Laptop Help!

[tliss]

Fellers, I need some help from some of you computer nerds. My wife's computer went out last night and we've been scrambling ever since. I researched it and the "cannot find operating system" error we now get on bootup (it never actually boots up) is a possible indication of a dead/dying hard drive. I do not want to pay $70+ for some geek at Best Buy to tell me the same thing. I think what I need to do is buy a new fricken hard drive and clone the one in the machine, if possible, and do a swap out. Is this possible, and if so, how do I do it and what do I need? I've been trying to research this and am not coming up with a decent procedure to make this happen. My wife does not want to lose some of the things on that hard drive, so if I can clone it as is that would be ideal.

I appreciate any help you guys can give. :bows

Tom

[SVTlightning87]

When you turn the computer on depending on who the manufacturer is you should be able to hit F11 or one of the F keys to start recovery. It will let you back up your hard drive and it will reinstall windows.

[tliss]

Tried that...it will recover back to the way it was when I bought it...sounds like it will kill everything I have on there, which is not an option. Am I mistaken?

Thanks,
Tom

[98Cobra]

That error happens when it cant find an OS to boot from - could be the drive failing, but also could just be something changed the boot sector on the drive (less likely, IMO).

If you CAN boot to a recovery partition, the drive isnt dead, yet. Do the F11 and see if you can even get that far - it wont reset everything until confirming several times.

Hunch is, you will need a new drive, and you wont be able to recover the one you have. But you have a backup, right?

[Sandman]

If you just need the data try pulling the drive and putting it into a removable drive enclosure... hook it up to another computer and grab what you need.

This isn't gonna help you right now.. but you might want to take a look at Windows Home Server (http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TheCaseOfTheFailingDiskDriveOrWindowsHomeServerSav edMyMarriage.aspx)... pretty awesome and it'll make you a stud with your wife at times like this.

[Silver_2000]

If you want a chance to get any data - My advice would be to STOP trying to get the dying drive to work

if its dying you may only have one or 2 more tries

one of these adapters (http://www.frys.com/product/5466019?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG)a phillips head screwdriver and some patience MAY get your data off the drive

if the drive is unreadable $1200 or so will get your data back in a clean room
edit
if your data is important be careful and DONT run checkdisk on a suspect drive till you get your data off

[tliss]

OK...got the new hard drive in and got the computer up and running. However, now, for some weird reason, the DVD drive doesn't work. HP doesn't have a driver specifically for it on the web site and the online chat help is no hlep (actually told me that they think the DVD drive needs to be replaced!). Any ideas on how to get the stupid DVD drive to work?

Tom

[Silver_2000]

it wont read anything or it wont show a movie dvd ?

If you meant option 2 you need a DVD decoder - usually a paid option unless you have the apps disk that came with the PC

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dvd+decoder+for+hp+laptop

[tliss]

It wouldn't read anything, however, after I got off with the numbnuts at HP support I tried one more time and blammo...it worked. Have no idea why it didn't work to begin with but it seems to work now. I think the computer waas just screwing with me...spent far too much time trying to fix that damn thing. Think I'm now at a point where I can call it fixed...just need to pull the stuff off of the old drive and I'm good!

Tom

[tliss]

Guess what...after all of the work to get the damn thing back up and running, now the screen is white. It was overheating and the screen would go white after it got too hot...now the screen is just white. I assume something on the motherboard burnoed out, but don't know for sure. Anyone know if there is any way to fix this in an inexpensive manner? We all ready bought a new laptop, so now this is just taking up space unless it can be fixed. Great computer...too bad it may have met it's maker...

Thanks,
Tom

[kirkmears]

check to see if something had stopped the fan (listen for fan/open it up) :tex

here's a good (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) (free) DVD player if it ends up being option 2. i've used it for years

plug an external monitor in to the laptop to see if you get an image when you boot it up. if you don't, check ebay for a replacement motherboard. if you do, then replace the lcd and inverter. if you believe the hard drive is damaged, don't continue to use it. it only causes more damage trying to turn it on/off. putting it in the frig (just google it) will sometimes allow you to get another use or two out of it to recover important data. this is only what i would do (here's my release of liability spill)...blah blah blah...
:stupidc

[tliss]

Kirk,

Thanks for the info. I need to plug it into a free monitor when I get a chance to see. The hard drive is brand new (all ready replaced it and installed everything back in), and I have replaced the DVD drive. fan runs almost as soon as it is turned on and never stops, but the thing heated up like a microwave regardless of the fan.

I'll do what I can, but I have never ever replaced a LCD and inverter or a motherboard, so I will be asking a lot of questions if and when I get there, unless someone wants to volunteer their services :evil:tu::beer:.

Tom

check to see if something had stopped the fan (listen for fan/open it up) :tex

here's a good (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) (free) DVD player if it ends up being option 2. i've used it for years

plug an external monitor in to the laptop to see if you get an image when you boot it up. if you don't, check ebay for a replacement motherboard. if you do, then replace the lcd and inverter. if you believe the hard drive is damaged, don't continue to use it. it only causes more damage trying to turn it on/off. putting it in the frig (just google it) will sometimes allow you to get another use or two out of it to recover important data. this is only what i would do (here's my release of liability spill)...blah blah blah...
:stupidc

[Silver_2000]

you are on the right track

ebay parts are cheap if you insist on resurrecting the laptop

installs of LCD is pretty easy - motherboard is 3x more complicated

If you need help let me know

[tliss]

I really like the computer, so if I can bring it back to life for relatively cheap I'll do it. I've all ready sunk over $100 into it in new parts...I figure if I can get away with another $100 or less I'll be happy. If not it will enjoy life as a paperweight.

Tom

you are on the right track

ebay parts are cheap if you insist on resurrecting the laptop

installs of LCD is pretty easy - motherboard is 3x more complicated

If you need help let me know

[Silver_2000]

when you surfed Ebay you likley saw the parts value - you could always resell it as a parts device

the keyboard and power supplies are always in demand

[kirkmears]

sometimes, a nerds way of fixing a device is priceless...

y5orss3fAEU

[dboat]

sometimes, a nerds way of fixing a device is priceless...

y5orss3fAEU


only problem is that the music's lyrics didnt say die mother f***** quite enough times...

Dana

[Mark #2]

only problem is that the music's lyrics didnt say die mother f***** quite enough times...

Dana
And then these Nerds picked up all the pieces and took them to the recycling center so as not to pollute the environment and get a littering ticket. Stupid MFing Video.

[Silver_2000]

And then these Nerds picked up all the pieces and took them to the recycling center so as not to pollute the environment and get a littering ticket. Stupid MFing Video.
Then they went to the all night clinic complaining of heel pain ... :evil

[tliss]

OK...this laptop is not a total lost cause! Connected it to a monitor and it worked fine, minus the heating up like a microwave. SO two things need fixing...the LCD and the heating issue. I'll see what I can do about getting a display. Anyone have any idea on the heating? Like I said, this thing heats up like a microwave...fan turns on the second the computer goes on and never stops. I'm afraid if I get a new display without fixing the heating issue I'm just going to burn out the new one as well.

Thanks,
Tom

[Silver_2000]

compressed air on the fan and vents - clean out dust
beyond that.....
On laptops its almost never possible to replace fans - you end up replacing the motherboard

[tliss]

compressed air on the fan and vents - clean out dust
beyond that.....
On laptops its almost never possible to replace fans - you end up replacing the motherboard

Ack! That sucks. OK...any idea on how to keep this b!tch cool then?

Tom

[Silver_2000]

Ack! That sucks. OK...any idea on how to keep this b!tch cool then?

Tomput in in the freezer ? :evil

[Aggie Mom]

put in in the freezer ? :evil

laptop cooler w/built in fan, maybe?

[kirkmears]

take your pick... (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=laptop+cooling+pad&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=)
just do some research and check the reviews before buying

you can also install speed fan to check to see whats actually running hot
http://download.cnet.com/SpeedFan/3000-2094_4-10067444.html
you might ping another forum to see what temps others are running

also, on the PC note...a lot of machines have been getting infected due to PDFs that hackers are craftin. be proactive and either update to 9.3 or you can prevent this by going in to your adobe reader and disabling JAVA scripts under preferences. most AVs are cleaning it now, but note-its also a cleanup when you do a full scan since the DAT wasn't there originally

[kirkmears]

one of my guys brought this over to me today laughing/shaking his head, remember, this is a office user who typically doesn't take this laptop home & this laptop has been in service for approximately 18 months at their desk, in a brand new building...i pulled some of the dust back so you could get an idea of the thickness.:rolleyes: this is inside the laptop & not visible unless you tear it apart. compressed air will only cause this "debris" to land elsewhere and cause other issues or end up right back on the heat sink. throw a catdog, cheezburger, blanket, and godknows what else in the mix...and...well...you get the picture....:throw:
http://kirkmears.com/dnn4/portals/0/media/images/laptopHOT.jpg