Laptop Is Toast. Blue Screen Of Death. Wont Restart

IT Loser

Hi there, I own a Compaq Presario V4000 {or at least thats what it was}

I have been meaning to clear the hard disk, today, disaster struck.

Computer just kept churning away, churning away, churning away when I tried to open Winamp.
So I leaned on the power button and turned it off.

Tried to restart as normal, it gives me the "Windows Did Not Shut Down Normally" screen, and the 4 options {carry on as usual, start in safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with c prompt etc}.

Have tried all of them. When I choose one, it proceeds as if it is going to boot up and then it barely, for one split second, flashes the blue screen and some stuff I just cannot read as it disappears too fast.

Then it goes back to whence it came, offers me the options.......I choose one...etc.

Can anyone help? There are about 2 gigs of photos that I want off it. Thats it. And there are 2-3 Gigs of free space right now, or as of last time I used the computer that is.
Thanks.:(:(

ThePirateGay

IT Loser wrote: »

Hi there, I own a Compaq Presario V4000 {or at least thats what it was}

I have been meaning to clear the hard disk, today, disaster struck.

Computer just kept churning away, churning away, churning away when I tried to open Winamp.
So I leaned on the power button and turned it off.

Tried to restart as normal, it gives me the "Windows Did Not Shut Down Normally" screen, and the 4 options {carry on as usual, start in safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with c prompt etc}.

Have tried all of them. When I choose one, it proceeds as if it is going to boot up and then it barely, for one split second, flashes the blue screen and some stuff I just cannot read as it disappears too fast.

Then it goes back to whence it came, offers me the options.......I choose one...etc.

Can anyone help? There are about 2 gigs of photos that I want off it. Thats it. And there are 2-3 Gigs of free space right now, or as of last time I used the computer that is.
Thanks.:(:(

You're going to have to take it into a shop to get the data retrieved. Then just format the hdd.

IT Loser

ThePirateGay wrote: »

You're going to have to take it into a shop to get the data retrieved. Then just format the hdd.

Funny that- I distinctly remember you having far more to say for yourself over at the State Benefits thread!

Thanks for your advice.

ThePirateGay

IT Loser wrote: »

Funny that- I distinctly remember you having far more to say for yourself over at the State Benefits thread!

Thanks for your advice.

Wow, dole scroungers are even discontent with free advice these days!:rolleyes:

monkeypants

First of all, your laptop will restart, it just won't boot to Windows. That's the good news.

Get yourself something like this. I seen one on a website before for about €20, this was the first decent result that Google provided me with this evening. Or borrow one, you won't need it forever. It'll allow you to remove the disk from the laptop and connect it to another working PC. Then simply copy whatever you want to keep off it.

Once you have your data safe, try reloading Windows before giving up on the disk. There may be life in it yet.

IT Loser

monkeypants wrote: »

First of all, your laptop will restart, it just won't boot to Windows. That's the good news.

Get yourself something like this. I seen one on a website before for about €20, this was the first decent result that Google provided me with this evening. Or borrow one, you won't need it forever. It'll allow you to remove the disk from the laptop and connect it to another working PC. Then simply copy whatever you want to keep off it.

Once you have your data safe, try reloading Windows before giving up on the disk. There may be life in it yet.

Thats good testimony. Cheers fella.;)

So basically, how do I go about using this? I take the hard disk out of the laptop, connect it to a different PC, and copy away? I dont actually recognise the non-USB connector part.

But thanks anyways I will check it out. Nice one.

thorold

Another option is to download knoppix. This is an open source Linux OS that you can burn to a cd or dvd. When you have knoopix on cd you can boot into the cd which will load the Knoppix operating system. Then browse as you would in windows to your hard drive locate files you need to save and copy them to a usb drive or another location on the network if laptop is networked. An iso for knoppix can be found at following link ftp://ftp.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.0.1-ADRIANE_V1.1CD-2009-02-08-DE.iso

thorold

Sorry that link was for german version of Knoppix!

Here is correct link for english verision
ftp://ftp.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.0.1-ADRIANE_V1.1CD-2009-02-08-EN.iso

IT Loser

thorold wrote: »

Another option is to download knoppix. This is an open source Linux OS that you can burn to a cd or dvd. When you have knoopix on cd you can boot into the cd which will load the Knoppix operating system. Then browse as you would in windows to your hard drive locate files you need to save and copy them to a usb drive or another location on the network if laptop is networked. An iso for knoppix can be found at following link ftp://ftp.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.0.1-ADRIANE_V1.1CD-2009-02-08-DE.iso

Thank you for your assistance Thorold. I have been reading about this in the results my online search provided. There is only one problem, and it may or may not be pertinent- I only have 2-3 gigs of available Hard Disk space. Would this prove an obstacle? Thanks again.

IT Loser

thorold wrote: »

Sorry that link was for german version of Knoppix!

Here is correct link for english verision
ftp://ftp.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.0.1-ADRIANE_V1.1CD-2009-02-08-EN.iso

Haha no worries. I am not yet at the stage where I am ready to leap in and try anything just yet!! Whats killing me is that I had my eyes on a Seagate backup system, just didnt get around to buying it, and now this.

monkeypants

IT Loser wrote: »

So basically, how do I go about using this? I take the hard disk out of the laptop, connect it to a different PC, and copy away? I dont actually recognise the non-USB connector part.

The adaptor will connect to both SATA drives (newer) and IDE drives (older). I don't know which you have, so I went for the combo. Remove your disk completely from the laptop and connect this cable to it. Then connect the USB end to another PC. Your laptop disk should now be accessible from the other PC, much like connecting a USB key or any external drive. If you know your directory structure, you can then start getting your data to safety. For example, the "My Pictures" folder on this XP installation is C:\Documents and Settings\XXXXXXXX\My Documents\My Pictures, replacing XXXXXXXX with your name.

thorold

No problem. The amount of free hard disk space will not make any difference. The operating system will be running on the cd. All you need is another pc to burn the iso file. I have used knoppix to extract data from many corrupt hard drives.

IT Loser

You guys have been most helpful. Tomorrow I will get on the blower and see if anyone is selling the SATA adaptor device from a bricks-and-mortar store in Dublin. If not, i will l just get a blank CD and try the ISO method while I am waiting for my SATA drive adaptor to arrive in the post.

Hopefully, one or other of these methods will work.

Do Komplett have a bricks-and-mortar store? Thanks again people.:D:D:D

ianwalsh2

Downloading a linux OS and sticking it on a CD is definitely your best option. I've done this a couple of times for some of my friends whose computers have gone woof. The only one I have experience of using is Linux Mint http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php.

Basically all you do is download the linux mint .iso file. Burn it onto a CD, if you don't have a prog for burning iso's this is fairly good. Stick the CD in and your computer will hopefully boot from the CD. Mint will boot up and run off the CD so you're not actually installing anything onto the harddrive. Basically they're giving you a fully working demo of their OS which runs off a CD (albeit quite slowly). This will allow you to mooch around in your windows partition (where all your pics, docs, vids are) and stick em onto a USB drive. Very handy to have this CD lying around!

Anouilh

Although I have a problem with my laptop as described here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055737909

it seems to be a similar one.

I keep getting the "autocheck not found" error and have spent several months trying to fix it. The laptop in question is quite old and, as described in that thread, has a broken CD player.

Can I remove the CD player so that is stops booting to bios and try a usb key or external CD/DVD player.

I backed up the laptop before it broke down, so am not worried about losing data.

IT Loser

Hello Anouilh,

If you hit the ESC key when the machine is booting up, you should enter SETUP.

Here, if you go through the options, you should be able to toggle which device the Laptop boots up from....there is always the option, I believe, as mentioned above of removing the hard disk and synching it with another computer.

You could always try and get an external CD player and get the laptop to boot from that.

IT Loser

Hi there.

Unfortunately, no joy, yet....but that maybe because the so-called "Boot CD" is in fact a Boot DVD. Would that have any bearing?


As it happens, I went into the Bios Setup Utility, and changed the boot order.

Nothing seems to be happening.

Should I take some fotos and upload them here to show you all the steps I am taking?

Cheers.

IT Loser

By way of update for you interested parties, I inserted a Toshiba rescue disk, and the CD Drive immediately picked up on it. Now of course, i do not have a Toshiba, so thats as far as I got. But for whatever reason, the Toshiba disk was recognised. It brought me as far as a "C:" prompt {in reality the CD DRIVE} and when I put in my Knoppix Boot DVD...nothing. Computer said it could not read it. Anyways,..any more help would be greatly 'ppreciated. Cheers.

Anouilh

IT Loser wrote: »

Hello Anouilh,

You could always try and get an external CD player and get the laptop to boot from that.

I don't know how to do this. So far it only shows the hard drive, internal CD player (now broken), Floppy Disk player and Network.

Can I make it recognise an external CD Player though bios?

As you can see, I find it all a bit of a mystery.
However, if I succeed in fixing it and post the procedure here it may
help others.

bonzodog2

You probably get a CDROM drive for less than a tenner off ebay, but you may as well go for a CDRW, like
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Compaq-Presario-V4000-CD-RW-DVD-RW-Drive-GCA-4080N_W0QQitemZ160374235534QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_LaptopDrives?hash=item25570ca18e

for 18.72 euro from UK

then you can back up your data to CDROM :-))

There is probably 1 screw holding the drive in, on the base of the laptop, where the back end of the drive would reach to

bonzodog2

Maybe you dont want to start spending cash on something you have doubts may still work at all....

Now that I think of it, I actually have a CDRW drive from a V2000 Presario, it works but is a little wonky, cos the owner dropped his laptop with the tray open. I replaced it for him with a DVDRW, and I have the old bit. it doesnt have the plastic edge on the outside of the drive. PM me if you're interested

IT Loser

My latest problem is as follows: having successfully reinstalled Windows via the boot disc which came with my computer, I find the computer is now slower than a wet-week and very unreliable. I am just thinking of ripping the HD out and installing a new one. Does anyone here have practical experience of doing this? Is it something that can be attempted at home? Thanks.

bonzodog2

Some laptops are easier to remove hard drives than others. The disk is approx 10cm x 7cm. It may slot in from the side in a 'caddy' arrangement, or there may be a removable panel on the base (bigger than size mentioned above). There may be other panels too, for RAM and mini-PCI cards.

Can you post a picture of the underneath of the laptop?

However, maybe its not the disk making it slow ? Check the task manager to see if some process is using a lot of CPU time. Check virtual memory settings, and does the machine recognise all of the RAM it should have ?

IT Loser

bonzodog2 wrote: »

Some laptops are easier to remove hard drives than others. The disk is approx 10cm x 7cm. It may slot in from the side in a 'caddy' arrangement, or there may be a removable panel on the base (bigger than size mentioned above). There may be other panels too, for RAM and mini-PCI cards.

Can you post a picture of the underneath of the laptop?

However, maybe its not the disk making it slow ? Check the task manager to see if some process is using a lot of CPU time. Check virtual memory settings, and does the machine recognise all of the RAM it should have ?

Hi Bonzo, I wouldn't even know how to conduct those tests. if you have practical tests you think I should run then I would love to hear them. In the meantime, I think one problem is that the recent heavy rain have affected the internet, as the "downstairs" laptop , which runs off the ethernet, is experiencing similar problems. Either that, or they both have the same virus.:eek::mad: Which I doubt, as I have been running Malware and Spyware tests regularly recently. It could be that the spazzy internet is causing problems- in the meantime I will snap the underneath of my Compaq and post it here. Thanks for your time.:cool:

bonzodog2

[1]Task Manager:
hold down Windows key [prob left of spacebar] and press R. This opens Run dialog, type
taskmgr
in the box and then Enter, or click OK
In the status bar at the bottom of the window you'll see CPU usage. If your not doing anything it might be 2%. Otherwise select the processes tab and click the CPU column header, this sorts the list by how much processor time they are using. This will show you if any program is slowing everything down.


I kinda doubt its your disk anyway, they tend to work until they dont, rather than getting slow.

[2]virtual memory/ram
open explorer[Win key + E]
in left pane, right click My Computer and choose properties. At the bottom right of the General tab, it will tell you the cpu speed and how much installed Ram. If you know how much RAM you have you can tell if Windows can find all of it. Adding RAM is probably the easiest upgrade you can do to a computer, conversely, if the pc cant see it all it will degrade performance

IT Loser

cheers bonzodog2.

I think what I might do now is transfer all my information to an external HDD and free up as much of the C: drive as I can.

Then I will go shopping for RAM.

Again, any advice you have about purchasing and installing RAM, I would be delighted to hear it.

I understand that there is a programmed from CRUCIAL.COM which will run a test, and that there is a maximum amount of RAM that I can install. In my case, I believe it is 512MB, total.

Thanks again.:cool:

bonzodog2

Many memory suppliers have a tool online to tell you the type of RAM you need for a particular laptop.

These 2 ebay items:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/1GB-RAM-MEMORY-UPGRADE-HP-COMPAQ-PRESARIO-V4000-DDR2_W0QQitemZ200384070851QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Memory_RAM_ET?hash=item2ea7d244c3

http://cgi.ebay.ie/1GB-RAM-MEMORY-UPGRADE-HP-COMPAQ-PRESARIO-V4000-DDR_W0QQitemZ220480938801QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Memory_RAM_ET?hash=item3355b02331

both claim to be for a v4000 compaq, but are different types of memory. One is 1 x 1GB stick(£19.99), the other is 2 x 512MB(£34.99). These are buy-it-now prices, you may get cheaper in an auction.

you need to find out which type you have

Its pretty easy to fit (say 2 mins), you need to take precautions against static electricity. If you're not confident, I wouldn't think a computer shop would charge much to fit it.

Capt'n Midnight

RAM ?

www.shop4memory.com out in Celbridge - look up type on their web site

to see if you have slots free

cpuz will tell you what is in the laptop now, almost certainly 2 modules so you would have to replace one

and besides you could open the memory bay on the laptop , you are going to have to anyway

monkeypants

IT Loser wrote: »

I understand that there is a programmed from CRUCIAL.COM which will run a test, and that there is a maximum amount of RAM that I can install.

Indeed and it's very useful. It'll give you the specs for the memory and then you can buy it elsewhere if you wish.

bonzodog2

you might try this program
http://www.piriform.com/speccy
from the makers of CCleaner
it claims to tell you what kind of memory you have

[edit] I've just tried it and although it correctly identifies SDRAM on my Dell c610, it doesnt go as far as telling me pc100 or pc133, or CL2/CL3

but it IS FREE beta software ..........

Capt'n Midnight

bonzodog2 wrote: »

you might try this program
http://www.piriform.com/speccy
from the makers of CCleaner
it claims to tell you what kind of memory you have

[edit] I've just tried it and although it correctly identifies SDRAM on my Dell c610, it doesnt go as far as telling me pc100 or pc133, or CL2/CL3

but it IS FREE beta software ..........

cpuz ftw
www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

IT Loser

Hi again, thanks for all the updates and feedback, it is appreciated.:D

The latest beef is that the Boot disk, it seems, did not upload the drivers. Hence the difficulty, and eventually total failure, when it came to work off the wireless and ethernet connections.

I went out and got me a 500gig External HDD and backed up all my important stuff, a good friend of mine reccos that I reinstall windows from within windows {as opposed to a boot disk from a command prompt} and that should install the drivers.

Thats why, he says, everything I want to save, needs to be backed up first.

He also is of the belief that the computer is trying to clear the RAM but is failing. Only this very evening we got the BSOD trying to send the Laptop into hibernation.

Apart from that, he is impressed with how well it runs, for a 5 year old machine.
Anyways the most important thing is that I got my photos and files that I had been worried about, so I will see how this latest operation goes. Cheers.

IT Loser

Okay.

Got it fixed.

Repartitioned the HD, started again. Everything is good.

But...therea new problem.

Keyboard is gone haywire. Keeps jumping when I type, deletes text, moves the cursor, etc.

Any ideas?

monkeypants

Was the keyboard disconnected at any time?

Capt'n Midnight

any chance there was ever a liquid spill on the keyboard ?

try an external one / disable touch pad in the bios and use a mouse

IT Loser

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

any chance there was ever a liquid spill on the keyboard ?

try an external one / disable touch pad in the bios and use a mouse

Nah there was never any spill.

As far as I know, it is a touchpad issue but there is no way of disabling the TP without going into BIOS. On the Toshiba, you can do it from the Control Panel, but not on my Compaq.

Anyhow...thats what I will try to do.

THANKS!:)