A customer's HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 Notebook PC has "frozen." What is a method to perform a hard reset?

The correct method to perform a hard reset on the HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 Notebook PC involves pressing and holding down the Power button and the Mute button simultaneously for five seconds. This approach effectively forces the device to power down, allowing the system to reset and often resolving issues such as freezing or unresponsiveness.

Using this specific combination is important because it ensures that the notebook performs a proper shutdown sequence instead of just a standard power off. This is particularly relevant for laptops, as they often incorporate additional functions tied to specific key combinations.

While other methods such as removing the battery or pressing the Power button alone can serve to reset a device, they may not address the underlying conditions causing the freeze as effectively or might not even be applicable, depending on the device's design.