My lap top has died

3 Jul 2006

HELP!!!! My laptop has gone capoot! We're using Den's just now, but I can't cope without mine!
Can anyone help?
I know people have asked technical questions before, so happy for this to be locked and for anyone to PM me with advice.
Anyway, it's been VERY slow for ages, kept freezing,logging off etc, but now it won't even switch on properly and I think it has some sort of bug.......
I've not got the first clue what to do, the lights come on when I press power but thats it, the CD drive won't even open and no other buttons will work!
Any advice, even if its to say take it to the doctors, would be great peeps - otherswise I will get SH withdrawl symptoms when D is playing poker!!!And that won't be a pretty site....
sad

maz xxxxxxxxxxx

3 Jul 2006

maybe a faulty power supply , before thinking of board faults ? I was stumped with a similar problem but a new power supply solved the prob. There was a risk that I may have fried other stuff but it seems some smart boards detect the current in and so cut out if the power in is a bit iffy !

3 Jul 2006

Well, I wondered if it had something to do with the powercut from the thunderstorm lol!
But it is making strange sounds (like when a floppy disk doesn't read) so it's trying to work , and the power is coming on, in fact, that's the only button that works.
I was in the middle of my first ever virus check when it froze (not good considering I got the lap top 2 years ago!) so maybe that has something to do with it??? I was also trying to put pictures on from my camera dock but that wasn't working properly so I kept pulling out the USB in a rage- maybe that's what's done it?
It's driving me nuts.......
GRRRRRRR!
xx

3 Jul 2006

Quote by mazandden
It's driving me nuts.......
xx

Bloody hell that must be one powerfull laptop .............. you don't have any nuts :giggle:
Right basic stuff first .................. have you tried starting it in safe mode?
Turn it on and keep pressing F5 repeatively as it boots up, if that works the laptop will load with the minimum amount of programmes running and should say "safe mode" in each corner of the screen...........if you've added any suspect programmes of late try removing them there.
Also you can use system restore from safe mode.... this will put your setting laptop back to a more stable point of time.
If you need any help using this simply google how to use system restore from your working PC biggrin

remember google has all the answers :D

3 Jul 2006

Sounds, excuse the pun, very much like the hard drive is kaput.
Sometimes you can revive the drive for a short period of time if you cool it.
Try this, wrap the whole laptop in a plastic bag (to avoid condensation) and drop it in your fridge for a few hours.
Take it out and try to boot it strait away, if it starts up and crashes a short time after, it's more likely the hard drive as mentioned.

3 Jul 2006

Is anything appearing on the screen at all ? and/or are you getting any beeps when it fires up.
It could be that your memory is at fault ( well the laptops )
It's difficult to diagnose without knowing exactly what happens at bootup. Try firing it up again and make a note of exactly what happens.
What brand of laptop is it and did you get any support with it when you bought it ( yeah I know it's a long shot ,but I gotta ask )
Rob

3 Jul 2006

Quote by sheddy

It's driving me nuts.......
xx

Bloody hell that must be one powerfull laptop .............. you don't have any nuts :giggle:
Right basic stuff first ..................have you tried starting it in safe mode?
Turn it on and keep pressing F5 repeatively as it boots up, if that works the laptop will load with the minimum amount of programmes running and should say "safe mode" in each corner of the screen...........if you've added any suspect programmes of late try removing them there.
Also you can use system restore from safe mode.... this will put your setting laptop back to a more stable point of time.
If you need any help using this simply google how to use system restore from your working PC biggrin

remember google has all the answers :D
Sheddy hun- i'm blonde - basic means rocket science to me!!
The F5 thing sounds like a plan- off to try......
ps, didn't you know I was a cross dresser?......

3 Jul 2006

Quote by sheddy

It's driving me nuts.......
xx

Bloody hell that must be one powerfull laptop .............. you don't have any nuts :giggle:
Right basic stuff first ..................have you tried starting it in safe mode?
Turn it on and keep pressing F5 repeatively as it boots up, if that works the laptop will load with the minimum amount of programmes running and should say "safe mode" in each corner of the screen...........if you've added any suspect programmes of late try removing them there.
Also you can use system restore from safe mode.... this will put your setting laptop back to a more stable point of time.
If you need any help using this simply google how to use system restore from your working PC biggrin

remember google has all the answers :D
Sheddy hun- i'm blonde - basic means rocket science to me!!
The F5 thing sounds like a plan- off to try......
ps, didn't you know I was a cross dresser?......

3 Jul 2006

Quote by Phoenix
Try this, wrap the whole laptop in a plastic bag (to avoid condensation) and drop it in your fridge for a few hours.

right i might be a dumb blonde but putting anything electric any where remotely damp is a bad idea.........and maz u know how dumb i am......
i did once here something that freezing sim cards would wipe them (but then i'd have no idea how to un wipe them)...........but dont do it hun.......try the other advise before putting it in the fridge.....
posh....xxx

3 Jul 2006

hmmmm.......well, it could be the fact that it's scorching hot as I never switch it off, but still not sure about sticking it in the frigo......
lol

3 Jul 2006

Quote by poshkate

Try this, wrap the whole laptop in a plastic bag (to avoid condensation) and drop it in your fridge for a few hours.

right i might be a dumb blonde but putting anything electric any where remotely damp is a bad idea.........and maz u know how dumb i am......
i did once here something that freezing sim cards would wipe them (but then i'd have no idea how to un wipe them)...........but dont do it hun.......try the other advise before putting it in the fridge.....
posh....xxx
Posh, you are right to a degree but, Fridge, not Freezer, and the plastic bag is to avoid the condensation while cooling the drive/laptop. If you were to put in in a freezer without sealing it in a plastic bag or cling film, tehn there could be trouble.
I have resurected quite a few hard drives this way just long enough to recover data.
The noise heared is possibly the drive arm seeking to read the drive at start up.
If nothing appears on screen and there are no beeps, the laptoip is not getting past the POST (Power On Self Test) which is usually either 1/ Hard Drive. 2/ Memory 3/CPU.
In each case, the hot weather we have been having can play havoc with these components. Cooling is a tried and trusted method. If you are worried about condensation in the fridge, put the laptop in the coolest place in the house overnight, normally the bathroom.

4 Jul 2006

well, unfortunately, the F5 thang didn't work, so I could be tempted with sticking it in the fridge!
Although I am starting to think that taking it to hospital is a much more sensible thing to do, but now I'm worried about the 'my recieved files' section!!! :shock: wink

4 Jul 2006

Quote by mazandden
Although I am starting to think that taking it to hospital is a much more sensible thing to do, but now I'm worried about the 'my recieved files' section!!! :shock:

Unless you are Gary Glitter, nowt to worry about.

4 Jul 2006

Quote by Phoenix
Although I am starting to think that taking it to hospital is a much more sensible thing to do, but now I'm worried about the 'my recieved files' section!!! :shock:

Unless you are Gary Glitter, nowt to worry about.
:shock: smackbottom

4 Jul 2006

Quote by Sassy-Seren
Although I am starting to think that taking it to hospital is a much more sensible thing to do, but now I'm worried about the 'my recieved files' section!!! :shock:

Unless you are Gary Glitter, nowt to worry about.
:shock: smackbottom

What's wrong with a bit of porn amoung the odd PC World employee :lol:
Back to the point of a dead laptop, if you are unsure of following any of the advice, then take it to a PC medic. If your drive is kaput, they'll get nothing off it anyway.

4 Jul 2006

Quote by Phoenix
Although I am starting to think that taking it to hospital is a much more sensible thing to do, but now I'm worried about the 'my recieved files' section!!! :shock:

Unless you are Gary Glitter, nowt to worry about.
lol pmsl - should have said, more worried cos my paw told me to take it in to his work to get looked at by the computer guy there- I can just imagine pappy leaning over computer guys shoulder as he checks through.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Ok now a serious question; can it be the actual broadband connetction at fault?
Yesterday was the first time we have connected Den's lap top to the the broadband, and it started playing up.
I tried to log on last night cos he was snoring and I couldn't sleep, but it took ages, wouldn't connect, and then wouldn't log off, and kept coming up with the 'end task now box'
Today, it took ages to log on, it's being v v v v slow, and there is something strange going on with the sound.....
Seems strange to be the 2 affected in as many days, plus Dens laptop is really new, fancy,expensive etc compared to mine and has always been super fast up until now.
It's been connected to the internet before (through someone elses broadband as we didn't know where to find the pass key for our BT one until yesterday)
Think I will try googleing before I throw both out the window!
xxx

4 Jul 2006

The fact it doesn't start up will have nothing to do with the broadband connection. Problems once the laptop is up and running and while connected, can be due to viruses, poor connection and so on.
It is more likely to be the heat that is causing the problems to the hardware (the laptops)

4 Jul 2006

Quote by Phoenix
The fact it doesn't start up will have nothing to do with the broadband connection. Problems once the laptop is up and running and while connected, can be due to viruses, poor connection and so on.
It is more likely to be the heat that is causing the problems to the hardware (the laptops)

i think you're right - our flat is soooo scorching (yes, we live in Scotland..) that we had to buy a fan the other day- it's unbearable heat, we keep all the windows wide open and have to walk around in our underwear (naked if it gets really hot...)
It's a hard life ;)
The fridge is looking more likely by the minute, and think I might see if I can clamber in to cool down too!!!
(ps was joking bout the hard drive files ;) honest :lo:l)

4 Jul 2006

May sound a little odd but try starting it without the battery in.

4 Jul 2006

Quote by sussexguy
May sound a little odd but try starting it without the battery in.

Connected to the power supply of course....
:doh: Don't forget sussexguy.... she's blond bolt

4 Jul 2006

Quote by redpantherman
May sound a little odd but try starting it without the battery in.

Connected to the power supply of course....
:doh: Don't forget sussexguy.... she's blond bolt

:doh:
..... and it's the laptop you connect to the power supply not yourself. :scared:
Sorry Maz kiss

4 Jul 2006

Quote by sussexguy
May sound a little odd but try starting it without the battery in.

Connected to the power supply of course....
:doh: Don't forget sussexguy.... she's blond bolt

:doh:
..... and it's the laptop you connect to the power supply not yourself. :scared:
Sorry Maz kiss

right let me see ifI've got this straight....
I power the supply to myself and connect the battery to the plug then put the whole thing in the fridge?or was it the sink? and did someone mention starting up? how do i do tha?