laptop bios issues? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 08:56:25 am
content: Hi,this was posted in the computer section but thought here is better , I have an hp eltebook 8730w , As soon as any power is applied to it the backlight comes on ,it has a 17" TRUECOLOUR DISPLAY , It does this on battery or via the mains addapter , Is there any bios settings that can cause this ? , It does this even without any disk drives fitted! , I guess if i use it on battery power it will oover discharge and kill the main battery pack? it has the latest 68f20pad bios fw..

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 01:43:43 pm
content: Good MorningMe, Look in the Windows 10 'Settings' for such a parameter control. Also, HP is a brand that is concerned with customer satisfaction, so I'm sure they would tell you. Their website might have a phone number, E-mail address, or at the very least, a FYI section. Those machines came out in the 2008-2012 era. Maybe someone on the forum has one, and can chime in. Good luck.

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 02:21:27 pm
content: Does Windows boot up correctly?You mean the laptop turns on by itself? it might be the CMOS battery.only the backlight turns on by itself, theFET(?) supplying power to the backlight converter might be broken.I've never heard of a backlight turning on by itself.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 05:22:58 pm
content: i've looked at all those options and see nothing so thats why i asked here as a last resort before i swap the motherboard incase i missed something that others could spot that i missed.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 05:35:17 pm
content: You mean the screen back light comes on with the computer off correct?

author: SuperFlyEDSguy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 08:45:38 pm
content: Hi! 👋I’m not quite certain that I understand what you’re asking, but it sounds like you are curious why the LCD backlight comes on upon initially powering up your laptop, and that’s whether or not you have any storage attached. First, does that sound right?Now, if that is the case, I would think that’s the default action of the laptop because even if you have no HDD or SSD attached, you will still need to see the screen. What if you had a HDD or SSD die inside the laptop, you would need to verify that in the BIOS to confirm if it’s actually not being seen by the system, so a backlight would be necessary to simply see the LCD for troubleshooting purposes.If you are asking because you want to save power, e.g. when not plugged-in, that will almost always be configured from within the OS’ power settings. This would be the case for both “charging” or “not charging” from within Windows for example as you could tweak each one separately. There may be some power option in the BIOS to do something similar at a low level, but that’s usually not the case. The BIOS typically would have state settings and the like, but you could check there for an option to sleep or suspend the system upon not touching it for so many minutes. I don’t have access to that system/BIOS, but I doubt that you would find it there, but you won’t know without checking.You could also be asking as you want to use an external monitor, but I simply don’t know as you didn’t share many details. If that’s the case, there is likely a way to choose this via the BIOS or even via a function key anytime while the system is powered on, but that’s also something typically controlled by the OS. So, without an OS loaded, you’ll be limited as to what you could do with external monitors, e.g. on, off, mirroring, extending, etc.If you’re asking because you need to keep the system running, but don’t want the screen drawing power, there should be a BIOS setting to disable sleep or suspend when the lid is closed. If that’s the case, you could start the process and just close the screen as long as that setting is correct, but I don’t see why that would be the case without an OS loaded.Let me know if any of this helps, otherwise we will definitely need more details as to specifically what the issue is, maybe run us through exactly what you’re trying to do.Be well.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 09:30:58 am
content: Maybe i shoul explain my issue againe , When my lappy is off with no main battery slotted in or power lead plugged in the pc is dead and fully powered off , As soon as i insert the battery or power lead the led backlights fire up so the screen is a dull grey colour , This is before i press any buttons ,if i fire up windows11 and turn the lappy off using windows it shuts down as normal except the led backlight is always on , The only way to turn ff the backlight is by removing all powersources , Also the bios battery is new.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 11:54:01 am
content: It sounds as if the MOSFET or whatever that enables, or powers, the backlight driver is shorted rather than a BIOS issue. Time to look for schematics.P.S. Please fix the typo in the thread title.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 01:54:16 am
content: Check the display cable for signs of wear. Make sure it's connected well at both ends.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2025, 08:52:11 pm
content: The cable is fine,i wondered if there is a bios setting i missed that keeps it on standby ie wake up on lan etc.