Your computers online information
Your computer may contain online help information on the hard disk. It includes information on:
Troubleshooting and how to use HP Instant Support Linking to useful HP web sites.
Information on the hp support web site
Refer to the HP support web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport or www.hp.com/go/e-pcsupport) for a wide range of information, including:
Downloadable documentation Service and support options The latest BIOS, drivers and utilities Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

System recovery cd-roms

Used for a full system recovery or alternative OS installation. Includes instructions on how to recover your preloaded software including operating system, drivers and utilities.

4 product description

Finding Information
Use the following table to determine where to locate particular types of information: Type of Information
Location Quick Users Guide

Support phone numbers

Technical support contact information Warranty information
How to set up your computer Operation of your computer
Quick Start Card (details) Quick Users Guide (general information) Operating system and application manuals Upgrade Guide
Diagrams and detailed instructions on installing add-on devices Internal wire connections for adding hard drives, CD-ROM, etc. Memory expansion and replacing devices LAN configuration LAN controller
LAN Card Ready Program (available on the HP support web site) Technical Reference Manual Troubleshooting Guide

Identifying the problem

Information on errors Problem solving Troubleshooting Parts list Accessories list
Service Handbook Chapter Technical Reference Manual
Connectors IRQ POST setup Specifications System board layout Technical diagrams

product description 5

Bibliography
Datasheets and other information can be obtained at:

Intel Chipsets

developer.intel.com
Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology
www.developer.intel.com/business/products/chipsets/dvmt_white.pdf

Pentium 4 Processors

www.intel.com/pentium4

Analog Devices AD1885

www.analogdevices.com

Intel LAN card

www.intel.com/support/network
ATI Rage 128 Pro graphic card

www.ati.com

NVIDIA graphic cards

www.nvidia.com

Hewlett-Packard white papers are available on a variety of subjects including AGP graphics and
SDRAM memory at: www.hp.com/go/library

6 product description

Table of Contents

System Overview

Package Features. 10
Rear Connectors (all models). 10

Desktop. 10

Minitower. 12

Small Form Factor. 13

Specifications. 15
Physical Characteristics. Environmental Specifications. Acoustic Noise Emission. Power Consumption. 15

System Features

VL420 System Board Layout. 18
System Board Components. 19

Architectural View. 20

Main Memory. 20

Processors. 21

System Board Switches. 21
Accessory Board Slots. 21

Mass Storage Devices. 23

Hard Disk Drives. 23

Floppy Disk Drives. 23

Optical Drives. 23

Graphics. 29

Nvidia GeForce2 MX Graphics Card. Nvidia GeForce3 Ti200 Graphics Card. Nvidia TNT2 Vanta Graphics Card. ATI Rage 128 Pro and ATI Rage 128 Ultra Graphics Card. 29

Audio. 32

Adding an Audio Accessory Board. 32

Network. 33

LAN Connector. 33

product description 7

Serviceability

VL420 Desktop. 36

VL420 Minitower. 37
VL420 Small Form Factor. 38

BIOS Overview

BIOS Summary. 40
Entering the Configuration and Diagnostics menu. 40
Using the HP Setup Program. 40

Power Saving. 41

BIOS Addresses. 42

System Memory Map. 42

HP I/O Port Map (I/O Addresses Used by the System). 42

POST Tests. 45

HP e-DiagTools Preboot Diagnostics (Beep Codes). 50

8 product description

This chapter introduces the internal and external features, and lists the specifications of the HP Vectra VL420 PC.

Package Features

Rear Connectors (all models)
Mouse 25-pin Parallel Connector Network (LAN) connector

2 USB Connectors

Keyboard Serial Connectors

Line Out

Line In Microphone

Desktop

Front Panel

On/Off power button

Power on status light (green)
Hard disk drive activity light (amber)
Disk activity light (yellow)

10 product description

Inside the Desktop

Processor covered by fan

Accessory board slots Main Memory Sockets Hard disk drive
CD-ROM, CD-RW drive, or DVD drive Floppy disk drive

Rear View

Location of the voltage switch and power connector on the desktop

product description 11

Minitower

Front View

Disk activity light (yellow) Power on status light (green)
USB connectors Hard disk drive activity light (amber)

Inside the Minitower

Floppy disk drive
CD-ROM, CD-RW drive, or DVD drive

Processor

Main Memory

Hard disk drive

Accessory board slots

12 product description

Location of the voltage switch and power connector on the minitower

Small Form Factor

On/Off power button Power on status light (green)

product description 13

Inside the Small Form Factor

Power supply unit

Main Memory Sockets
Location of the voltage switch and power connector on the small form factor

14 product description

Specifications

Physical Characteristics

Characteristic Weight (configuration with 1 CD-ROM drive, excluding keyboard and display) Dimensions VL420 Desktop PC 10kg (22 pounds) VL420 Minitower PC 13.4kg (29.5 pounds) VL420 SFF PC 9.2kg (20.3 pounds)
Width: 43.5cm (17.13in.) Width: 20.5cm (8.1in.) Width: 34.0cm (13.38in.) Height: 13.5cm (5.31in.) Height: 47.6cm (18.7in.) Height: 9.5cm (3.74in.) Depth: 43cm (16.92in.) Depth: 44.7cm (17.6in.) Depth: 40.5cm (15.95in.) 0.19m2 (2.05 sq ft) 0.09m2 (0.97 sq ft) 0.14m2 (1.51 sq ft)

Interface type: E-IDE/ATAPI. Description Data Transfer Rate (1 KB=210 byte=1,024 bytes) (1 MB=220 byte=1,048,576 bytes) Sustained Data Transfer Rate1 Reading - 40X = 6,000 KB/s (Max) Writing - 16X = 2,400 KB/s (Max) (CD-R: 2400 KB/s, CD-RW: 1500 KB/s) Burst Data Transfer Rate PIO Mode 4: 16.7 MB/sec (max.) DMA Mode 2: 16.7 MB/sec (max.) Buffer Size Access Time Rotational Speed Interface Power Requirements Recording Formats (120mm and 80mm discs for CD-R, 120mm only for CD-RW) 1. Depends on drive specification. 2 MB Average Random Access Time: 95 ms (typical) Full Stroke Access Time: 180 ms (typical) Variable (approx. 5,400 rpm max.) IDE/ATA-2 MMC Compliant +5V and +12V 12.4W max. ISO 9660 UDF 1.5

24 product description

Features of the DVD-ROM Drive
CD-ROM Mode 1 and 2 data disc Photo-CD Multisession CD Audio disc Mixed mode CD-ROM disc (data and audio) CD-ROM XA CD-I CD-Extra CD-R CD-RW
Supported DVD-ROM formats:.
DVD-ROM DVD-R (4.7GB/3.9GB) DVD-RW DVD + RW.
Interface: E-IDE/ATAPI, Support Ultra DMA 66. Description Data Capacity: Capacity DVD-ROM Capacity DVD-RAM Capacity DVD-R Capacity CD Data Transfer Rate Loading Type Access Time Buffer Memory Size Acoustic Noise Rotational Speed Up to 8.5 GB/side 4.7 GB/side 4.7 GB/side 650 MB 16X (maximum) DVD 40X (maximum) CD-ROM Motorized tray 120 ms (DVD) 90 ms (CD-ROM) 512 KB 52 dB Approx. Variable (Approx 7,300 rpm max.)
If a disk is still in the drive after power failure or drive failure, the disk can be reclaimed by inserting a straightened paperclip into the small hole at the bottom of the door. DVD Region Codes
The DVD drive is able to play DVD video discs from all regions (see the following table).

product description 25

System Features After setting the DVD region (by playing a DVD video for the first time), the DVD region can be changed a further four times; after that the DVD drive will only play DVD videos from the last DVD region that was set. Regional Codes USA & Canada Europe (excluding former USSR countries ), Japan, Near East (including Iran and Egypt), South Africa South East Asia, South Korea Latin America & Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) Africa (excluding Egypt and South Africa), Eastern European countries, Sub-Indian continent China Region
Small Form Factor Optical Drives
Features of the Slim CD-ROM drive
CD-DA CD-ROM Mode1, Mode 2 CD-I (Mode 2 Form 1 and 2) Photo-CD (single and multisession) Enhanced CD. Description Host Interface Disc Diameter Storage Capacity Data Transfer Rate Average Access Time Buffer Memory Rotational speed IDE (ATAPI) 120 mm 656 Mbytes Burst: 33.3 MBs (max) 115msec (average) 128 Kbytes 5136rpm Sustained: 1545 ~3600KBs

Features of the Slim CD-RW Drive
Supported CD-ROM formats (read and write):
CD-ROM CD-Text Video CD CD-Extra CD-DA CD-ROM XA CD-R (Orange Book Part 2) CD-RW (Orange Book Part 3).
Supported CD-ROM formats (read only):
Photo CD (single and multi session).
Interface type: E-IDE/ATAPI.

26 product description

Description Write/Read Speed Write CD-R 8X max. Write CD-R/W 8X max. Read 24X max. Sustained Data Transfer Rate (maximum) Data Capacity Random Access Time (Average) Buffer Memory Size Loading Type Mounting Type Weight Acoustic Noise Reliability 3,600 KB/s CAV 700 MB or up to 74 minutes of audio per disc 140 ms 2 MB Manual Horizontal and vertical 200 g approx. < 45 dBA at 1m MTBF 6,000 POH
Features of the Slim DVD-ROM Drive
Supported formats (read only):
DVD-ROM CD-ROM Mode 1 and 2 data disc Photo-CD Multisession CD Audio disc Mixed mode CD-ROM disc (data and audio) CD-ROM XA CD-I CD-Extra CD-Text CD-R CD-RW.

product description 27

Interface: E-IDE/ATAPI, Ultra DMA mode 2 (33.3 MB/s). Description Data Capacity: Capacity DVD-ROM Capacity DVD-RAM Capacity DVD-R Capacity CD Data Transfer Rate Access Time (Average) Up to 8.5 GB/side 4.7 GB/side 4.7 GB/side 700 MB 8X max. DVD 24X max. CD-ROM 90 ms for single-layer DVD-ROM 130 ms for dual-layer DVD-ROM 85 ms for CD-ROM Loading Type Mounting Type Weight Buffer Memory Size Acoustic Noise Reliability Manual, with electrical release of tray Horizontal and vertical 180 g typical 512 KB < 46 dBA at 0.5m MTBF 80,000 POH
The DVD drive is able to play DVD video discs from all regions (see table below). After setting the DVD region (by playing a DVD video for the first time), the DVD region can be changed a further four times; after that the DVD drive will only play DVD videos from the last DVD region that was set. Regional Codes USA & Canada Europe (excluding former USSR countries ), Japan, Near East (including Iran and Egypt), South Africa South East Asia, South Korea Latin America & Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) Africa (excluding Egypt and South Africa), Eastern European countries, Sub-Indian continent China Region

28 product description

Graphics
The VL420 offers a choice of graphics solutions:
Nvidia GeForce2 MX graphics card Nvidia GeForce3 Ti200 graphics card Nvidia TNT2 Vanta graphics card ATI Rage 128 Ultra graphics card ATI Rage 128 Pro graphics card.
Nvidia GeForce2 MX Graphics Card
Some Vectra VL420 PC models are supplied with an Nvidia GeForce2 MX graphics card. The Nvidia GeForce2 MX is a high performance 2D/3D graphics card. A low profile version of the Nvidia GeForce2 MX is also available for the small form factor. The lowprofile version does not have the same functionality as the standard version: it has a single VGA output, compared to the dualhead VGA and HDVI output on the standard card. For more information, refer to the Technical Reference Manual - HP Business PC Technology available in PDF (Acrobat) format from www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.

Key Features

Standard version: Dual-monitor support (VGA and HDVI), DVI to VGA converter provided Low profile version: Single VGA output 2nd generation transform & lighting engines 32MB DDR memory (not upgradeable) High definition video processor Full quality DVD and HDTV capability secondary display
350MHz ramdac, 2048x1536x32bpp on primary display, 150MHz, 1600x1200x32bpp at 60Hz on the
700 million texel fill rate 2.7GB/sec memory bandwidth NVIDIA Unified Driver Architecture Digital Vibrance Control 8-64MB frame buffer size High-Definition Video Processor 256-bit graphics architecture.

product description 29

Nvidia GeForce3 Ti200 Graphics Card
Some VL420 Minitower PC models are supplied with an Nvidia GeForce3 Ti200 64MB graphics card. The Nvidia GeForce3 Ti200 card has 2 outputs, VGA and DVI. Either the VGA or the DVI output can be used, the outputs cannot be used for dual-monitor displays (unlike the GeForce2 MX). For more information, refer to the Technical Reference Manual - HP Business PC Technology available in PDF (Acrobat) format from www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
NV20 ASIC + 64 MB DDR SDRAM 175 MHz GPU clock 128 bit/200 MHz memory interface: AGP 4x with Fast Writes 256 bit graphics accelerator VGA, DB15, VESA DDC2B 350MHz internal RAMDAC 2048x1536x32bpp @ 60 Hz maximum resolution 1600x1200 maximum resolution 6.4 GB/sec memory bandwidth 5 Million triangles per second.
Nvidia TNT2 Vanta Graphics Card
Some Vectra VL420 PC models are supplied with an Nvidia TNT2 Vanta graphics card. A low-profile version of this card is also available for the VL420 small form factor. The low profile version has the same functionality as the standard version. For more information, refer to the Technical Reference Manual - HP Business PC Technology available in PDF (Acrobat) format from www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
16MB 7ns 64-bit SDRAM memory (125MHz clock, 1.0GB/sec bandwidth) 300MHz RAMDAC built-in AGP 2X PC 99 DB-15 analog monitor connector (VESA DDC2B + DPMS) Cooled by heat sink only Full hardware triangle setup 200 Million pixels per second (textured, anisotropic filtered) 5 Million triangles per second.

30 product description

ATI Rage 128 Pro and ATI Rage 128 Ultra Graphics Card

Some Vectra VL420 PC models are supplied with an ATI Rage 128 Pro or Ultra graphics card. The ATI Rage 128 Pro has 16MB of video memory. The ATI Rage 128 Ultra is identical to the ATI Rage 128 Pro except that it has 32MB of video memory. A low profile version of both of these cards is also available for the VL420 small form factor, the only difference between the standard and low profile version is the height of the bracket. For more information, refer to the Technical Reference Manual - HP Business PC Technology available in PDF (Acrobat) format from www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
Powered by ATI Rage 128 Pro chip Full AGP 2X/AGP 4X support (up to 1GB/s bandwidth) 128bit 2D engine Floating-point 3D setup engine with complete 3D primitive support High Quality DVD/MPEG2 playback with iDCT and motion compensation support DirectX 8 and OpenGL hardware acceleration Integrated triple 8-bit palette 250MHz RAMDAC with video gamma adjustment DDC2B support for Plug-&-Play detection of monitor 16/10 monitor support Support for 32-bit true color (16.7 million colors) at resolutions up to 1920x1440 Twin-Cache architecture to maximize texture and pixel throughput.

product description 31

The audio solution on the VL420 is the Analog Devices AD1885 integrated AC97 audio solution. The AD1885 interfaces directly with the South Bridge chip and performs all digital operations, such as sample rate conversions and synthesis, as well as mixing and processing the analog signals. An optional Sound Blaster Live 5.1 audio card is also available for the minitower. All models have a Line In jack, Line Out jack and Microphone In jack connector located on the rear panel. These external jacks are standard connectors.
Line out / speaker connector

Line in connector

Microphone connector
For more information on AD1885 audio technology and the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 audio card, refer to the Technical Reference Manual - HP Business PC Technology.
Adding an Audio Accessory Board
The integrated PCI audio can be disabled in the Advanced menu of the Setup program, if an audio accessory board is installed.

32 product description

Network
All models have an Integrated Intel Pro/100 VE Network Adapter (10 Base-T/100 Base-TX LAN Interface). An optional 3COM LAN card is also available, a low profile version is available for the small form factor. If you install a LAN card, integrated LAN is not automatically disabled. However you can disable the integrated LAN controller in the PCs Setup program. The Intel LAN boot ROM setup can be launched by pressing CTRL-S while booting your PC.

LAN Connector

The 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX LAN connector is located on the rear of the PC. 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX connector LEDs
There are two LEDs on the 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX connector as indicated in the graphic above. The following table provides a status summary of these LEDs: Status LED Green Yellow Description Flashing Speed LED Link Integrity and Activity LED N/A Link integrity OK and network traffic present On 100 Base-TX connection between NIC and hub Link integrity OK and no network traffic Off 10 Base-T connection between NIC and hub No connection between NIC and hub

Using the HP Setup Program
In the Configuration and Diagnostics menu press F2 to run the Setup program. The Setup screen comprises six menus: Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, Power and Exit. These are selected using the left and right arrow keys. A brief summary of what settings can be configured in each of these menus is described below:

Main Menu

In the Main menu you can select whether or not your plug and play operating system configures non bootable devices. In the Main menu you can also reset your configuration data, set your system time and date, and specify your keyboard settings.

40 product description

Advanced Menu
The Advanced menu allows you to configure the setting of all motherboard components such as IDE
devices, LAN, audio and I/O ports.

Security Menu

In the Security menu you can configure your password settings.

Boot Menu

In the Boot menu you can change your boot settings, including enabling/disabling quickboot mode.

Power Menu

In the Power menu you can enable or disable the Remote Power On feature, when this feature is enabled, the system can be powered on when a specific command is received on the network.

Exit Menu

The Exit menu allows you to exit the BIOS setup utility with or without saving your setup changes, it also allows you to exit while restoring the setup default settings.

Power Saving

You can reduce the PCs overall power consumption by using Power Management to slow down the PCs activity when it is idle.
ACPI Power Management Modes
(Windows 2000, Windows 98 SE and Windows XP)

Idle (s1):

The processor is shutdown.

Standby (s3):

All components of the system are shut down except for the system memory which remains active.
Hibernation (s4), Windows 2000 and Windows XP only:
System memory is copied to the hard disk. All components of the system are shut down.

Off (s5):

All components of the system are shut down.

product description 41

BIOS Addresses
This section provides a summary of the main features of the HP system BIOS.

System Memory Map

Reserved memory used by accessory boards must be located in the area from C8000h to EFFFFh. - 0000 03FF - 0000 04FF - 0009 FCFC00 - 0009 FFFF 000A_0000 - 000B_FFFF 000C 0000 - 000C 7FFF 000C 8000 - 000E 0000 000E 0000 - 000F FFFF - FF FFFF - 1FF FFFF -3FF FFFF -1FFF FFFF FFF80000 - FFFF FFFF Real-mode IDT BIOS Data Area Used by OS Extended BIOS Data Area Video RAM or SMRAM (not visible unless in SMM) Video ROM Adapter ROM, RAM, memory-mapped registers System BIOS (Flash/Shadow) Memory (1MB to 16MB) Memory (16MB to 32MB) Memory (32MB to 64MB) Memory (64MB to 512MB)1 512KB BIOS (Flash)
1.The last MB of memory in this area is used as Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) embedded memory.
HP I/O Port Map (I/O Addresses Used by the System)
Peripheral devices, accessory devices and system controllers are accessed via the system I/O space, which is not located in system memory space. The 64KB of addressable I/O space comprises 8-bit and 16bit registers (called I/O ports) located in the various system components. When installing an accessory board, ensure that the I/O address space selected is in the free area of the space reserved for accessory boards (100h to 3FFh). Although the Setup program can be used to change some of the settings, the following address map is not completely BIOS dependent, but is determined partly by the operating system. Note that some of the I/O addresses are allocated dynamically.

42 product description

I/O Address Ports 0000 - 000F 0020 - 0021 002E - 002F 0040 - 0043 0060, - 0081 - 0083, 008F 0092 00A0 - 00A1 00C0 - 00DF 00F0 - 00FF 0170 - 0177 01F0 - 01F- 027F 02E8 - 02EF 02F8 - 02FF 0372 - - 037A 03B0 - 03DF 03E8 - 03EF 03F0h- 03F5 03F6 03F7 03F8 - 03FF 04D0 - 04D- 067B 0778 - 077B 0CF8 - 0CFF DMA controller 1

Function

Master interrupt controller (8259) NS360 Configuration registers Timer 1 Keyboard controller (reset, slow A20) Port B (speaker, NMI status and control) Bit 7: NMI mask register RTC and CMOS data Manufacturing port (POST card) DMA low page register PS/2 reset and Fast A20 Slave interrupt controller DMA controller 2 Co-processor error IDE secondary channel IDE primary channel LPT 2 Serial port 4 (COM4) Serial port 2 (COM2) IDE secondary channel, secondary floppy disk drive LPT1 VGA COM3 Floppy disk drive controller IDE primary channel Floppy disk drive controller COM1 Interrupt edge/level control LPT2 ECP LPT1 ECP PCI configuration space

product description 47

Checkpoint Code 66 7F 8B 8C 8D 8F 9A 9B 9C 9D 9E A2 A3 A4 A5 A7 A8 A9
POST Routine Description Hit <DEL> message cleared. <WAIT.> message displayed. About to start DMA and interrupt controller test. DMA page register test passed. To do DMA#1 base register test. DMA#1 base register test passed. To do DMA#2 base register test. DMA#2 base register test passed. To program DMA unit 1 and 2. DMA unit 1 and 2 programming over. To initialize 8259 interrupt controller. Extended NMI sources enabling is in progress. Keyboard test started. clearing output buffer, checking for stuck key, to issue keyboard reset command. Keyboard reset error/stuck key found. To issue keyboard controller interface test command. Keyboard controller interface test over. To write command byte and init circular buffer. Command byte written, Global data init done. To check for lock-key. Lock-key checking over. To check for memory size mismatch with CMOS. Memory size check done. To display soft error and check for password or bypass setup. Password checked. About to do programming before setup. Programming before setup complete. To uncompress SETUP code and execute CMOS setup. Returned from CMOS setup program and screen is cleared. About to do programming after setup. Programming after setup complete. Going to display power on screen message. First screen message displayed. <WAIT.> message displayed. PS/2 Mouse check and extended BIOS data area allocation to be done. Setup options programming after CMOS setup about to start. Going for hard disk controller reset. Hard disk controller reset done. Floppy setup to be done next. Floppy setup complete. Hard disk setup to be done next. Init of different BUSes optional ROMs from C800 to start. Going to do any init before C800 optional ROM control. Any init before C800 optional ROM control is over. Optional ROM check and control will be done next. Optional ROM control is done. About to give control to do any required processing after optional ROM returns control and enable external cache. Any initialization required after optional ROM test over. Going to setup timer data area and printer base address. Return after setting timer and printer base address. Going to set the RS-232 base address. Returned after RS-232 base address. Going to do any initialization before Coprocessor test. Required initialization before Coprocessor is over. Going to initialize the Coprocessor next. Coprocessor initialized. Going to do any initialization after Coprocessor test. Initialization after Coprocessor test is complete. Going to check extd keyboard, keyboard ID and num-lock. Going to display any soft errors. Soft error display complete. Going to set keyboard typematic rate. Keyboard typematic rate set. To program memory wait states. Going to enable parity/NMI. NMI and parity enabled. Going to do any initialization required before giving control to optional ROM at E000. Initialization before E000 ROM control over. E000 ROM to get control next. Returned from E000 ROM control. Going to do any initialization required after E000 optional ROM control.

48 product description

Checkpoint Code AA AB AC B0 B1 00
POST Routine Description Initialization after E000 optional ROM control is over. Going to display the system configuration. To build MP table if needed. To uncompress DMI data and execute DMI POST init. System configuration is displayed. Going to copy any code to specific area. Copying of code to specific area done. Going to give control to INT-19 boot loader.

product description 49

HP e-DiagTools Preboot Diagnostics (Beep Codes)
When your PC starts up, its BIOS 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 PCs monitor. If, however, your PC is unable to display an error message (for example, when your graphics controller has failed), it will emit a buzzing sound. This is the e-DiagTools preboot diagnostic. In the event of a problem with your PC 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. Number of Beeps 0 Meaning
If you hear the buzzing audio signal: system OK No buzzing audio signal: no power, PC is unplugged, power supply is down or system board has failed.
Processor absent, not correctly connected or processor socket not closed Power supply is in protected mode No memory, bad memory modules, incompatible memory module Graphics solution problem PnP/PCI initialization problem Corrupted BIOS. You need to activate crisis recovery procedure. Defective system board
Note that for Memory (code 3), Video Card (code 4), and PnP/PCI (code 5) errors, e-DiagTools preboot diagnostic will only detect them after a 15-second timeout. If you miss the beep code, turn off the PC. Then press the on/off power button for five seconds or more and listen for the signal again. The e-DiagTools preboot diagnostics, as well as emitting a beep sequence, also encodes troubleshooting information (such as the PC model, serial number and failing components) 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.

50 product description

The Technical Reference Manual contains the following documents downloadable from the web site www.hp.com/go/support in PDF format:
Introduction & HP Business PC Overview Describes how to use the Technical Reference Manual and provides a brief overview of the most recent HP Business PCs. Product Description The document you are reading. One manual is provided for each HP Business PC. Each manual provides detailed BIOS information and summary information on the hardware components in the HP PC. HP Business PC Technology A detailed look at the hardware components in the latest HP Business PCs. Includes information on processors, chip-sets, graphic controllers, network interfaces, connectors and sockets.

Created in France 12/2001

hp vectra vl420

troubleshooting guide
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

Table of Contents

If You Have a Problem

What to Do First. 10

My PC Doesnt Start Properly. 11
My Computer Isnt Working Properly. 13

Hardware Problems. 14

Software Problems. 18
Audio (Sound) Problems. 19

Startup Errors. 21

Frequently Asked Questions. 26

Need More Help?. 27

Diagnose Your Hardware (e-Diagtools). 28

Recovery CD-ROMs. 28

HP Setup Program. 29
Clearing Your PCs CMOS (BIOS) Settings. 31

Your PCs BIOS. 32

Accessing Components in the PC. 34
Support and Information Services. 41
HP Customer Care Center Phone Numbers. 42
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 PCs 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

Discover and use your product
See the HP Quick Start card and HP Quick Users Guide. The Quick Start card provided with your HP Business PC will help you:
Set up and begin using your HP Business PC for the first time memory, add-on cards and optical drives. More information is available on the HP support web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport or www.hp.com/go/e-pcsupport).
Upgrade and replace components in your HP Business PC, including the hard drive, processor
Find out where to get more information.
The Quick Users Guide provided with your HP Business PC includes basic troubleshooting information, technical specifications, warranty and legal information.
Your computers online information
Your computer may contain online help information on the hard disk, such as:
Troubleshooting and how to use HP Instant Support Linking to useful HP web sites.
If your computer is running Windows XP then you can access the Help and Support Center (HSC) via the Start menu. HSC is an application which centralizes help topics, tutorials, troubleshooting etc.
Information on the hp support web site
Refer to the HP support web site (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport or www.hp.com/go/e-pcsupport) for a wide range of information, including:
Downloadable documentation Service and support options The latest BIOS, drivers and utilities Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

System recovery cd-roms

Used for a full system recovery or alternative OS installation. Includes instructions on how to recover your preloaded software including operating system, drivers and utilities.

Finding Information

Use the following table to determine where to locate particular types of information: Type of Information
Location Quick Users Guide

Support phone numbers

Technical support contact information Warranty information
How to set up your computer Operation of your computer
Quick Start Card (details) Quick Users Guide (general information) Operating system and application manuals Upgrade Guide
Diagrams and detailed instructions on installing add-on devices Internal wire connections for adding hard drives, CD-ROM, etc. Memory expansion and replacing devices LAN configuration LAN controller
LAN Card Ready Program (available on the HP support web site) Technical Reference Manual Troubleshooting Guide

Identifying the problem

Information on errors Problem solving Troubleshooting Parts list Accessories list
Service Handbook Chapter Technical Reference Manual
Connectors IRQ POST setup Specifications System board layout Technical diagrams

What to Do First

Dont 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.

There is not a hardware problem
You have installed enough memory in your PC. It is recommended that you install 128MB of RAM to run Windows 2000 or Windows XP on your PC. Installing less than this may cause problems running applications. The processor in your PC has not overheated.
Disconnect the PCs power cord. Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). Make sure the heatsink fan connector is properly connected. Refer to the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide (see page 5). Restart your PC and check whether the PC displays an error with the heatsink fan when it boots.

I Cant Shut Down My PC

The PC did not hang when you tried to shut it down How
If you cant 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. Unplug the power cord from your PC, wait for a few seconds and then plug it in again. Your PC will restart automatically. Save all data and exit all programs (if you can). Press the power button and keep it pressed for 5 seconds. The PC will turn off.
The PC will not shut down if you press the power button

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 Doesnt Work Properly
The keyboard cable is correctly connected The keyboard is clean and no keys are stuck down The keyboard itself is not defective How
Plug the cable into the correct connector on the back of the PC. Color coding is used for easy matching. Check all keys are at the same height, and none are stuck Either replace the keyboard by a known working unit or try the keyboard with another PC
You are using the correct driver. This driver is
provided with all Windows 2000 or Windows XP preloaded systems.
Download the latest driver from HPs web site at:
www.hp.com/go/e-pcsupport.
You are using the latest BIOS for your PC
Download the latest BIOS and instructions for its installation from HPs Web at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport

You Get the Message Some necessary system files are corrupted
You didnt delete any system files How
Reinstall the operating system or return the PC to its original factory configuration by using the HP Image Creation & Recovery CD-ROM. Refer to page 28 for more information.
Forgotten Your PCs BIOS Password
You have forgotten the password
that has been set in the Setup program to prevent unauthorized
users from starting your PC
Ask your system administrator, if you have one, to remind you of the password. If you cannot find out the password, clear passwords (see page 31). This will allow the PC to start without a password.
Problems Using the Euro Symbol
Your operating system and
applications support this feature How
Only 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 Microsofts website at: www.microsoft.com/windows/euro.asp. If the symbol is supported by a particular font, you will see it in the Character Map, accessible by selecting Programs Accessories Charmap in the Windows Start menu (Windows 98) or Programs Accessories System Tools Character Map (Windows 2000). Select Settings Control Panel in the Windows Start menu, then doubleclick 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.
The font you are using supports the

Euro symbol

Your keyboard has a Euro symbol. If
not, you can configure the keyboard.

Audio (Sound) Problems

No Sound When Running Applications
The volume, mute, and balance settings are correct How
Refer to the operating system documentation for more information
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. Check the settings of the audio interface and other accessories in your system.
No Sound When Playing a Multimedia or Audio CD
The volume control on the CD-ROM drive is correctly set If you are using headphones or speakers:
they are correctly connected the operating system volume controls are
Open the playback mixer and move the CD volume slider
Double-click on the speaker icon on the taskbar, then set the
required volume with the volume slider Refer to page 40.
Change optical drive settings to analog mode:
1 Click on the Start menu and select Control Panel.

No Sound when Recording with the Microphone
The microphone specifications meet the requirements of the 16-bit sound components. The microphone should be a 600-ohm electret type.
Microphone is selected and that the volume is set high enough The Microphone Boost option is selected in Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices in the HP e-pcs Control Panel
Check the documentation that came with your microphone
Double-click on the speaker icon to check that Microphone is selected. Check the volume has been set high enough to be heard and that Mute is not selected. Open the Control Panel from the Start menu and select Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
The Sound Falters or is Jerky
This may happen when processor resources are being used by another application
When listening to audio files, do not run processor-intensive applications.

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 PCs monitor.
Pre-boot Diagnostics (beep codes)
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.

Number of Beeps

Meaning
If you hear the buzzing audio signal: system OK No buzzing audio signal: no power, PC is unplugged, power supply
is down or system board has failed. Processor absent, not correctly connected or processor socket not closed Power supply is in protected mode. Check that there are no short circuits inside the PC. Remove the power cord from the back of the PC to deactivate the protection, then reinsert it. No memory, bad memory modules, incompatible memory module Video hardwared problem. If using a graphics card, check the card is correctly inserted in its slot by removing and replacing it. PnP/PCI initialization problem Corrupted BIOS. You need to activate crisis recovery procedure (refer to Updating Your PCs BIOS on pag e32). Defective system board
Please note that for Memory (code 3), Video Card (code 4), and PnP/PCI (code 5) errors, pre-boot diagnostics 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 pre-boot diagnostics, 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 VL420 PC, available in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format on the HP support web site at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.

Memory Test Error

Note: this error is indicated by a series of beeps while the screen remains blank Have you checked that.
The PCs memory modules are installed correctly How
1 Disconnect the power cord.
2 Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35).
3 Check the memory modules are correctly installed, of the correct type and in the correct sockets. Refer to the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide (details on page 5). 4 Close the PC, reconnect the power cord and check that the PC boots (starts). 1 Disconnect the power cord. 2 Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). 3 Replace the memory modules by known working memory modules from the same model of PC. Refer to the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide (details on page 5) 4 Close the PC, reconnect the power cord and check that the PC boots (starts). Run e-Diagtools. Refer to page 28.
The PCs memory modules are working
CPU Fan Connector Test Error
The CPU fan connector is correctly connected How
Switch off the PC. Disconnect the power cord. Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). Check the CPU fan cable is correctly connected. Replace the cover and restart the PC.

Keyboard Test Error

The keyboard cable is correctly connected How
The keyboard is clean and keys are not stuck down The keyboard is working
Switch off the PC. Plug the cables into the correct connectors on the back of the PC (you may have problems if you connect the mouse to the keyboard connector).
Check all keys are at the same height, and none are stuck. 3 Switch off the PC. Replace the keyboard by a known working unit. Switch on the PC, and check it works.
Run e-Diagtools. Refer to page 28. The keyboard port is working 3 Disconnect the keyboard from the PC. Attach the keyboard to another PC of the same model. If the keyboard works you may need a new system board. Contact your authorized support provider.

Floppy Drive Test Error

The drive is correctly configured in the PCs Setup program. How
Restart the PC. Press F8 when the HP logo appears, then select Enter Setup. Check the floppy disk drive is enabled and that the correct type is selected (refer to page 16).
The floppy drive is working
Insert a known working floppy disk and see if it works Run e-Diagtools. Refer to page 28. Download the latest BIOS and instructions for its installation from HPs Web at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
The drive cables are correctly connected The drive cable is working The drive itself has not failed 5 Disconnect the power cord. Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). Check the floppy drives power and data cables are correctly connected. Refer to the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide (details on page 5). Close the PC then switch it on and check it works. Disconnect the power cord. Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). Replace the floppy drive cable by a known working cable from the same model of PC, if possible. Close the PC then switch it on and check it works. Disconnect the power cord. Remove the PCs cover (refer to page 32 or page 35). Replace floppy by a known working drive from the same model of PC, if possible. Refer to the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide (see page 5). Close the PC then switch it on and check it works. If the drive works, replace the defective drive.

Plug the cables into the correct connectors on the back of the PC.
Switch on the PC and the external devices.
You have not connected a device incorrectly or forgotten to switch it on
You have installed the correct device drivers
There is not a hardware problem
You are using the latest BIOS for your PC
Refer to the documentation for your serial or parallel device.
Run e-Diagtools. Refer to page 28.
Download the latest BIOS and instructions for its installation from HPs
Web at: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
Other Configuration Problems
If the POST produces an error not covered in this section. Have you checked that.
The Setup program settings are correct How
Turn on or restart the PC. Press F8 when the HP logo appears at startup, then select Enter Setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
General problems How can I reinstall my PCs operating system? Why is my PC running slowly/producing strange messages?
Use the HP Image Library & Diagnostics CD-ROMs provided with your PC (refer to page 28)
If you are connected to a network, the slowness of your PC may
be caused by the network.
Your PC may be infected by a virus. Use an antivirus utility to
erase any viruses. Or, update your PCs BIOS. You can download the BIOS and updating instructions from www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport. Ive been experiencing problems with my PC ever since I installed some new software. What can I do? Can I use USB hardware devices with the operating system preloaded on my PC? How can I find out what hardware and BIOS version are used in my PC? Where can I get information about the latest HP drivers? My PC runs Scandisk when I boot under Windows 98 SE even if the previous shutdown appeared to finish normally. Why? Uninstall the software to see whether this solves the problem. If the problem continues, contact the software manufacturer for help or information on known compatibility problems. Yes. USB is supported by Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Restart the PC and press F8 then Esc during the Power-On-SelfTest (POST). The BIOS version will be displayed at the top of the screen. From HPs website: www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport Sometimes your PC may appear to shutdown successfully when it
has not. In these cases the operating system thinks that Windows
has been shutdown incorrectly and runs Scandisk.
A solution for this problem can be found at:
support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q

273/0/17.ASP

Why does my PC emit a long series of beeps during the boot process when my screen remains blank? How can I use the LEDs on the front panel to troubleshoot my PC?
The beeps are created by the HP e-Diagtools pre-boot diagnostics utility. For more information, see page 21. The LEDs on the front panel indicate the various states your PC is in. The On/Off LED indicates the power modes status of your PC. The three states are: green (PC is on), blinking green (PC is suspended) and off (PC is off). This is because Windows NT SP6/SP6a uses 99% of the CPU. This issue has been acknowledged in the Microsoft knowledge base (Ref Q266208 available on:

Recovery CD-ROMs

Use these CDs to:
Perform a full system recovery, including operating system, drivers and utilities To run e-Diagtools hardware diagnostics To manually install device drivers or utilities.

Using the CD-ROMs

Note If the PC does not boot from the CD-ROM, you must change the order of devices from which your PC tries to start up. To do so, restart your PC and press F8 when the HP logo appears, then select Enter Setup to enter the HP Setup program. Change the Boot Device Priority in the Setup program Boot menu so that CD-ROM Drive appears before Hard Drive.
Performing a Full System Recovery
You can use the HP Image Creation & Recovery CD-ROM and HP Image Library & Diagnostics CD-ROM to recover the PCs factory configuration by restoring the operating system (OS), drivers and HP supplied applications. This will return the PCs software configuration to a state similar to when the PC was originally shipped. Caution Restoring the original factory configuration will completely erase the main hard drive partition. It is highly recommended to (a) back up all your data before proceeding, (b) remove all devices you have added, (c) update your PCs BIOS (refer to page 32) and (d) have driver software on hand for any add-on hardware. The whole process normally takes about half an hour.
1 Insert the HP Image Creation & Recovery CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive and restart your PC. 2 Follow the onscreen instructions. You will be instructed to insert the HP Image Library & Diagnostics CD-ROM at some point. 3 Reinstall drivers for any devices that were not part of your PCs original configuration. 4 Restore all data files and software applications that were not part of your PCs original configuration. If you received any software CDs with your PC in addition to the HP Image Creation & Recovery CDROM and HP Image Library & Diagnostics CD-ROM, you must also reinstall these applications.
Manually Reinstalling Drivers
Note The most up-to-date drivers are available on HPs Vectra support website at www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport. 1 Insert the HP Image Library & Diagnostics CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive while your operating system is running. 2 Using Windows Explorer, select the driver(s) you need to reinstall.
3 Follow the installation instructions contained in the whats new file accompanying the driver.

Power - for selecting power-management modes to reduce the amount of energy used after specified
periods of inactivity (for non-ACPI operating systems only). If your computer stays idle for a certain amount of time, your system switches from Full Power Mode to Sleep Mode in order to reduce power consumption. In Sleep Mode, graphics, the processor and hard disks are stopped. A user event, such as from the mouse or keyboard, can cause the system to resume to Full Power Mode within a few seconds. Other events may also wake up the system: a ring on an external modem, a signal sent by an expansion card (network card etc.).
Exit: for leaving the Setup program.

Setting System Defaults

The Setup program changes system behavior by modifying the power-on initialization parameters. Setting incorrect values may cause system boot failure. If this occurs, press the F9 key while you are in the Setup program to load the Setup program's default values or select Load default values for all settings in the Exit menu of the Setup program. This should enable the computer to boot properly. Note If an Administrator password is set, you need to enter the password to set system defaults. HP strongly recommends you make a note of any changes you make while in the Setup program.
Clearing Your PCs CMOS (BIOS) Settings
CMOS is a chip that keeps a record of installed components when your PC is turned off. Clearing CMOS settings may help you resolve some common problems. For example:
when your PC cannot detect an expansion card or other device when you are having problems booting the PC.
You can clear CMOS settings:
by using your PCs BIOS Setup program by opening your PC and clearing CMOS manually.
Clearing CMOS Using the Setup Program
If you are able to gain access to your PCs Setup program, use the following simple method to clear CMOS settings: 1 Restart your PC and press F2 when the HP logo appears or F8, then select Enter Setup. 2 From within the Setup program, press F9 to load Setup defaults. 3 Press F10 to exit Setup saving changes. Note If you load CMOS default settings from within the Setup program, this will not clear passwords.

Manually Clearing CMOS and Passwords
1 Disconnect the PC and remove the cover. 2 To clear CMOS Switch 5 to ON. To clear Password switch 6 to ON.
Clear CMOS & Passwords

Clear Passwords

3 Replace the cover then reconnect the power cord. 4 Turn on the PC. This will erase the CMOS memory. Wait until the PC has restarted. A message will be displayed saying that the configuration has been cleared. 5 Turn off the PC, disconnect the power cord. 6 Set the clear CMOS/Password switch to OFF to re-enable the configuration. 7 Reconnect the power cord.
If You Have a Problem 8 Switch on the PC. The PC will start more slowly than usual because it will load the default configuration values. 9 Press F8 when the HP logo appears on screen, then select Enter Setup to enter the HP Setup Program. Update the necessary fields, such as date and time, passwords, and Security settings, then save and exit the Setup program. The PC will restart with the new configuration.

Your PCs BIOS

The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) in your PC has the following roles:
It tests and configures your PCs hardware components during the POST (Power On Self-Test). It lets you configure your PC by using the Setup program. See HP Setup Program on page 29. It provides the link between the software running on your PC and your PCs hardware.
The BIOS is stored in a chip on the system board. A PCs BIOS is specific to that model of PC.

Updating Your PCs BIOS

Many problems with your PC can be solved by updating (flashing) the PCs BIOS. Updating (flashing) your BIOS is a simple procedure that involves either booting your PC from a floppy disk containing the new BIOS or using e-Diagtools to install the new BIOS automatically. The latest BIOS for your PC along with instructions on updating can be downloaded from HPs Support website at www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
Updating with e-Diagtools
You can also use e-Diagtools to automatically download and install the latest BIOS. To use this feature, your PC must be correctly set up, as described in the e-Diagtools Users Guide. This guide is available on HPs support website at www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport.
Recovering from a BIOS Update Failure or BIOS Corruption
Although the BIOS update (flashing) process is very well protected, there is always the possibility of a failure. This may occur, for example, if there is a power failure while the BIOS is being updated. If the PC fails to boot due to a corrupted EEPROM, follow this recovery procedure to restore the contents of EEPROM. If you dont already have the latest BIOS on your PC, you can obtain it from HPs support web site. 1 Obtain an empty floppy disk. It does not have to be a system diskette. 2 Copy the BIOS file (example JA0100US.ROM) to the floppy. Do not copy any other files. Rename the file AMIBOOT.ROM. 3 Remove the power cord from the PC, open the cover, and set switch 7 on the system board (labelled BIOS recovery) to the ON position. Close the cover and reinsert the power cord.

4 Insert the diskette in the floppy drive. Switch on the PC.

Switch Block

5 The PC will beep once and the boot process will start automatically. The screen will remain blank, but there will be activity on the floppy drive. DO NOT SWITCH OFF THE PC DURING FLASH. 6 Once complete, the PC will emit a long continual beep.Switch off the PC, remove the diskette and reset switch 7 to the OFF position. The PC should now boot normally. Note The power button is protected in BIOS update mode, and will appear inactive even after the update procedure has finished. To power off the system after the update, press and hold the power button for at least 5 seconds. There is a danger of explosion if the system board battery is incorrectly installed. For your safety, never attempt to recharge, disassemble or burn the old battery. Replace the battery only with the equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. The battery in this PC is a lithium battery which does not contain heavy metals, nevertheless, in order to protect the environment, do not dispose of batteries in household waste. Please return used batteries to the shop from which you bought them, or to the dealer from which you purchased your PC, or to HP, so that they can either be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Returned used batteries will be accepted free of charge.
Accessing Components in the PC
This section provides basic information on accessing internal components in your PC. More detailed information is available in the HP Vectra VL420 Upgrade Guide, a PDF document that can be downloaded from the HP PC support website (www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport).
Removing and replacing the pcs cover - desktop models
For your safety, disconnect the power cord and all external cables.
1 Switch off the monitor and PC, disconnect all power cords and any telecommunication cables.
2 If necessary, unlock the cover (with the key) at the rear of the PC.
3 Open the latch and remove the cover.

Collecting Information on Your PC Before Contacting Support
Take a piece of paper and note down some of the information mentioned below. This will help HP support deal with your problem quickly and efficiently: PC Description Model number Serial number RAM
Number of megabytes installed
See label on the right side of your PC. See label on the right side of your PC.
The amount of RAM is displayed in the Summary screen,
accessed by pressing F8 when the HP logo appears during startup, then selecting the Summary option. Question or Problem
Write down a brief description of the problem Frequency How often has the problem occurred? Run OK? How long has the PC been running normally? Recent changes to the PC Have there been any recent changes made to the PC? Any e-Diagtools errors? Run e-Diagtools. Refer to page 28. Hardware Which BIOS version is used? The BIOS version is displayed in the Summary screen, accessed by pressing F8 when the HP logo appears during start-up, then selecting the Summary option. Did the problem occur after changes were made to the BIOS using the Setup program? Operating System Are you using the original operating system software that came preloaded on your PC? If no, what is the operating system version? Any operating system-generated error messages Any errors during boot (Power-On Self Test). This test checks all installed components. What is the operating system version?
Any BIOS parameter changes?
Select Settings Control Panel from the Start menu, then click on the System icon. The operating system version is displayed under System. Please note down exact text of error message. Any POST errors will be displayed on your monitor screen or signalled by beep codes.
Information on Your Warranty and Customer Care Centers
Details about your warranty entitlement are available in the documentation provided with your PC or on the HP web at www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport. The table on the following page shows you how to contact HP Customer Care Centers.
HP Customer Care Center Phone Numbers
HP Customer Care Centers can help you solve hardware issues related to HP products and, if necessary, initiate appropriate service procedures. In the U.S.A, telephone support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Elsewhere, it is available during normal office hours. North & Latin America
Argentina (54 11) (international and Buenos Aires area) 5520 (other locations) (011) (Sao Paulo) (other locations) 905-206-(01) 6684 (970) 635-4746 8368
Europe, Middle East & Africa

Austria (+43) 10 80

Brazil Canada Chile Mexico United States Venezuela

Belgium Denmark English

International

Finland

Germany

Israel

Dutch (+32) French (+32) (+45) (+44) (+358) 88 (+33) 34 (+49) (24PF/min) Tel. (+972) 9-9524848 Fax. (+972) 9524849 (+39) 02-Tel.+Fax +883 9495

Asia Pacific

Australia

China

(+61-3) 8877-8000 +86 (0) 5959 (800) 810-5959 (+852) (+91-11) 682-6035 (+62-21) 350-3408 (+81-3) (+82-2) (Seoul) (+82) 0700 (outside Seoul) (+60-3) 28 (+64-9) 356-6640 (+63-2) 867-3551 (+65) 272-5300 (+886) 2- 2717-0055 (+66-2) 661-4000 (+84-8) 823-4530

Middle-East

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Japan

Korea, Republic of

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Russian

Federation

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom
(+31) (+47) Tel. (+48) 0600; Fax. (+48) 0601 +(351) 6333 (+7) 3520 (Moscow) (+7) 7997(St-Peter) Fax. (+7) (+27) 9301 (outside RSA) 1030 (inside RSA) (+34) (+46) (+41) (+90) (216) 71 (+44) 5202

Malaysia

Penang

New Zealand

Philippines

Singapore

Taiwan

Thailand

Viet Nam