HP Pavilion DV9700 Troubleshooting

Your laptop is extremely hot to the touch.

Surfaces that are flexible and can form to the bottom of the laptop and can restrict airflow from the device. If your laptop feels as if it is getting too hot then place it on a flat, sturdy surface to regain correct airflow from the fans.

The fans of the laptop might need to be cleaned from dust and debris. Spray some compressed air into the fan grate to see if you can dislodge some of this buildup. If that doesn’t help to reduce the heat of the device then the fan may be broken and needs replacing.

Your laptop battery will not charge when plugged in to a power source

Charger ports are always exposed to your surroundings, meaning debris can easily become trapped inside of the charger port. To fix this try using a cotton swab, or compressed air, to remove any debris buildup.

Sometimes the charger cable itself can become damaged from everyday wear. To rule out this problem try using a different power cord to see if energy is transmitted to the battery. Often charger cables feature a light that indicates if power is being transferred, green meaning that it is, and red meaning that it isn’t. If the battery is getting a charge from this other cable, then you know that the original charger is malfunctioning and needs replacement.

Often debris or corrosion can collect on the terminals of the battery. This will inhibit the flow of electricity and prevent your device from charging. To combat this problem try to delicately clean off the battery contacts.

There isn’t a smooth motion when opening the laptop.

If the laptop screen becomes difficult to open this may mean that the hinges have become stuck. The hinges being stuck will prevent the screen from completely opening and with a smooth continuous action. To fix this problem spray wd-40 to lubricate the hinges and improve their functionality.

If the opening of the laptop feels restricted in a ‘gritty’ or abrasive way, the hinges could have collected an excessive amount of debris such as heavy dust or sand. This can be corrected by using compressed air to blow out the seams of the hinges, and dislodge any debris interfering with the hinge operation. Once the hinge tolerances are cleared the movement should feel much smoother.

Some of the keyboard keys don’t respond with the operating system when pressed.

Make sure that the key that is malfunctioning isn’t stuck in a pressed position. If it is stuck in a pressed position then use your fingernails, or a flat tool, to pry the key into the standard, upward position. If the key won’t press all the way down, then make sure that there isn’t any foreign debris blocking the key from functioning. Use compressed air or a toothpick to remove the debris from the key itself.

Sometimes computer programs malfunction. If you are trying to use a program and the keys will not respond when they are compressed, try to open up another program. Testing if the keys work when used on different programs can help determine if the problem lies with the keyboard or the computer program itself.

If a laptop is dropped or jolted it is possible for the ribbon cable to become disconnected from the keyboard. To fix this problem check the connection of the ribbon cable. If the ribbon cable has become loose or disconnected simply just connect it back into its place.