Thread: White battery with question mark screen - can't get into usb mode

I noticed that my hp touchpad was shutting down while in standby. I immediately thought it was a autoupgrade and so when it booted up and started installing the new webos I panicked and hit the power and home buttons to prevent the upgrade because I have CM7 alpha 3.5.When I booted it up again I could only see a battery icon with a question mark in the middle. I can't make my win7 pc recognize the tablet and nor does the hp doctor for the same reason.Does anyone have a clue how I can fix this? I know that some people in the past had this same issue that was caused by faulty usb cable or not having the battery correctly inserted (for other webos devices) but this is not the case. Just before I canceled the upgrade I had 20% battery and I had it plugged in and charging.Thanks.

Let the battery discharge fully until the tPad cannot power up to show the battery logo. Then plug in the USB charger. After waiting for about 30mins, the tPad should recover.

Thanks maxbg, but after more than 30min no sign yet. You mean the original charger that came with the hptp right? It usually warms up a bit when it's charging but it doesn't now.
Any other thoughts if this doesn't work? Is it possible that by canceling the installation I killed the process related to charging? (which doesn't make much sense since it should be hardware.).

Thanks

Originally Posted by bsan

Thanks maxbg, but after more than 30min no sign yet. You mean the original charger that came with the hptp right? It usually warms up a bit when it's charging but it doesn't now.
Any other thoughts if this doesn't work? Is it possible that by canceling the installation I killed the process related to charging? (which doesn't make much sense since it should be hardware.).

Thanks

The part where you make sure the tPad fully discharge is very important. There should be no response to power button before you plug in the charger.

Thanks again. I looks completely dead. Even charging over night it can't boot again.
I have a american charged plugged into an european one to work in the uk. It used to work most of the times in the past. Do you think it could be that?
I just don't want to invest in a charger for something that could be dead.

The "?" logo probably means that the system has lost communication with the battery and do not know the level. Have you tried the power and card button for 15sec? or Hold the power button and press the card button multiple times?

yes I tried that and nothing. do you think I may have ruined the ability for the tablet to charge by canceling an installation? In my opinion, no. because that should be an hardware issue. right?

Originally Posted by bsan

yes I tried that and nothing. do you think I may have ruined the ability for the tablet to charge by canceling an installation? In my opinion, no. because that should be an hardware issue. right?

I had the same issue on my HP Veer. The system suddenly stop updating the battery level. So I rebooted the phone and got the same symbol. As the system does not know the battery level, it is unable to start charging. So What I did was try to power up the unit (many times) until the battery is totally flat (this I think will trigger to reset the battery level to 0% and allow charging to re-start).

Anyway, have you check the cable and charger that it works well on another phone. If all else fails, then you will have send it in for repair. All the best.

I had this problem I let it die completely then plugged it if for a full day and put it into recovery mode then held home/card button and the hold/power button. But I did not have a question mark or a battery screen it just wouldn't turn on, try it.

Originally Posted by the1publicenemy

I had this problem I let it die completely then plugged it if for a full day and put it into recovery mode then held home/card button and the hold/power button. But I did not have a question mark or a battery screen it just wouldn't turn on, try it.

thanks, but that didn't work.

So just before going for extreme measures (aka open the device) I decided to phone HP that told me that they were going to collect the device free of charge because it's still under warranty (they confirmed that). The problem is what if they find out that I had and Ext3 with android on it? will they charge me for the fix? because the issue must be in the battery (once it can not even charge or boot). But can they fix the battery but then charge me because later they find out about the CM7 stuff?

Thanks for your help