HP Stream 14-CB174WM Troubleshooting

The laptop’s screen will not turn on when opened. 

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM has a power button just above Esc key of the laptop’s keyboard. Hold the power button down for 15 seconds and watch to see if the screen and/or power LED on the side of the laptop responds. The laptop’s LED should turn solid white, and an HP logo should appear on the screen.

If the laptop does not turn on after pressing the power button, it may need to be charged using the charger that came with the laptop. The charging port on the HP Stream 14- CB174WM is located on the right side of the laptop, designated by a ‘plug’ symbol. When the laptop is plugged in, an LED beside the charging port should come on. An amber colored LED means the laptop is charging, and a white LED means the laptop is fully charged. If the laptop’s charging LED is blinking white, the laptop has a low battery and needs to be charged.

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM has function keys that can increase and decrease brightness. If the screen brightness is too low, the brightness can be increased by holding the Fn key and the F3 key.

If the laptop’s power light is solid white but the screen remains off, the screen may be malfunctioning. To test this, connect one end of an HDMI cable into the laptop’s HDMI port (labelled HDMI), located on the right side of the laptop. Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port of a working TV or external monitor. With the power LED, solid white, try pressing a few keys on the keyboard. If the external monitor/TV displays the laptop’s screen, there might be an issue with the laptop’s screen.

If the laptop’s power light will not turn on after charging the laptop for 24 hours and holding the power button for 15 seconds, the battery may not be functioning. For more information regarding battery issues on the HP Stream 14- CB174WM, refer to the ‘Laptop Not Charging’ section of this troubleshooting page.

A problem with the motherboard may prevent the HP Stream 14- CB174WM from turning on regardless of the battery’s charge. First, replace the CMOS battery. For help replacing the CMOS battery, refer to this guide. If the computer still does not turn on after holding the power button for 15 seconds, the motherboard may need to be replaced. For help replacing the motherboard, follow this guide.

The laptop does not automatically connect to the internet. 

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM comes with Windows OS pre-installed. In Windows, it is possible to turn the Wi-Fi off and on. To check if the laptop’s Wi-Fi is turned on, select the Start button > Network and Internet > Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi slider should be switched to the ‘On’ position.

If the laptop’s Wi-Fi is turned on but the laptop has no internet, it may not be connected to a network. To connect to your network, click on the Wi-Fi symbol in the bottom right corner of the Windows taskbar. Scroll through the list of available networks, click on a trusted network, and enter the network’s password if required.

If the laptop is unable to connect to a Wi-Fi network, or the laptop is connected to the network but has no internet, it may mean the network’s router is not functioning correctly. To restart the router, disconnect the power supply from the router and wait for at least 30 seconds. Reconnect the power supply to the router and reconnect the laptop to the network. If the laptop still fails to connect to the internet through the network, try connecting other devices to the network. If other devices are also unable to connect, contact your internet service provider.

Sometimes Windows updates can cause Wi-Fi drivers to malfunction or stop functioning entirely. When this happens, the Wi-Fi drivers need to be uninstalled and reinstalled. To do this, press Windows button + X > Device Manager > Expand ‘Network Adapter’. Right click the Wi-Fi adapter (the device with ‘Wi-Fi’ in its name) and press ‘Uninstall device

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM has a Wi-Fi card connected to the motherboard. If this card fails, the laptop’s Wi-Fi will not work. With the laptop off, disconnect and reconnect the Wi-Fi card. If the laptop is still unable to connect to the Wi-Fi, the card may need to be replaced. For help disconnecting, reconnecting, or replacing the Wi-Fi card, follow this guide.

The laptop’s screen brightness is too low. 

Low screen brightness can be caused by a change in brightness and contrast settings. The HP Stream 14- CB174WM can adjust the brightness using the f2 key to decrease brightness and the f3 key to increase brightness. If the brightness is still unchanged, the problem is likely with the software or hardware of the laptop itself.

If the operating system for HP Stream 14- CB174WM has not been updated for a while, it is recommended to update the software so that the graphics driver is up to date and working correctly. This process may take up to 15 minutes and fixes common issues occurring with the system. It will often run more responsively and may fix the screen brightness dimming.

The laptop’s audio is either glitching or not working entirely. 

The audio output connected to the HP Stream 14- CB174WM may be conditioned to play a different output if more than one device is connected. The volume slider has a device feature where a selection of devices that are connected to the laptop are available. This process is done by clicking the volume button in the bottom right tray to show both the volume slider and the current audio device. To change the active device, click the name of the current audio device. A drop menu will be selected to choose the appropriate output device to switch to.

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM may have issues with the physical connection of the available outputs. If the device does not show up for the audio output, the device itself may not be connected properly. Ensure that all audio and power cables are correctly connected to the laptop and reconnect the devices so no loose connections are found. The physical wearing of damaged cables can also affect the output devices used for audio. The laptop requires a clean connection.

Devices using Bluetooth will have a “Bluetooth device connection” which will change the output for wireless devices. To find Bluetooth, press Windows key and click the gear icon named Settings > Devices > ‘Bluetooth and other devices.’ The Bluetooth connection requires that the slider is switched to the ’On’ position and devices will be displayed by holding down the Bluetooth option for 5-10 seconds.

Audio drivers are software components that allow your laptop’s operating system to communicate with and control the audio hardware. The audio drivers are found by typing and clicking on ‘Control Panel’ in the search bar > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager.  This will provide many options to the exact driver that the audio is currently using. This audio driver can be updated with a right click. The audio drivers may be corrupted at times which will cause the audio to distort or not function properly. Reinstalling the drivers by deleting the drivers and confirming the drivers to install again can replace the default audio device.

The laptop is uncomfortably hot to the touch. 

Dirt and dust collect inside the laptop over time, blocking airflow, and causing it to heat. To resolve this issue, power down the laptop and remove the back plate. For help removing the back plate, follow any of our troubleshooting guides. With the back plate removed, try cleaning the laptop’s air vents and fan using a compressed air can. Use a Q-Tip wetted with 91% isopropyl alcohol to remove any dirt or grime that the compressed air is unable to remove.

If too many applications are open on the HP 14- CB174WM at one time, it may start overheating. One way to reduce the amount of programs running at once is by using Task Manager to prevent unwanted programs from running on startup. To do this, right click the Start button and click Task Manager > Startup and right click on the programs you don’t want to run on startup. Click ‘Disable’.

If games are open on the laptop, try reducing their graphics settings or resolution.

The laptop is not taking charge from its power supply. 

The HP Stream 14- CB174WM comes with a 45W charger. Using a charger that did not come with the laptop can damage the battery if it does not meet the power specifications for the laptop. When the laptop is charging, the charging light on the left side of the laptop will come on. The charging light is solid amber when charging and solid white when fully charged. However, if the charging light does not come on when the charger is plugged in, the charger may need to be replaced.

The laptop's charging port may be experiencing issues, which could be caused by physical damage or connectivity problems. Continuous use can wear down the port's ability to maintain a stable charging connection. Check the charging port for any visible damage or debris obstructing the connection. Use compressed air or a soft brush to gently clean the port and remove any debris. A toothpick may need to be used to remove debris deeply packed inside the port. If cleaning does not resolve the issue, the port may need to be replaced.

The HP Stream 14-CB174WM ‘s battery may be malfunctioning due to age, wear and tear, or manufacturing defects. Over time, the laptop battery degrades and loses its ability to hold a charge effectively, especially if left on the charger for extended periods of time. Disconnect the battery from the motherboard and press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Reconnect the battery to the motherboard and hold the power button for 15 seconds. If the laptop has no response, it may mean the battery is faulty. For more help finding the battery connector or replacing the battery, follow this guide.