HP Pavilion 15-cc561st Troubleshooting

The laptop is running applications slowly or suddenly halts.

There may be processes running that you don’t need or that are using more resources than they should. Restarting the computer could close these processes. In Windows, open the start menu and select the Power button, and then select "Restart."

You could also use Task Manager to find and stop excessive processes. In Windows, search for and open "Task Manager." Task Manager will display currently-running processes and how many resources they are using. To close a process, select it from the list and click "End Task" at the bottom right of the window.

A computer’s hard drive can have a major effect on system performance. Over time, the hard drive can become cluttered with unwanted or temporary files. Try emptying the Recycle Bin to increase the amount of free space on the hard drive. On the Windows desktop, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and select "Empty Recycle Bin" and click "Yes" to confirm.

You can also try deleting temporary files and folders. In Windows, search for and open “Disk Cleanup.” Select the files that you would like to delete, such as “Downloaded Program Files” and “Temporary Internet Files.” If you’re not sure what a file means, click on the file on the menu and a description will be provided. Then select “OK” and “Delete Files."

The slow performance of frozen screens can be a result of viruses and other malware. Scan for viruses and other malware using antivirus security software and remove any malware found. Make sure that you have the latest Windows updates to help prevent infections. In Windows, search for and open "Windows Update settings." Select "Check for updates", otherwise, if updates are already known to be available, select "Download" to install them.

When temperatures inside the laptop rise above 35 °C (95 °F), there’s a considerable risk of damaging important internal components. The laptop’s processor will slow itself down on purpose to try to cool itself to prevent damage. Dust and debris that has accumulated in and around air vents over time will obstruct the airflow which makes fans work harder than normal to remove heat. To prevent the risk of damage and to increase the processor’s performance, consider cleaning the laptop’s air vents.

Turn off the computer, disconnect the power cord and cables, and wait for the computer to cool down. Use a household or light-duty vacuum to remove dust from the vents.

CAUTION: Using a wet-dry or other heavy-duty vacuum could damage internal components.

The vents are located on the rear (the junction between the upper lid and lower lid) and at the bottom of the laptop.

As an alternative to a vacuum, you could also use a can of compressed air. Hold the can at an angle and release the air in short quick spurts to blow the dust out of the vents.

If you power on the computer and notice that the caps lock light has three long blinks, followed by two short blinks, then there is a potential memory failure. This could be due to a loosely connected memory module. Follow the memory module replacement guide to reseat the memory module (that is, remove the memory module and then put it back into the same slot). If the computer cannot start up or is still slow, then the memory module may need to be replaced.

The laptop is losing power even when the charger is plugged in.

It could be the case that there is no problem with the laptop’s battery, but the AC power adapter you’re using to charge the laptop is not functioning properly. Make sure you’re using the AC power adapter that came with the laptop. Plug the AC adapter into a functioning wall outlet, not a power strip, surge protector, or secondary power source. Verify that the laptop is receiving power by checking the following:

• Unplug the AC power cable from the laptop. Then remove the battery. Plug the AC power cable back in and turn on the laptop without the battery. If the laptop turns on, then the problem is with the battery.
• Make sure the power cord is securely connected to the computer and to the AC adapter. If the connection to the computer is loose, then the connector might be damaged. Feel along the length of the AC power cable and check for any kinks and breaks. Check the ends for any broken connections. Inspect the AC adapter brick. If the brick is discolored or warped, or if there are any problems with the power cord or connections, then replace the AC adapter.
  • Ideally, replace the adapter with the same adapter originally shipped with the laptop (part number: 741553-850).
  • If you can't get the original adapter, look for a replacement adapter that is compatible with the HP Pavilion 15-cc561st (the connector must have a blue tip and be 4.5mm x 3.0mm. The adapter should have the exact output voltage of 19.5V, current rating of at least 2.31A, and wattage of at least 45W).

It could be that the battery is faulty and needs to be replaced. If you have verified that the AC power supply is functioning correctly (see above), then the battery is likely faulty and should be replaced.

There are vertical or horizontal black lines or other black patterns across the screen.

If the screen is not cracked or visibly damaged, these black lines or patterns could be from an outdated graphics driver. Updating your graphics driver could fix this problem. In Windows, search for and open "Device Manager." In the list of devices, look under "Display adapters." For each device under "Display adapters," right-click on the device, select "Update driver," and then follow the instructions on the screen.

Alternatively, if you want to download the drivers directly, they are available on HP’s website under "Driver-Graphics." Download the appropriate Intel HD Graphics driver for your system, run the downloaded file, and follow the on-screen instructions.

If the screen is physically damaged, the size of these black patterns could increase over time. The screen itself has to be replaced, but the laptop is still usable. You can connect an external monitor to use as your display.

There is either no sound from the speakers or the sound is distorted (e.g., muffled, intermittent, or crackled).

Restart the computer to try to shut down the malfunctioning application. Test your audio again to see if the problem is fixed.

An outdated audio driver can be causing sound issues. You can install the latest audio driver available by searching for and opening "Device Manager" in Windows. In the list of devices, look under "Sound, video, and game controllers." For each device under this category, right-click on the device, select "Update driver," and then follow the instructions on the screen.

Alternatively, you can download the drivers directly on HP’s website under "Driver-Audio." Download the Realtek HD Audio Driver that is appropriate for your system, run the file, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Performing a hard reset could clear info in the computer’s memory which could resolve the issue. Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord. Disconnect everything (e.g. peripheral devices, USB flash drives) from the computer. Remove the battery from the computer. With the battery and power cord unplugged, press and hold the Power button for about 15 seconds to drain the capacitors. Then re-insert the battery, power on the computer, and test for sound.

If performing a hard reset (see previous underlying cause) did not resolve issues, you can try to restore default BIOS values. Turn off the computer. Press the Power button to turn it on, and while it is turning on, repeatedly press the F10 key until the BIOS Setup Utility opens.

NOTE: If you didn't press the F10 key at the proper time and the computer continues through the startup process, just shutdown the computer and try again.

Using the arrow keys, navigate and select the Exit tab. Then select "Load Setup Defaults." Then select "Exit Saving Changes" and select "Yes" to save changes. Then press the "Esc" key and the "Enter" key to exit the BIOS.

The laptop cannot connect to a network via Wi-Fi.

The laptop’s wireless signal could be turned off. In Windows, search for and open "Settings." Navigate to the "Network & Internet" menu, select "Wi-Fi" on the left side, and make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. Also, select "Airplane mode" on the left side and make sure that the Airplane mode is turned off.

Your modem and wireless router could be having problems and need to be restarted. Restarting will create a new connection to your internet service provider. Note that when you restart these devices, everyone connected to your Wi-Fi network will be temporarily disconnected. The exact steps to restart a modem and router can vary depending on the device, but here are the general steps:

• Unplug the power cable for the router to turn the router off
• Unplug the power cable for the modem to turn the modem off
• Wait for about 30 seconds
• Plug the power cable back into the modem to turn it on. The modem’s lights will blink. Wait for them to stop blinking to make sure the modem is fully powered on.
• Plug the power cable back into the router to turn it on. Wait for a few minutes for the router to fully power on. You’ll be able to tell when the router is fully on from the status lights on the router.
• Now that both modem and router are fully powered on, try to connect to the network again on your laptop.

Outdated network drivers could be causing network issues. In Windows, search for and open "Device Manager." In the list of devices, look under "Network adapters." Right-click on "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168," select "Update driver," and then follow the instructions on the screen.

If your laptop can't connect to the internet, you'll need to download a driver on a different PC and save it to a USB flash drive so you can install the driver on your laptop. The drivers are available on HP’s website under "Driver-Network." After downloading the drivers and importing them to your laptop via the USB drive, run the downloaded files and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

A broken Wi-Fi card would prevent the computer from wirelessly connecting to networks. One solution is to replace the Wi-Fi card. If replacing the Wi-Fi card still doesn't fix your problems, then there may be an issue with the WLAN antennas which are built into the display assembly.