Clair Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'm having a bit of a problem with one of our laptops...There was a flash power-cut at the same time the laptop was starting to reboot after an update.When I power up the laptop now, Windows (Vista) does not load. The laptop starts up, the NumLock, CapLock lights keep flashing and the DVD/CD touch buttons are lit up. The screen remains blank.I have tried a rescue disk, but although the drive starts up, nothing happens.It's as if the laptop is waiting for a command.Is there something I can do to get it to reconnect to Windows?If it's a specialist repair, is it likely to be expensive?Any other suggestion?...Thank you [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Does it Beep when it boots? Beeps are good, no beeps and something could be fried like a memory moduleIf Beeps, then boot up in safe mode. Do this by button bashing the F8 key (ironic isn't it? F8 = fate geddit?) after you turn the machine onBy getting into safe mode you should be able to restore to a Save Point. Sorry I can't give key by key description as I'm unfamiliar with Vista Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 No beeps.No Windows = no Safe Mode, no F key working, actually, no key working at all...I have used Safe Mode before and am familiar with that side of things, but I need Windows to load to get there...Thanks anyway [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Have you got Windows on a CD to re-install? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfblind Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 If you dont have any beeps then it is unlikely that the cd drive will work to try and restore the system. Have you tried to enter the bios ? Could be "del" key, could be "F1". Do a search on the internet with another machine to find out what key it is for your machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1steveuk Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'm going from memory, but I think as it's trying to boot, press F2, and that gets you into the dos menu to run a disc check which should give the option to repair/restore. I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 [quote user="NormanH"]Have you got Windows on a CD to re-install?[/quote]No I don't, Norman, unfortunately. The laptop came pre-loaded and with the drive partitioned with a recovery disk (back to factory settings).I have used the "back-to-factory-settings" option before without any problem, although it took 2 days to get all the Windows updates downloaded and installed![quote user="halfblind"]Have you tried to enter the bios ?[/quote]Thanks for the suggestion. I'm prepared to try anything... But what does that mean and what does it involve? [blink] [quote user="halfblind"]Could be "del" key, could be "F1". Do a search on the internet with another machine to find out what key it is for your machine.[/quote]OK, The laptop is a HP Pavilion DV7-1007ef.I'll start looking. EDIT: I have tried THIS, which confirms Steve's suggestion (thank you), but no change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfblind Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Hi Clair, The bios allows you to determine the order of the boot sequence for starting your computer - amongst other things. Therefore if you had a windows disc you could set it to boot from CD drive insert the disc and reload the system. I am not sure if this will work for a "recovery" disc as I dont use windows normally, but it may. Sorry I cant be of any more help on your windows problem. You could download a Linux CD and boot from that - just my preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I'm surprised a power outage would cause such a problem, was the laptop working on AC power only with no battery ?It's vaguely possible that your BIOS has become corrupted so do the following:Press F10 during the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) to enter the BIOS setup.Press F9 to restore the default value of the BIOS. Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit from the BIOS. Restart the notebook after saving the changes.If that doesn't fix it you may have to do a full recovery but you will lose everything if you do.http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00809678 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 [quote user="AnOther"]I'm surprised a power outage would cause such a problem, was the laptop working on AC power only with no battery ?[/quote]The battery has been on its last leg for a while now, but never replaced, as the laptop is used as a house computer rather than a travel one, and always on the mains.Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that next and let you know how I get on.I am not worried about a full recovery (provided I can get the thing going!), as I have done that before on the same laptop. I have a set of recovery disks, created when it was first used, as well as the recovery partition if I can access it.It is a lengthy process, because of the huge number of updates and restarts, but that does not faze me.The laptop was in the process of being brought up to spec to match and replace the one I am currently using, as this is older, slower and has 'only' 250GB with 2GB RAM.I has just managed to sync Firefox and my iTunes library and I was almost there... [6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 [quote user="AnOther"]Press F10 during the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) to enter the BIOS setup.Press F9 to restore the default value of the BIOS. Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit from the BIOS. Restart the notebook after saving the changes.If that doesn't fix it you may have to do a full recovery but you will lose everything if you do.http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00809678[/quote]I have tried the above and the various methods given on the HP page (F10; recovery disks) but no change.The CD drive accepts the recovery disk, whirs for a bit, then nothing.What is a Linux boot disk?How would it work and how would I use the laptop if it did?Can someone talk me though this please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfblind Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Hi Clair,Linux is another operating system for computers and can be tried in a "Live CD" state to see if your computer is compatible and then installed to your hard drive if you wish. It is completely free of charge and uses "Free Software" for most of the actions you want a computer to do, such as Email,web surfing, writing, photo processing etc. These are nearly all included on the Live CD.There are many different versions or "distributions" as they are called and some are for geeks to get there hands dirty on and some are for computer novices. I would suggest you try Linux Mint which has a similar feel to Windows XP. You can get the live CD herehttp://mirror.linuxmint-fr.net/linuxmint.com/stable/11/linuxmint-11-gnome-cd-nocodecs-32bit.isoWhen you have downloaded the Image as its called to your computer, burn the ISO image to a blank CD using your computer CD burner. Use a slow speed to eliminate errors.When you have got the disc put it in the cd tray of the "dead laptop" and see if it will boot up. You will have to check the boot sequence in the bios - F10 - to ensure that the first option in the boot sequence is the CD drive.If the Cd boots then you know at least that the laptop is not completely dead, if not OOps ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Without getting into the Linux/Windows debate I can say that I use both ( a double boot system where I have the choice at start up of which system to load)I now much prefer Linux most of the time, just as I prefer Firefox, and I would say that it is a bit like the choice between IE and Firefox.You can install Linux on the back of Windows with Wubihttp://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/windows-installerOr download the iso onto another computer, burn to disc, and use that to boot the one that isn't working Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Thank you both for the explanation and the methodology. Much appreciated.I'll try this tomorrow and report back.In the meantime, the local Leclerc are offering a 17" HP G7 laptop, 4GB RAM and 650GB for 380€... It has an AMD Athlon II processor rather than an Intel, but it's better than a blank screen!I think I'll give my Mastercard an airing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Have you considered booting from a USB key?MS have a downloadable application including rootkit and antivirus, all run from the flash memory.I keep a key loaded and ready to go for Windows 32 XP and Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 [quote user="pachapapa"]Have you considered booting from a USB key?[/quote]I can't say I have.What does that involve and how do I go about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 [quote user="Clair"][quote user="pachapapa"]Have you considered booting from a USB key?[/quote]I can't say I have.What does that involve and how do I go about it?[/quote]The 32 or 64 bit application can be downloaded from the following site.http://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeperYou will need any Windows PC and a USB key.Just follow the instructions after downloading and installing, it will go back to MS to update the MSSE definitions before it is ready or use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Mentioned on another thread but not used on that occasion.Re: H-E-L- P !!! I have also available on a 256 MB Thumb Drive the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta in a 32 bit iso version suitable for use on either the Vista Tower or the XP+ SP3 Netbook.The download to the Thumb Drive or CD Rom can be done on any Windows Computer and then plugged in to the PC with the infection before rebooting it.Available at the following link.http://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeperMore information on Google.http://www.google.fr/search?q=Microsoft+Standalone+System+Sweeper+Beta+&rls=com.microsoft:fr:IE-ContextMenu&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&redir_esc=&ei=SoxOTryRBe6P4gSmmLXoBwHelp file on installation on CD DVD USBhttps://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper/content/content.aspx?ContentID=24894 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfblind Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 pachapapa seems to be suggesting your problems are with a windows virus, I don't get that from your earlier posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I tend to agree.From what's been said so far Clair's problem would seem to be at machine level - either hardware or firmware - not with Windows itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Try addressing your problem to the forum here; http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistasetup/thread/cde76da1-9923-4e86-bf7e-5308cd5e7649/Earlier this year (I think), there was a similar problem to yours following an update, which only affected a small number of users. It turned out to be a corrupted driver - or so MS said[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 [quote user="AnOther"] From what's been said so far Clair's problem would seem to be at machine level - either hardware or firmware - not with Windows itself. [/quote]A year on from posting this request for help, I just want to let you know of the outcome.The laptop has remained untouched, in its non-working state for 12 months.Earlier this week, Mr Clair, overcome by a desire to fiddle with something electronic, decided to try something he had read about on a geeky forum somewhere...After dismantling the laptop and removing bits of it, he asked me to turn the oven on to 200°C and he "baked" a circuit board for about 30mn. Then he put the laptop together again, plugged it in and turned it on.And it started! [:-))]And it works again! [:-))]It would appear that the solder used by HP to secure its computer chips is of poor quality and is know to melt when over heated. Apparently, this is what happened, as I had had the laptop on and off to install various updates and programs for several hours.The solution was to re-melt to solder so that the chips could reconnect.Who would have thunk it??? [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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