Hp Pavillon P6-2110 - Not Starting

Hi,

I have HP p6-2110 computer and computer not starting. I have checked the power supply and it is good with the by pass pin as the fan comes on and getting power to the computer. I am not sure if it is power switch or mother board issue. Is there way to check to diagnosis and ordering part. Any guidance or videos would be helpful for DYI.
I just recently updated the drivers which needed to be updated by Avast software and not sure if that caused any issues.

Thanks!
SM

 

Here are some steps to help diagnose the issue. Since you’ve already checked the power supply and confirmed it’s working, we can move on to other potential causes.

1. Check the Power Switch: If you suspect the power switch might be the issue, you can try bypassing the switch by shorting the two pins on the motherboard that the power switch connects to. If the computer starts, then the switch is likely the problem.
   
   
2. Motherboard and Hardware Check: If bypassing the power switch doesn’t work, you might want to check the motherboard and other hardware components. The HP Support Community suggests using a diagnostic disk or a Linux live disk to boot the computer, which can help determine if the hardware has failed1. If the computer doesn’t boot from CD or USB, it could indicate a motherboard or processor issue.
   
   
3. Clear CMOS and BIOS Reset: Another user found that clearing the CMOS settings and resetting the BIOS using the jumpers on the motherboard resolved their startup issue2. This process will change the date and time on your machine but could fix the problem if it’s related to BIOS settings.
   
   
4. HP Diagnostics UEFI: HP provides a diagnostics tool that you can use to perform hardware checks. You can power on your PC, press Esc, select F2 at the prompt, and choose System Tests3. This will perform a quick hardware check and might help identify the issue.
   

As for driver updates causing issues, it’s possible but less likely if the computer is not starting at all. Driver updates typically affect the operating system’s functionality rather than the hardware’s ability to power on.

For DIY guidance, you can refer to HP’s official support page for step-by-step instructions and videos on troubleshooting power and boot-up issues4. Additionally, the user manual for the HP Pavilion p6 series might provide you with more specific information about your model5.

Remember to take precautions when working inside your computer, such as grounding yourself to prevent static damage to the components. If you’re not comfortable performing these steps, it might be best to seek professional help.

 

Thanks! I have checked the power switch with the bypass and no start of the computer. It is likely to be motherboard or hardware. I don't have diagnostic disk to boot the computer and not 100% sure how I would do it since no power. Is there a way to check the motherboard is the issue. Lastly, any recommendation to find a good quality motherboard at a very reasonable price. Thanks in advance!

 

It's good you tried the power switch test. If the computer still does not start, it is possible that the motherboard is the issue. There are some ways to check the motherboard without opening the case, such as using a multimeter to test the voltage rails, or looking for blinking diagnostic LEDs on the board. You can find more details on these methods in the web search results I found for you:
(1) Upgrading CPU & Memory on a HP Pavilion p6-2103wb Desktop PC. https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Deskt...-a-HP-Pavilion-p6-2103wb-Desktop/td-p/8035270

(2) HP - Compaq Pavilion p6-2110 RAM & SSD Upgrades - Crucial. https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/pavilion-p6-2110

If you want to test the motherboard by opening the case, you can follow the steps in this guide: (3) HP Pavilion p6-2176s Desktop PC Product Specifications. https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03756441. You will need to remove the CPU, RAM, and other components from the board and test them separately. You will also need to check for any physical damage on the board, such as blown capacitors or burnt traces.

See:
(5) How to Check if a Motherboard Is Bad - Lifewire. https://www.lifewire.com/check-if-motherboard-is-bad-5188989.
(6) How to Test a Computer Motherboard and CPU for Failures. https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001089.htm.
(7) How to Diagnose Motherboard or Processor Problems. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/diagnose-motherboard-processor-problems-46144.html.
(8) How To Test A Motherboard - Tech News Today. https://www.technewstoday.com/how-to-test-motherboard/.
(9) How To Check Your Motherboard Without Opening The Case: A Simple Guide .... https://gizmosline.com/how-to-check-your-motherboard-without-opening-case/.

If you determine that the motherboard is bad, you will need to replace it with a compatible one. See (4) HP Pavilion p6-2021 Desktop PC - Specifications | HP® Support. https://support.hp.com/us-en/produc...ilion-p6-2000-desktop-pc-series/model/5170062. You can search online for this model or a similar one that fits your computer case and supports your CPU and RAM. You can also use the tool at link (2) to find compatible memory and storage upgrades for your system.

I hope this helps you diagnose and fix the problem.

 

Being able to short pins to see if the power supply works, does prove the fan works, but it hardly proves a power supply is good. You need an actual tester to see that all voltages are present, even then it might look fine until it is under load.
Have you removed *everything* - keyboards, mice, any USB / PS2 devices attached to the PC. Open the case and unplug USB, SATA cables... you want to get to the MOBO, CPU and RAM, if that fails remove the RAM, that should POST an error code, if not it doesn't look good.

If you're unsure of what goes where, take pictures before removing or don't and take it to someone.