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Author Topic: Computer powers on but doesnt boot  (Read 3650 times)

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distingy

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    Computer powers on but doesnt boot
    « on: September 12, 2009, 11:09:45 PM »
     Hi everyone
     

    I have a laptop that doesn't boot up. The last time I used it was 11 hours ago and I used the hibernate feature to shut down the computer. THe last software I installed is Big Kahuna Reef Game found on Amazon.com and the Amazon.com game download program. Those are found here: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Kahuna-R [...] 820&sr=8-1
     

    So I press the power button and these are the symptoms:
     

    -black screen, no a single text, letter or image shows up
    -No option for entering setup or bios
    - keyboard does not show lights, so I can't tell if it responds even after hitting cap locks.
    - touchpad mouse has a light but when I push the disable touchpad button it doesnt change to orange as it should. So that's frozen
    - I dont hear any beeps or error codes
    - It automatically powers off and back on repeatedly every 20-30 seconds
     

    Here's my specs:
     

    Compaq Presario Laptop F557US model
    2 years old
    Windows Vista Basic 32Bit SP2
    AMD Sempron Processor 1.8 Ghz
    2GB DDR ram
    Broadcom wireless card that failed 1 month ago (randomly boots back up)
    NVIDIA GeForce Go 6100 Video Card
    100GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
    24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
    15.4" WXGA High-Definition Brightview Widescreen (1280 X 800) Display
     

    Any other specs may be found here if needed:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] ct=3370444
     

    Software:
    Avast Antivirus updated daily
    Spybot SD updated biweekly
    Router Firewall
     

    Stuff I tried:
    I removed CMOS battery for 1-2 mins.
    I removed both ram sticks, Hard drive, wireless card, cmos battery and booted it up.
     

    I put the items back but 1 at a time while turning on the laptop before putting the next item.
     

    Got any solutions? Also according to the manufacturer site, I have a SATA hard drive. If I cant get the laptop to work, how do I know which enclosure to buy so I can transfer my files to my desktop?

    Computer_Commando



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    Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
    « Reply #1 on: September 13, 2009, 12:55:45 PM »
    ...I removed both ram sticks, Hard drive, wireless card, cmos battery and booted it up...
    I don't understand.  How did you boot it up, if you removed all that stuff?

    distingy

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      Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
      « Reply #2 on: September 13, 2009, 01:15:03 PM »
      I don't understand.  How did you boot it up, if you removed all that stuff?

      I'm sorry I didn't mean I booted it up. I meant I powered it on to see if anything changes. I then put one item back and turned it on. THen put another item and turned it on and so on. I was trying to see if I can get an error code/beep or if it was one of the hardware was that was messed up.

      Allan

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      Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
      « Reply #3 on: September 13, 2009, 01:18:13 PM »
      I'm guessing you didn't have a lot of success without either the hd or the ram.

      Boot to the Vista CD and choose the repair options.

      Computer_Commando



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      Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
      « Reply #4 on: September 13, 2009, 02:39:10 PM »
      I'm sorry I didn't mean I booted it up. I meant I powered it on to see if anything changes. I then put one item back and turned it on. THen put another item and turned it on and so on. I was trying to see if I can get an error code/beep or if it was one of the hardware was that was messed up.
      Thanks for clearing that up for me.  Just trying to figure out if it is hardware or software.
      You said before:
      -black screen, no a single text, letter or image shows up
      -No option for entering setup or bios
      ...
      Broadcom wireless card that failed 1 month ago (randomly boots back up)

      This seems to indicate hardware is the issue.  Definitely pull that Broadcom card first.  There's a key to enter the BIOS, whether it shows up on the screen or not.  As soon as you power on, keep tapping that key.

      distingy

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        Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
        « Reply #5 on: September 13, 2009, 04:45:06 PM »
        Thanks for clearing that up for me.  Just trying to figure out if it is hardware or software.
        You said before:
        -black screen, no a single text, letter or image shows up
        -No option for entering setup or bios
        ...
        Broadcom wireless card that failed 1 month ago (randomly boots back up)

        This seems to indicate hardware is the issue.  Definitely pull that Broadcom card first.  There's a key to enter the BIOS, whether it shows up on the screen or not.  As soon as you power on, keep tapping that key.


        Just tried that. Nothing changes. The keyboard doesn't seem to be responding. I also plugged in another keyboard through all the USB ports and theres no power going to it.


        I tried using the recovery disk. The dvd drive has a green light but nothing has changed.

        Can it be a PSU problem? Or perhaps I fried my motherboard...
         

        Computer_Commando



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        Re: Notebook Computer Does NOT Power On
        « Reply #6 on: September 13, 2009, 05:09:48 PM »
        Just tried that. Nothing changes. The keyboard doesn't seem to be responding. I also plugged in another keyboard through all the USB ports and theres no power going to it.

        I tried using the recovery disk. The dvd drive has a green light but nothing has changed.

        Can it be a PSU problem? Or perhaps I fried my motherboard...
         
        Probably need to change title of thread to "Computer Does NOT Power On".

        Repeating what you posted:

        So I press the power button and these are the symptoms:
        -black screen, no a single text, letter or image shows up
        -No option for entering setup or bios
        - keyboard does not show lights, so I can't tell if it responds even after hitting cap locks.
        - touchpad mouse has a light but when I push the disable touchpad button it doesnt change to orange as it should. So that's frozen
        - I dont hear any beeps or error codes
        - It automatically powers off and back on repeatedly every 20-30 seconds


        The last item has me confused:  if it never comes on, how can it power off and on repeatedly?

        Likely bad AC power adapter or "fried" motherboard.

        distingy

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          Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
          « Reply #7 on: September 13, 2009, 10:27:45 PM »
          Oh the power does turn on. There are 7 different places that can show lights.

          -Cap locks
          -Num lock
          -wireless card switch
          -the power button
          -another light indicating power is on
          -charging light
          -hard drive light

          However out of the 7 lights, the caps lock and num lock does not turn on when I try to turn it on. Indicating the unresponsive keyboard. The hard drive also does not turn on (it should blink if working normally). Wireless card switch is on (even though I removed it, which is normal, its the way it was designed). Power button and power light indicators are both on. The charging light turns on when plugged in, but turns off when not plugged in.

          So I press the power button and thats how all the lights are described above. I don't hear any beeps indicating any error code. After about 30 seconds from turning the computer on, the power automatically shuts off then turns back on. It just constantly loops back on and off with the same lights as above. Throughout this whole process the screen does not turn on, or flicker, or anything.


          Computer_Commando



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          Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
          « Reply #8 on: September 14, 2009, 11:52:51 AM »
          Sorry to say, motherboard is probably dead.

          patio

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          Re: Computer powers on but doesnt boot
          « Reply #9 on: September 14, 2009, 11:59:46 AM »
          I'm hoping the bad card has since been removed...

          That being said i would try a brand NEW PS2 keyboard before you write the MBoard off as dead...
          " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "