Troubleshooting: Laptop Won’t Power On and Displays Flashing on Esc, F1, and F4 Keys

Troubleshooting a Non-Starting ThinkPad P14s Gen 4 AMD with Flashing ESC, F1, and F4 Keys

If you own a Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 4 AMD and are experiencing startup issues characterized by flashing ESC, F1, and F4 keys, along with abnormal device behavior such as overheating and BIOS-related messages, you’re not alone. This article provides a detailed overview of the problem, potential causes, and recommended troubleshooting steps to help you diagnose and resolve the issue effectively.

Understanding the Problem

Recently, you’ve encountered a series of events with your second-hand ThinkPad P14s:

• The laptop was shut from sleep mode without a proper shutdown.
• It was stored in your backpack, becoming notably hot, and initially refused to turn on.
• Upon charging and attempting to power it on, you observed a system message indicating BIOS restoration:
  “System has self-heals by restoring BIOS from backup. Please check BIOS version and then update BIOS if needed.”
• The issue recurred, with the system appearing normal but overheating, and the keyboard and display remaining unresponsive.
• When attempting to restart, the laptop displays flashing ESC, F1, and F4 keys—a common indicator of hardware or BIOS errors.

Additional complications include a BIOS password that prevents access to BIOS settings, and previous attempts to modify BIOS configurations, such as swapping the Fn and Ctrl keys.

Potential Causes

This combination of symptoms suggests several possible underlying issues:

• Power or Overheating Damage: The overheating before shutdown might have affected internal components or firmware integrity.
• BIOS Corruption or Failure: The self-healing message and flashing keys often point to BIOS corruption or failed updates.
• Hardware Faults: Persistent flashing might indicate motherboard or hardware component issues.
• Security Restrictions: BIOS password settings can complicate troubleshooting if access is restricted.

Recommended Troubleshooting Steps

1. Ensure Proper Power Delivery
2. Verify your charger is functioning correctly.
3. Try a different compatible charger if available.

4. Confirm the battery is properly seated or try powering with the charger only.

5. Perform a Hard Reset

6. Disconnect all power sources.
7. Press and hold the power button for approximately 30 seconds to discharge residual power.

8. Reconnect power and attempt to turn on.

9. Identify the Flashing Pattern

10. Consult Lenovo’s diagnostics for LED or key indicator patterns.