Computer trouble!

Biochemist

United States1008 Posts

June 16 2009 21:31 GMT

I have an HP laptop that's about four years old, and I don't know all the specs off the top of my head but it was a good computer for its time.

Anyway, the other day it crashed on me, and when I restarted it it got stuck in a never ending loop of start up, spin the hard drive for a second or two, silence, restart, etc. Sometimes I see the bios screen and am able to enter setup, and sometimes the screen just stays black.

I have two sticks of 512 RAM, I tried switching them as well as starting with each single stick in each slot (all combinations) with no change in the symptoms.

Could it be anything other than a suddenly and inexplicably dead hard drive?

maleorderbride

United States2916 Posts

June 16 2009 21:35 GMT

It is extremely unlikely that is the hard drive. It is much more likely that it is the motherboard.

Here are a few things you can do, but it seems pretty apparent that you have some hardware problem:

1. disconnect the HDD
2. disconnect the battery
3. plug into the wall and see what happens when you try to power on

If you have the same symptoms then it is most likely the motherboard. Ideally you would have known working RAM, but given the sudden problem and the unlikelihood that both RAM modules are bad I think you can probably rule out the RAM.

Biochemist

United States1008 Posts

June 16 2009 21:42 GMT

I haven't tried it without the battery yet, but I did try it without the HDD (black screen, same problem), and it has been plugged in the whole time. The bios doesn't seem to think there is a HD there when there clearly is, which is one reason I was thinking it might be the problem. I also know from past experience that things like HDD jumpers in the wrong positions can sometimes cause crazy bootup issues. It's good to know it's probably not the hard drive, at least I may be able to recover my data this way... if I can somehow find an adapter to plug a laptop HDD into a desktop.

vAltyR

United States581 Posts

June 16 2009 21:46 GMT

On June 17 2009 06:35 maleorderbride wrote:
It is extremely unlikely that is the hard drive. It is much more likely that it is the motherboard.

I agree. If it were the hard drive, you would be able to enter the BIOS consistently.

Find a good service center, or send it to HP if it's still under warranty (doubtful, but their warranties do last 4 years).

On the bright side, a bad motherboard means you will most likely be able to recover most of your data.

maleorderbride

United States2916 Posts

June 16 2009 21:48 GMT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817816002

IDE (laptop) to USB external enclosure. At $9, including shipping, I think it is worth it even if all you are saving is songs and movies. Plus, you get a new (old) external out of it! ;p

Sorry about the laptop, but 4 years is about what one can expect.

Biochemist

United States1008 Posts

June 16 2009 21:58 GMT

On June 17 2009 06:48 maleorderbride wrote:

Sorry about the laptop, but 4 years is about what one can expect.

Yeah... the plastic screw threads holding the screen casing together on the bottom left had somehow ripped through a week or two ago, meaning I had to hold it together with my fingers every time I opened and closed it to prevent it from opening up. Hadn't gotten around to fixing it yet. Probably not related, but kinda like your car everything starts breaking down at the same time

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