Help... I think my laptop might be dead!

08/19/2008 02:29:08 PM · #1

Hi All,

I'm really hoping some of the microsoft/PC experts on here might be able to help as I think my laptop is quite possibly dead!

It's been working fine without any problems at all until yesterday I went to switch it on but the battery was completely flat. So I plugged it in and switched it on and all seemed normal but when the first splash screen came up it was very dim and just froze.

On reset it came up with the "Windows didn't start properly screen" and so I tried Safe mode. This listed all the .sys files up until mup.sys and then froze.

I tried them all to no avail and I can't get it past that point.

I have also tried both the Laptops recovery disc, the original XP disc, and the Vista upgrade disc and all Freeze at the point of "Starting Windows"

Any advice on things to try?

It's a Toshiba Satalite and it only 2 years old.

Thanks

08/19/2008 02:39:33 PM · #2

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Message edited by author 2008-08-19 14:42:42.

08/19/2008 02:40:40 PM · #3

Just found this link which should help you:

//www.aitechsolutions.net/mupdotsysXPhang.html

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/19/2008 03:00:42 PM · #4

Thanks ShutterPug, I found that page yesterday actually but couldn't really test the main possibilities from it (i.e Power Supply voltage, DIMMS, etc..)

As far as windows corruption, registry problems, and virus possibilities go, would it be true to say that if i'm getting problems starting up with the XP disc, and laptops recovery disc, it shouldn't be a problem with data as the registry and installation files shouldn't come into play?

If this is correct does this lead to it being some form of hardware failure?

This is also strange to me as it's always failing in the same place and yet getting through all the stags up until it freezes.

Also it's still a relatively new laptop. I have laptops that are over 10 years old and still work perfectly (perfectly slowly as well)

Any thought on things to test first?

aliqui

Nikon D300s

08/19/2008 03:40:12 PM · #5

Do you hear a ticking sound? Often times when hard drives go out they tick when trying to boot.

08/19/2008 03:50:32 PM · #6

Originally posted by aliqui:

Do you hear a ticking sound? Often times when hard drives go out they tick when trying to boot.

No all the sounds were as normal it just goes completely quiet when it freezes, all HDD and CD/DVD noise stops.

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

08/19/2008 05:37:10 PM · #7

Have you tried removing the battery and using AC power only to start up? I've heard of strange things happening when a battery goes bad.

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

08/19/2008 05:43:09 PM · #8

Boot from CD and do a windows repair, this should fix it for you

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

08/19/2008 05:44:40 PM · #9

Originally posted by MAK:

Boot from CD and do a windows repair, this should fix it for you

I believe he already tried that

Originally posted by kevip6:

I have also tried both the Laptops recovery disc, the original XP disc, and the Vista upgrade disc and all Freeze at the point of "Starting Windows"

Gotaka

Nikon D300

08/19/2008 05:50:27 PM · #10

Can you go to command mode ?

edit: and if you do follow these instructions:

//support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

Message edited by author 2008-08-19 17:52:08.

hihosilver

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/19/2008 06:14:56 PM · #11

When you boot the PC, instead of safe mode....try "Last Known Good Configuration" option from the menu.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Do you have a backup of your crucial data? If not, you might try booting with something like Bart's PE Bootable CD to see if you can access your data and burn it to DVD or copy it to an external hard drive.

2. Have you made any changes at all to your system recently?

3. Is the system under extended warranty?

Please keep us posted on your progress...good luck!

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

08/19/2008 06:20:06 PM · #12

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Originally posted by MAK:
Boot from CD and do a windows repair, this should fix it for you

I believe he already tried that

Originally posted by kevip6:

I have also tried both the Laptops recovery disc, the original XP disc, and the Vista upgrade disc and all Freeze at the point of "Starting Windows"

Next is to start eliminating hardware then, try booting with just the ONBOARD RAM (if it has any) or maybe try it with 1 stick removed and swap them over if the prob is still there. Unless you have hardware checking software on disc.

It sounds like a software issue to me though as it always freezes in the same place.

08/20/2008 10:14:30 AM · #13

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replies.

Can you go to command mode ?

No I can't get through to any mode in which I can do anything

When you boot the PC, instead of safe mode....try "Last Known Good Configuration" option from the menu.

I have tried this and get the same problem (freezes at the same point)

1. Do you have a backup of your crucial data? If not, you might try booting with something like Bart's PE Bootable CD to see if you can access your data and burn it to DVD or copy it to an external hard drive.

I don't think there is anything overly cruicial on there as I work from a network storage device for important stuff

2. Have you made any changes at all to your system recently? 3. Is the system under extended warranty?

No and unfortunately not

Next is to start eliminating hardware then, try booting with just the ONBOARD RAM (if it has any) or maybe try it with 1 stick removed and swap them over if the prob is still there. Unless you have hardware checking software on disc.

This is my next plan of action but i'm not sure what the DIMM configuration is but I doubt there's onboard RAM and I'm hoping there are 2 DIMMS rather then just the one. I don't have any hardware checking software unfortunately.

It sounds like a software issue to me though as it always freezes in the same place.

I'm really hoping this too but i'm a little concerned that not even the XP disc is booting a usable OS so I can't get to the recovery mode?

Thanks again for all the help, I'll let you know how the RAM testing goes but please feel free to give me other options to try.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/20/2008 10:52:55 AM · #14

Wow!! Luckily it had 2x 512Mb in the laptop and so I removed one and it booted up first time!

So thank you very much for the help!!! I'm now typing this from a machine I thought had given up the ghost!

I will back everything up and then try putting the momory in the other slot and see if it's chip based or slot based.

aliqui

Nikon D300s

08/20/2008 03:27:52 PM · #15

Yay!

08/20/2008 05:47:42 PM · #16

How bizarre, I tried the removed chip in the working slot and it worked fine, then I put the other chip back in so they're both back just in different slots and it's still working fine!?!?

Is there anything I can run to check the structure/reliability of the RAM, kind of like a chkdisk but for RAM?

Otherwise i'm just going to thank my lucky stars it's all working again :0)

Katmystiry

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/20/2008 06:35:28 PM · #17

This is what we use here (it's a free download) Memtest 86

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

08/20/2008 06:54:08 PM · #18

Originally posted by kevip6:

RAM can be really funky at times, I've had bag fulls of issues with it. If I was you I would BIN the RAM you have and replace it with either a 1GB or better still get 2x1GB the stuff is real cheap these days.. It went wrong once and it will again.. trust me, I fix these things all day.