broken laptop please help fix

i have an old acer 5315 laptop and a few years back (2008-2009) my laptop got a virus and it has been down hill from now on i got a new laptop for Christmas last year but soon as i got my new one my old one crashed and i was able to recover it but a few days after that it crashed again and i have not been able to back it up (i did not run backups) and it will not recognize the partion disk when i try to install another operating system on it such as windows 7 or vista the operating system it had installed on it before was windows vista please help ~ Thanks

Hello Jgires, Welcome to Computer Hope.

First of all, thank you for providing the information of the laptop (not many people do and they expect us to be mind-readers)

My thoughts: The computer seems to be quite new, and should be able to be revived.

Problem: Can't install an Operating System
Solution: When Vista first came out they made a small variation to the system BIOS. Now to try and re-install an operating system you will need: A BOOTABLE Operating System disk. If you have a partition for your recovery files, try and install windows to that partition.
If not, You may lose all your data on the laptop but you may be able to use the laptop again...

Vista Default
C:\ = Standard hard drive (for all your data & system configuration)
D:\ = Recovery Sector (Set as factory default. Vista Repair files)

Now to access the System BIOS there will be a prompt when the computer first starts it will say "press (key) to access setup" (from memory it was F10 but not sure, been awhile since i had my Acer)

See if there is anything to do with the Vista hard-drive options.

Good Luck,

Merlyn.

[Moderator]

1) What was the nature of the crash?
2) What happens when you try to boot now?
3) Please use punctuation in your posts. It is very hard to read without punctuation.

3) Please use punctuation in your posts. It is very hard to read without punctuation.

Was that directed at me? =\?

Was that directed at me? =\?

Clearly not.

The nature of the crash was most likely a program i downloaded. I recently talked with live support and he told me i need to change the hdd settings but i am not sure how to do that

I also read online that i could press f8 and backup my computer from there but when i try to press f8 when the computer boots up it does absolutely nothing.

[Moderator]

1) What was the nature of the crash?
2) What happens when you try to boot now?

it will just go to a black screen and saise it failed to recognize the disk but that is only when i don't have a disk in the DVD drive. When i do have a disk in the DVD drive it recognizes it just fine and boots to the setup disk but the only problem there is it will not recognize any partion what so ever.

[Moderator]

Please take your time and explain completely. What is the EXACT error message you get when you boot to the hard drive, and what do you mean it will not recognize any partition? Just post the exact error messages you get.

it saise the following when i boot it up with no disk in the drive
Broadcom UDI PXE-2.1 V10.0.9
Copyright (c) 2000-2006 Broadcom Coporation
Copyright (c) 1997-2000 Intel Coproration
All rights reserved.
PXE-E61: media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key
 
and when i insert a disk it loads the disk and i am able to get to the following step
heres an image


is this better detail if not let me know what i can add.

[Moderator]

Okay. Either your hd is dead or there is a cable loose. Since it's a laptop I'm guessing it's the former. It's a new system - I'd take advantage of the warranty and get a replacement.

ok thanks i have opened it up to the motherboard before so that is a possibility.

how long does my warranty last?

[Moderator]

Then there's probably a loose connection. Proceed carefully.

[Moderator]

I have no idea - you'll have to check with the company from which you purchased it.

ok a while back i took the hard drive out and put it back in could something became loose when i did this before?

[Moderator]

yes

ok thanks for all your help.

[Moderator]

sure

Under normal curcumstances, the Manufacturers warranty is 1 year from the date of purchase.

When you bought the laptop the retailer would've said something about an "extended warranty", if you went for this option, you would've paid more...

Because you have opened up the laptop before, there is a very high likely hood that you have VOID your warranty. There would've been screws with some colour on them, if a certain percentage is not present on ALL the screws the manufacturer will send it back and ask that you pay them for "wasting" thier time.

OR

The manufacturer will fix the laptop and tell the retail store to pay for it, then you have to pay the retailer back.

(small glossary)
Retailer = the store you origionally bought the laptop from
Manufacturer = The company that made the laptop in the first place.

I hope that this has helped

..::Merlyn::..

so i have had this laptop for 2 to 3 years now so i am guessing i will have to pay money to get it fixed correct?

btw if i was to take the laptop to a local computer technician would i be able to get it fixed there for a price of 50 to 100 dollars?

[Moderator]

I have no idea. But just take a look to see if the hd is properly seated and connected.

ok i will do that now i almost seem to remember as if the spot the hard drive plugs in was broken on the side of it just a tad i am not positive but that may be what is causing it :s

so i have had this laptop for 2 to 3 years now so i am guessing i will have to pay money to get it fixed correct?

Yes morethan likely, we here at Computer Hope can't do it for you through a forum (hardware side of things) we can only instruct you.

btw if i was to take the laptop to a local computer technician would i be able to get it fixed there for a price of 50 to 100 dollars?

Depending on the computer technician, you can possily get it fixed for a price of $100 dollars, but it's up to how the computer technician wants to try and deal with the problem,

..::Merlyn::..

ok thanks my cousin has got hers repaired so i will check and see where she got hers repaired and look into that

i just opened it up and everything looked fine to me i am ok with hard ware problems but not the best. Ill take it to the shop

You're welcome 

if i buy a new hard drive will it fix the problem? im trying not to spend much money