[hppavilionprob]

Basic laptop specs:
HP Pavilion dv6700
Intel Core 2 Duo T5450
2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 1GB sticks, tried to upgrade to 2 2GB sticks)
160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive(tried to upgrade to 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive)
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/ DL Support
Intel Graphics Media Accelorator
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
15.4”WXGA Bright View Widescreen (1280X800)

Description of Problem:

Wanting to do a fresh install of Win7 on a new hard drive and with more RAM, I removed the battery from my laptop and replaced the old HD and RAM with the new ones listed above, taking precautions to avoid electrostatic shock. When I powered my computer back on, all I got was a blank screen, the power and volume lights, and a few seconds of the fan running. No BIOS, no beeps, nothing. The hard drive indicator light showed no activity. I went back to the original hard drive and RAM to the same results. Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
• Tried to start computer with different hard drive and RAM combinations, finally went to no hard drive or RAM.
• Removed RAM, hard drive, and battery, held power button for 1 minute, powered on.
• Tried starting with and without battery, and with and without AC power cable.
• Removed RTC battery for 10 minutes to allow for CMOS to reset.
• Plugged laptop into external monitor and started up, nothing appeared on external monitor.
• Tried starting computer with Win7 install DVD in drive.
• Tried starting computer with bootable DOS USB flash drive with files to flash the BIOS.

Each of these tests had the same result as before, the screen stayed black. As far as I can tell, this should eliminate the hard drive, RAM, video card, and power supply as possible points of failure, but I’m not sure. Any advice would be much appreciated!

[RobOman]

One more try, your original ram no battery with ac adapter no hard drive just to check for cmos.

[RobOman]

if connected to monitor check function key to switch to monitor and while your there check brightness just in case button got pushed while you were working on it , I know this seems redundant but the other options are so bad its the reason why people look in the fridge for their keys when they loose them.

[hppavilionprob]

Thank you for your swift reply!

I tried no battery no hard drive original ram, but got nothing. Trying to turn up the brightness didn't help either, although I certainly wish it would have been that easy