Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: dgreen on December 19, 2012, 11:16:16 AM
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I've never experienced this one before.....
When I try to boot up my laptop it freezes on the desktop with the blue hoop and mouse pointer showing.
I tried booting in safe mode with networking but it still froze.
I left it on to see if it would actually clear and work normally but it turned itself off after about 10 mins.
The laptop is running Windows 7 Professional 64bit.
The laptop is a HP g56
I can't remember much else about its spec.
Can anyone help me sort this please.
Thanks
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Can anyone help me at all with this problem, even if it's the most obvious of solutions, I'd really appreciate it.
Any guidance no matter how small would be great, thanks!
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1) What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?
2) Let's run some basic troubleshooting steps:
To check the ram, download memtest (http://memtest.org/ (http://memtest.org/)). Burn it to a cd using a dedicated .iso burning utility (http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm (http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm)), make sure the cd drive is at the top of the boot order in bios, then boot to the newly created cd and run the utility.
Hard Drive Diagnostics:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 (http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ (http://www.imgburn.com/) to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), to make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic (http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic)
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Thanks Allan,
I think I ran the memtest you intended me to but I'm not entirely sure as it came up Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool which ran automatically on boot up, is this supposed to happen?
I left it running and came back to a black screen and had to turn off the laptop with the button.
I turned it back on, it booted up to the desktop And froze but i could move the cursor this time.
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You did not follow the instructions properly. Please read and follow the instructions above for running memtest.
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Sorry, I thought I had followed your instructions properly, my apologies.
Please tell me where I went wrong.
I burnt the .iso to cd, turned on the laptop and pressed f12.
It came up with the option to run the tool so I selected it.
I may be pressing the wrong function key.
Which one should I have pressed?
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Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool which ran automatically on boot up, is this supposed to happen?
Try checking the built-in hardware diagnostic utility for your laptop model. Try pressing ESC to access the different hardware test for RAM and hard drive. The manual (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02657369.pdf) says you have these testing features.
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Ok, I managed to run the memtest and no errors were found.
For the Hard Drive diagnostics I'm not sure how to find out what hard drive I have.
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I went on the HP support web site and found the specifications of the laptop but all it said about the hard drive is that it is a 250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm.
I can't find the actual make.
do you know how i find this information without opening the laptop of course.
I did run the Primary Hard Disk Self Test and it came up Hard Disk 1 Full (305) on the Long Test Executing.
It did the first test ok without any errors though.
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Can you boot to safe mode WITHOUT networking?
You did not answer my question above - What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?
Can you boot to the W7 dvd and run the startup repair tests? (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/startup-repair)
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Yes, I could boot to safe mode WITHOUT networking.
As far as I am aware there is nothing new installed but this problem occurred after my son had been using it for the day as he was off school.
The laptop didnt come with a w7 DVD, everything was preinstalled.
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So there IS something different - your son was using for the day and the problem arose immediately afterward. That's worth knowing.
Please boot to safe mode and run full scans with both your installed anti virus app AND with MalwareBytes. Let's either rule in or rule out malware.
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It freezes on the desktop when I try booting in safe mode!
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I'm confused. Your previous post said you can boot to safe mode. Now when you get there it freezes?
If your ram passed the tests and your hd passed the tests any additional tests I'd suggest would have to be run from within Windows. One other thing we can try is to create a bootable av cd and run a scan that way
http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/
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Sorry about the confusion, I don't know why I said yes to being able to boot into safe mode, I must have been having another mad moment !
I ran the HP test for Start up and Memory passed, SMART test passed but Short DST failed (whatever that is)
I also ran the hard disk test which failed.
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You need a new hard drive,,,start backing up your data immediately.
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Agree. Your previous post said you passed the long test and said NOTHING about failing the short test. Please - you need to take your time and provide accurate information when requesting help.
Replace the hd.
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How do I get the data off this drive ?
I can no do it through windows so is there an alternative method?
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You can try slaving it to a different computer
http://www.dtidata.com/resourcecenter/2007/04/23/how-to-slave-hard-drive/
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How do I install all the software on the new drive as the laptop came preinstalled and no CDs were provided.
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Well, it's too late to tell you to use disc imaging software on a regular basis (though perhaps you may want to start doing so in the future), so I'd have to suggest that you'll need to either purchase an OS disc or contact the laptop manufacturer and see if they have a free or discounted reinstall disc they will provide.
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What disk imaging software should I be using?
Can you send me a link please.
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Best paid product: http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
Best free product: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
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Thanks.
With regards to the slaving, how does this happen?
Do I need a cable to do this?
Also, can you recommend a replacement drive I could get.
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Sorry, the link I posted was for a desktop - here's one for a laptop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsed59DWtbQ
As for a replacement drive, just stick with a name brand and you'll be fine.
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Is it possible to copy the files through a dos screen?
Can files be burnt to cd this way?
I want to try and transfer the files without needing to take the drive out.
Just a thought but is it possible that the fan has stopped working and the laptop is over heating.
When my son was using it, It was getting very hot as he was putting it directly onto his bed which I think may have blocked the vents.
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I used a sata docking station to transfer the files to another pc.
I then did a restore to factory settings.
This worked.
Does this mean that the hard drive was ok and the fault was something else?
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To find out DLoad and run the Free diagnostics from the HDD manuf...
Run the long test and don't interrupt it.
This can be done before re-installing Windows as it runs from a bootable CD.
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I set the diagnostic test running but when I came back about an hour later the laptop had turned itself off due to overheating.
A message came up when I switched it back on saying the bios had detected overheating so it went into hibernation.
I had a feeling this was the problem from the start but no one suggested it, only that the Hard Drive was faulty.
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Can anyone please advise as to what I need to do to keep the laptop from over heating and shutting down or going into hibernation.
Thanks.
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My laptop shut itself down yesterday and when I rebooted a message came up saying the BIOS had detected over heating to it had to put the laptop into hibernation.
Is this something that I should worry about or was it a one off.
I am using an HP G56 with windows 7 64 bit. It's only 2 years old.
Thanks
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Are you sure it isn't turning off from any power saving settings such as the ones in Control Panel ? ?
Did you ever finish the HDD diagnostics ? ? that needs to be done so you know if you can trust data on that drive...
If it is in fact overheating i'd suggest a shop visit to have it cleaned out and all fans checked out...
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Thanks patio,
I actually was running the diagnostic tests as you advised and when I came back about an hour later it had gone into hibernation. The message came up when I attempted a reboot.
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Turn off all power saving features and start it again...
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What HP G56 model number is it and check your BIOS version? Perhaps its also better to check for any BIOS update available by HP support site at this point unless its clearly a heating problem in the first place. Are the time and date still correct or not frequently changing?
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Turn off all power saving features and start it again...
I did this and reran the diagnostic tests which completed this time without shut down.
It was the memtest run directly from the bootable cd Allan told me to use in an earlier post.
Does this one actually test the hard drive as well?
The test did say it completed and that I should press esc to exit but it was still running (maybe it restarts again automatically ?).
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No...MemTest continues looping thru tests til the User terminates it...
You need the diagnostics from the HDD manuf. site for the drive as MemTest only tests the RAM.
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The Bios was up to date.
I ran the HDD Diagnostics.
The Long DST failed.
Not sure what this now means.
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It means you should start backing up your important data as that drive is getting ready to fail...
If you have the laptop Recovery CD's then it's a simple matter of replacing the HDD...booting to the Recovery and letting it install Windows.
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There were no recovery CDs.
The Hdd was partitioned with a recovery partition.
Obviously not the best idea I suppose.
Is there anyway I can create a recovery cd?
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If you can still boot to it yes...
However if it's interrupted by a thermal shutdown in the process the recovery CD will be useless.
So best i can suggest would be instead to get an external enclosure for the HDD...use an imaging app such as Acronis True Image (paid) or Macrium Reflect (free) and create an image before the HDD dies.
Be prepared ahead of time with everything you need as you may only get 1 chance.
If the Image of the C: drive is created successfully then when you restore it to a new HDD all your data and apps will be there...
Best of Luck.
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Thanks patio,
I've already restored the laptop to its factory settings and copied the necessary data beforehand.
Unfortunately I don't have the CDs for Office or windows.
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If it's a laptop many manuf. will provide Factory Restore CD's...
These are usually not expensive but you pay shipping...and it will include the OS, Drivers and any pre-installed software that came on the laptop.
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That would be perfect, thanks for letting me know, I'll get in touch with HP.
Cheers for that.
One thing I'm worried about is if I replace the hard drive what's stopping the same problem occurring again if it was caused by overheating in the first place.
Is it possible that the fault was caused by another fault with the laptop ?
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You may want to have it cleaned properly...ususlly a shop service with laptops.
I would also add a temp monitor app to your arsenal such as SpeedFan.
And yes over time excessive heat hurts any PC components...but with laptops it's kinda the nature of the beast.
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I ran Speed Fan which said the Hd0 temp was around 42 degrees, the Temp1 was around 67-74 degrees and the Core temp around 68-75 degrees.
Do these sound right?
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I'd have to see the CPU that's in there and or which CPU that is before answereing...