HP laptop released in May 2012.

The laptop is not getting past the splash screen or sending the user to the BIOS menu.

Whether due to a missing connection or the hard drive being broken, some hardware fix will have to happen. Open the laptop and check to see if all connections are stable, and if they are, you might want to consider a replacement hard drive.

If the battery is down, any leftover charge may get some lights to turn on, but it may swiftly be shut down. Try to see if it’s an issue with the charger before testing the battery. If you find that doesn’t work, consider replacing the battery.

In the case that you cannot point to any component on the motherboard that is causing the problem, the motherboard itself might be the issue. Many other issues may be created by a motherboard failure, so the best option here is to replace it with a functioning motherboard, being sure especially here to select one that is compatible with the computer’s case size.

The laptop often shuts down or restarts midway through processing.

First, check to see that it wasn’t simply due to battery life. If your computer is still holding a charge, you may need to replace the CPU. You might have also noticed lowered performance and freezing if this is the case. After interacting with high heat often, the CPU may be weakened, and you might want to replace it.

Another common issue is overheating, which may have been noticeable before shutdown. If this is the case, defer to the overheating section further in the page.

If you notice that the computer often not just shuts down, but restarts during other activities, it is likely due to a RAM malfunction. You would also notice a slow in performance rates, sporadic freezing, and other slowdowns. In this case, sometimes it is just a matter of getting dust out of the RAM slot, which can be easily removed with compressed air. If this doesn’t work, however, you may need to replace the RAM.

The laptop is heating beyond what is normal, maybe even to the point of burning the user.

The most obvious answer when a computer is overheating is a faulty fan, and that’s for good reason. If the fan is barely spinning or not at all, yet dust or other particles don’t seem to be at fault, it may be set up wrong. Inspect near the fan assembly for any loose wiring. If this does not seem to be the issue, it may be broken and need to be replaced.

Dust and other particles can easily get stuck in the machinery and reduce the fan’s performance, as well as they can damage many other parts in the computer, but they can luckily be loosened up quite easily with a bit of compressed air. Be sure to be thorough, as it can help other parts to remove any and all dust.

The other option might simply be that the computer is being stressed by heavy applications. Hold Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click Task Manager to check system performance and close any applications taking too much power.

The light to indicate power to the rest of the laptop is on, however, nothing else seems to be happening.

If the display is broken you may see a crack in it, but that is not the only tell of a broken display. Check to be sure of this issue by using an external monitor if you have one and consider purchasing a replacement.

If the computer’s RAM has died, it often won’t be able to process the instructions needed to display certain things. If you need to replace the RAM, you may also have noticed an uptick in performance issues before this issue.

The optical/disc drive is not processing or recognizing inserted disks.

Test the drive with other discs, and if that doesn’t work, it may simply be a matter of cleaning the laser. The laser of a disk drive can accumulate dust over time and impair the functioning of the optical drive. Clean it with a cloth that is safe for the drive, don’t use anything rough, as it might scratch the drive.

Sometimes the optical drive simply starts working, maybe due to scratches from cleaning it wrong, missing connection, or any other reason. If this happens, consider replacing the optical drive. A missing optical drive should not impair any of the computer’s other functions as well.