Windows xp help please

[Andrew Swift]

I appear to have a major problem with windows. My laptop was working fine one minute and the next time I walked past it it looked like it had restarted and then locked partway through the restart, the line that goes accross the screen stops. I have not put any new programs on or done anything to it.

I have switched it off and tried restarting a few times, no change, just locks, i can start it in safe mode and have restarted correctly but still locks ( and I wouldnt know what to do then), I have tried changing the restore point but to no avail.


Help and ideas please, I am stuck.

Thanks

Andrew

[seriesowner]

Press F8 when starting and try "last known good" configuration. That line which fills in across the bottom of the screen is when the operating system is detecting hardware. When it hangs during this, it's an indication that hardware has changed, so it's possible something inside the laptop has stopped functioning - could be anything, faulty motherboard etc. etc.

If the last known good configuration doesn't help, try putting the XP cd in the cd drive and booting from that, and choose the Repair option.

[Andrew Swift]

Thankyou, will try
Andrew

[Andrew Swift]

I have tried reistalling Windows etc but it still hangs. Six years old probably not worth repairing.

Thanks

Andrew

[sherpa87]

This sounds like what happened to my laptop a couple of months ago, was a knacked hard drive, possibly caused by 4 years of dust. Maybe :rolleyes:.

If you can, try plugging the HDD into a different computer and see if it appears. If not it's about 40 quid for a replacement (160GB).

Hope that helps

Josh

[shifty]

I have tried reistalling Windows etc but it still hangs. Six years old probably not worth repairing.

Thanks

Andrew

I have just repaired a lappy with exactly the same problem. I replaced the hard drive ...it was completely knackered.

There are signs to look / listen for. Pick up the laptop when it is booting and listen underneath.

Usually you will hear a very strange noise that keeps repeating itself. If that is the case it may be ( as in my example ) that the 'arms' of the hard drive are trying to seek but getting bounced and therefore keep re trying.

It is easy to replace the hard drive if needed.