HP Elitebook 1040 G4 Troubleshooting

The Elitebook 1040 G4’s monitor will not display, or flickers on and off even when you are sure the power is on.

Wake up the monitor by briefly pressing the power button or using the keys Windows Button+CTRL+Shift+B.

Disconnect the external monitor to see if the built in monitor display is restored. If you are sure the external monitor is compatible with your Elitebook 1040 G4, reconnect the external monitor and ensure the cable is properly inserted and not loose.

An unexpected black screen error can periodically occur with Windows 10 installed. Restart your Elitebook 1040 G4 and boot in Safe Mode.

Check to see if the Task Manager window is also flickering by using the keys CTRL+Shift+ESC. If the Task Manager window flickers with the screen, the display drivers must be updated or reinstalled.

Right click on an empty area of your screen, and click “Display Settings”. In “Resolution” ensure the Recommended resolution is selected. If the flickering continues, adjust the resolution again. It may need to run at a different resolution based on your current applications running.

The screen on the Elitebook 1040 G4 is suffering from green, red, or black dots.

Use an external program such as UDPixel to flash the pixel to restore its proper function. If flashing it does not fix the problem, try using a soft cloth or rubber eraser to manually rub the pixel. If neither techniques work, or the pixel is black, the monitor may need to be replaced. Refer to your Elitebook 1040 G4’s warranty for a potential replacement.

The Elitebook 1040 G4s fan is running faster than usual and is spinning loudly.

Dust can accumulate in the fan and cause obstructions that make the fan work harder and cause excessive noise. Use a can of computer dust remover to blow the dust out from the fan vent located above the keyboard, below the monitor, on the back of the Elitebook 1040 G4. If the noise continues, proceed to the next steps.

-Turn the power off to the Elitebook 1040 G4.

-Remove the bottom cover of the Elitebook 1040 G4 to access the fan.

-Blow out the dust with computer dust remover.

-Replace the bottom cover.

You can find the replacement guide for the fan here.

Your Elitebook 1040 G4 is experiencing hang ups when using multiple applications, runs slow during normal operation, or needs extra time when booting up.

Disorganized files due to data fragments on the drive can cause sluggish performance. Run the Windows Disk Defragmenter by searching “Defragment and Optimize Drives”. The App window will appear. Select the drive you wish to defragment and click “Optimize”. The defragmentation process will begin.

Your Elitebook 1040 G4 may need more RAM(Random Access Memory). Consider purchasing an upgraded RAM, then to install your RAM, see the “RAM Replacement Guide”.

You are hearing a loud clicking noise when the Elitebook 1040 G4 is operating, that becomes audibly louder when new processes are initiated.

Dust can accumulate in the fan and cause obstructions that make the fan work harder and cause excessive noise. Use a can of computer dust remover to blow the dust out from the fan vent located above the keyboard, below the monitor, on the back of the Elitebook 1040 G4. If the noise continues, proceed to the next steps.

-Turn the power off to the Elitebook 1040 G4.

-Remove the bottom cover of the Elitebook 1040 G4 to access the fan.

-Blow out the dust with computer dust remover.

-Replace the bottom cover.

If you hear loud clicking noises, first complete the troubleshooting steps for “Loud Fan Noise”. When you are sure that the noises are not coming from the fan, proceed to the following steps.

Along with loud clicking noises, a failing hard drive is often accompanied by sluggish performance and an increase in the number of corrupted files. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately perform a backup to an external hard drive, before the internal hard drive fails completely. Once you have completed the backup, the hard drive may need to be replaced with the “Hard Drive Replacement Guide”.

You can find the hard drive replacement guide here.