keys are at the same height, and none are stuck
The keyboard itself is not defective ÖEither replace the keyboard by a known working unit or try the
keyboard with another PC
The keyboard settings are not causing a
problem ÖSelect Settings Ö
ÖÖ
ÖControl Panel
Ö ÖÖ
ÖKeyboard from the Start
menu to view your keyboard settings
You are using the latest BIOS for your PC ÖDownload the latest BIOS and instructions for its installation from HP’s
Web at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
You didn’t spill anything on the keyboard ÖClean the keyboard with a damp cloth. Do not wet it.
There’s a Problem with the Hard Disk
Have you checked that... How
The disk is not damaged in some way ÖRun ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to see if they detect a problem
with the hard disk drive. To access these utilities, select Programs Ö
ÖÖ
Ö
Accessories Ö
ÖÖ
ÖSystem Tools from the Start menu.
You have not disabled the option to boot your
PC from the hard drive in the Boot menu of
the Setup program
ÖPress F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup and go to the Boot menu.
The hard disk drive has been detected ÖPress F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup and go to the Advanced menu. You should see a hard disk
drive declared in the Primary Master field of the IDE Devices
submenu.
You have not received a S.M.A.R.T. alert from
the HP Toptools Agent indicating that your
hard disk drive is defective
ÖSuch alerts can appear on your screen a t startup or while the PC is
running. If you receive such an alert, carry out an immediate data
backup, then contact HP at www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
to ask for a replacement hard drive.
Advanced Troubleshooting
All the hard drive’s internal connections and
both ends of the status panel are correctly
connected
ÖCheck that the drive’s power and data cables are correctly connected at
both ends (hard drive and system board). Refer to the HP Vectra XE310
Upgrade Guide (details on page 5).
The jumpers on the hard drive are set correctly ÖCheck that the jumpers on the hard drive are in CS (cable select) mode.

If You Have a Problem
13
The Monitor Doesn’t Work Properly
The PC’s power indicator light works but the monitor remains blank
Have you checked that... How
The monitor is switched ON (LED is on) ÖRefer to the monitor manual for an explanation of the LED signals
(green, orange, or blinking)
The monitor’s power cord is correctly
connected ÖConnect the power cord – ensure it is plugged into a working grounded
power outlet and into the monitor
The monitor (video) cable is correctly
connected ÖConnect the monitor (video) cable – ensure it is properly connected to
both the PC and the monitor
The monitor’s brightness and contrast settings
are correctly set ÖCheck the settings using the monitor’s OSD (on-screen display) or using
controls on the front of the monitor
There is an image during boot but then the screen goes blank
Have you checked that... How
The monitor settings in your PC are compatible
with your monitor Ö•Windows 98 & Windows 2000: Restart the PC. The PC opening
screen is displayed.
For Windows 98, when you hear a beep, press F8 and then start
the PC in safe mode.
For Windows 2000, when prompted, press F8 and then start the
PC in VGA mode. When the PC has started, double-click on the
Display icon in your PC’s Control Panel, then click on the
Settings button. Use the sliding control to reset the resolution.
•For other operating systems, refer to your operating system’s
documentation. v
The picture breaks up, rolls, shudders or blinks
Have you checked that... How
The monitor is correctly connected or set up Ö•Check the video cable connections to the PC
•Check that there is no interference from a fluorescent light or fan
All the hardware is working correctly ÖRun e-Diagtools (refer to page 26)
A Newly Installed Device Is Not Recognized
Have you checked that... How
The device is installed or connected properly Ö•Expansion cards:
Check that expansion cards are properly seated in their slots
•Internal devices:
Check any internal cables for bent pins and poor connection
•External devices:
Check any connections to external devices for bent pins or poor
connection
If it is an external device, that it is switched on Ö•Press the device’s power button if there is one, and check that the
power cable is correctly connected

If You Have a Problem
14
There’s a Problem with the Floppy Drive
Have you checked that... How
You are using a formatted floppy disk and it is
inserted correctly ÖYou will receive an on-screen error if the diskette is not properly formatted
The floppy disk is clean ÖUse a floppy disk cleaning kit (see your PC dealer)
The Setup program is correctly configured for
your floppy drive ÖPress F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup and go to the A
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3½”. in the Legacy Diskette A field of the Flexible Disk Drives
submenu.
The hardware is working properly ÖRun e-Diagtools to see if it detects a problem with the floppy drive
(refer to page 26)
Advanced Troubleshooting
The drive’s power and data cables are correctly
connected ÖCheck that the drive’s power and data cables are correctly connected at both ends (floppy drive and system board). Refer to the HP Vectra
XE310 Upgrade Guide (details on page 5).
There’s a Problem with the CD-ROM Drive
Have you checked that... How
There is a CD-ROM inserted in the drive Ö•Click on the drive letter assigned to your drive in Windows Explorer.
If you receive a message such as D:\ is not accessible/device is
not ready, this means there is no disc in the drive.
•Open the drive and check whether there is a disc inside.
The Setup program is correctly configured for
your drive ÖPress F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, select Enter Setup
and then:
•Go to the Advanced menu. You should see a CD-ROM drive
declared in the
Secondary Master or Secondary Slave field of
the IDE Devices submenu.
•Go to the Boot menu. If you intend to boot from the CD-ROM drive,
you should place CD-ROM Drive before Hard Drive i
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The hardware is working properly ÖRun e-Diagtools to see if it detects a problem with the drive (refer to
page 26).
The Local Bus IDE Adapter
item is correctly
configured in the Setup program ÖPress F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup and go to the Advanced menu. Make sure you have selected
both in the Local Bus IDE Adapter field.
Advanced Troubleshooting
All cables (data, power and audio) have been
properly connected both to the CD-ROM drive
and to the system board.
ÖCheck that the drive’s power and data cables are correctly connected at
both ends (drive and system board). Refer to the HP Vectra XE310
Upgrade Guide (details on page 5).
The jumpers on the drive are set correctly ÖCheck that the jumpers on the drive are in CS (cable select) mode

If You Have a Problem
15
The CD-ROM Drive Doesn’t Open
If you have difficulty removing a disc from the CD-ROM drive (during a power failure for example), you can use the manual eject button.
1With a thin, solid rod, such as the end of a paper clip, push the CD-ROM drive’s manual eject button
2 The CD-ROM drive door will be released, opening slightly. Carefully pull it open fully and retrieve the CD.
3 To close the CD-ROM drive door, push it gently closed without forcing it. The CD-ROM drive door may not close completely until it
is fully functional (for example, when the power comes back on).
The Printer Doesn’t Work
The Printer Will Not Print
Have you checked that... How
The printer is on ÖCheck the power and data cables are correctly connected. Press the
printer’s power button.
There is paper in the printer ÖCheck the printer’s paper tray
You didn’t plug in the printer’s parallel data
cable (where applicable) when the PC was
already on
Ö1Shut the PC down, then restart it.
2 Try to print again.
The correct printer driver is installed ÖCheck that the correct printer driver is installed on your PC by clicking
on the Start menu, then selecting Settings Ö
ÖÖ
ÖPrinters. Your
printer’s driver should be displayed in the Printers window.
The printer is configured correctly Ö•Click on the S
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ÖÖ
ÖPrinters. Right-
click on the icon for the printer you want to use and ensure that Set
as default
is selected and that the printer is set to work online.
•If the printer is on your network, you can set it up by browsing for it
in Network Neighborhood, clicking on the printer’s icon, then
clicking on Install in the File menu.
•Print out a test page to test the printer.
The parallel port is configured correctly in the
PC’s Setup program Ö1Restart the PC.
2 Press F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter
Setup. Check the correct setting is selected under I/O Device
Configuration Ö
ÖÖ
ÖParallel Port in the Advanced menu.
3 This setting should be Auto (for Windows 98 and 2000).
The Printer Prints Garbled Information
The correct printer driver is installed ÖCheck that the correct driver is installed on your PC by clicking on the
Start menu, then selecting Settings Ö
ÖÖ
ÖPrinters. The driver for your
printer should be displayed in the Printers window that appears.
The printer’s data cables are connected
properly ÖCheck the cables and, if it still does not work, check the product
documentation

If You Have a Problem
16
Software Problems
My Software Won’t Run
Have you checked that... How
There is no information about what is
going on in the accompanying
documentation
ÖRefer to the application software documentation and/or the operating system
documentation for guidance
The software has been correctly
installed Ö1Check for any error messages when you try to run the software.
2 Remove and then reinstall the software.
3 If the problem continues, contact the software manufacturer’s support
services.
The Date and Time are Wrong
Have you checked that... How
The battery has not become
discharged. This may happen when
the PC has been unplugged for too
long.
ÖChange the date and time, by selecting Settings Ö
ÖÖ
ÖControl Panel
Ö
ÖÖ
ÖDate/Time from the Start menu or use the Setup program, accessed by
pressing F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter Setup. If
necessary, install a new battery. Refer to the HP Vectra XE310 Upgrade Guide
(details on page 5).
You Get the Message “Some necessary system files are corrupted”
Have you checked that... How
You didn’t delete any system files ÖReinstall the operating system or return the PC to its original factory
configuration by using the HP Image Creation & Recovery CD-ROM. Refer to
page 26 for more information.
Forgotten Your PC’s BIOS Password
You have forgotten the password
that has been set in the Setup
program to prevent unauthorized
users from starting your PC
Ö1Ask your system administrator, if you have one, to remind you of the
password.
2 If you cannot find out the password, clear passwords (see page 29). This will
allow the PC to start without a password.
Problems Using the Euro Symbol
Have you checked that... How
Your operating system and
applications support this feature ÖOnly the latest operating systems such as Windows 98 and Windows 2000, provide integrated support for the Euro symbol (in certain languages only).
For more information on how to enable support of the Euro symbol, refer to
Microsoft’s website at: www.microsoft.com/windows/euro.asp.
The font you are using supports the
Euro symbol ÖIf the symbol is supported by a particular font, you will see it in the Character
Map, accessible by selecting Programs Ö
ÖÖ
ÖAccessories Ö
ÖÖ
ÖCharmap in the
Windows Start menu (Windows 98) or Programs Ö
ÖÖ
ÖAccessories Ö
ÖÖ
Ö
System Tools Ö
ÖÖ
ÖCharacter Map (Windows 2000).
Your keyboard has a Euro symbol. If
not, you can configure the keyboard. ÖSelect Settings Ö
ÖÖ
ÖControl Panel in the Windows Start menu, then double-
click on Keyboard and select the Language or Input Locales tab in the
Keyboard Properties Window. Click on Add and select the country that
corresponds to your keyboard, and click OK to exit the Control Panel.

If You Have a Problem
17
My PC Has an Audio (Sound) Problem
No Sound When Running Applications
Have you checked that... How
The volume, mute, and balance settings are
correct ÖRefer to the operating system documentation for more information
Advanced Troubleshooting
The problem is not caused by a hardware
conflict. Hardware conflicts occur when two or
more peripheral devices compete for the same
signal lines or channels. Conflicts between your
audio interface and a peripheral device might be
due to the settings of the I/O addresses, IRQ or
DMA channel.
ÖCheck the settings of the audio interface and other accessories in
your system.
No Sound When Playing a Multimedia or Audio CD
Have you checked that... How
The volume control on the CD-ROM drive is
correctly set ÖTurn up the volume dial on the front of the drive
If you are using headphones or speakers:
•they are correctly connected
•the operating system volume controls are
correctly set.
Ö•Double-click on the speaker icon on the taskbar, then set the
required volume with the volume slider
The audio cable for the CD-ROM drive is correctly
connected to the connector on the system board. ÖRefer to page 37.
A New Add-On Sound Card Does Not Work
Have you checked that... How
You have disabled the integrated sound features
on your PC as required ÖTo disable integrated sound (on Windows 98 and 2000), select
Control Panel from the S
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device radio button.
There Is a Humming Noise
Have you checked that... How
The power grounding of your audio components
is adequate ÖPlug all devices into adjacent power outlets (outlets within 5 cm/2 inches of each other), or use line filters

If You Have a Problem
18
The PC Hangs While Recording
Have you checked that... How
You are not filling up your hard disk with
uncompressed digital audio. For example, one
minute of stereo sound recorded at a resolution
of 44 kHz will occupy about 10.5 MB.
Ö•Before recording, check that there is enough free space on your
hard disk.
•Data compression can reduce the space required. The A-law and
m-law hardware compression used by the audio interface enables
the sampling of sound at a resolution of 16-bits, but it generates
the same quantity of data as an 8-bit sample.
No Output From 8 or 16 Bit Digitized Sounds
Have you checked that... How
You do not have an interrupt conflict or that you
have not selected the wrong DMA channel ÖUse your operating system’s audio control software to change the audio interface’s DMA channel or IRQ setting
Audio Input From Microphone Too Low
Have you checked that... How
The microphone specifications meet the
requirements of the 16-bit sound components.
The microphone should be a 600-ohm electret
type.
ÖCheck the documentation that came with your microphone

If You Have a Problem
19
Startup Errors
Power-on Self Test
When your PC starts it performs a Power-on Self Test (POST) to test your hardware configuration for
any problems. If a problem is detected during the POST, an error is displayed on your PC’s monitor.
Pre-boot Diagnostics
If, however, your PC is unable to display an error message (for example, when you graphics controller
has failed), it will emit a buzzing sound. This is the pre-boot diagnostics feature. Immediately after the
buzzing sound, a series of beeps is emitted.
If you hear a series of beeps, you should count them as this will help you detect the cause of the problem.
Please note that for Memory (code 3), Video Card (code 4), and PnP/PCI (code 5) errors, e-Buzzer will
only detect them after a 15-second timeout.
If you miss the beep code, turn off the PC by pressing the on/off power button for five seconds or more,
then listen for the signal again.
The e-Buzzer, as well as emitting a beep sequence, also encodes troubleshooting information (such as
the PC models, serial number, and failing component) into a coded audio signal. During a support call,
this coded signal can then be decoded by the HP Service Provider to provide immediate and effective
assistance.
For more information on BIOS beep codes and BIOS error codes, refer to the Technical Reference
Manual for the HP Vectra XE310 PC, available in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format on the HP support web
site at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
Number
of Beeps Meaning
0SystemOK
1 Processor absent, not correctly connected or ZIP socket not closed
2 Power supply is in protected mode
3 No memory, bad memory modules, incompatible memory module
4 Graphics card problem
5 PnP/PCI initialization problem
6 Corrupted BIOS. You need to activate crisis recovery procedure (refer
to “Updating Your PC’s BIOS” on pag e30).
7 Defective system board

If You Have a Problem
20
Memory Test Error
Note: this error is indicated by a series of beeps while the screen remains blank
Have you checked that... How
The PC’s memory modules are installed
correctly Ö1Disconnect the power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (see page 32).
3 Check the memory modules are correctly installed, of the correct
type and in the correct sockets. Refer to the HP Vectra XE310
Upgrade Guide (details on page 5).
4 Close the PC, reconnect the power cord and check that the PC
boots (starts).
The PC’s memory modules are working Ö1Disconnect the power cord.
2 Remove the PC’s cover (see page 32).
3 Replace the memory modules by known working memory
modules from the same model of PC. Refer to the HP Vectra
XE310 Upgrade Guide (details on page 5)
4 Close the PC, reconnect the power cord and check that the PC
boots (starts).
ÖRun e-Diagtools. Refer to page 26.
Advanced Troubleshooting
You are using the latest BIOS for your PC ÖDownload the latest BIOS and instructions for its installation from HP’s
Web at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
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Have you checked that... How
The CPU fan connector is correctly connected Ö1Switch off the PC.
2 Disconnect the power cord.
3 Remove the PC’s cover (see page 32).
4 Check the CPU fan cable is correctly connected.
5 Replace the cover and restart the PC.
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