Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Laptop boots..but only for a second - Help!

  • 02-11-2010 2:18pm
    #1
    splashthecash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,322 ✭✭✭


    I have Windows XP on my Compaq laptop (its about 3-4 years old). When I press the power button, you can hear things starting but only for a couple of seconds, then it switches off and starts the same thing again. This goes on indefinitely. At no point is anything showing on the screen to allow me to boot from CD-ROM.

    BTW - The battery is crap, i need to have it plugged in all the time or it'll switch off. This probably isn't the reason for the issue though - sounds like something more along the lines of hardware.

    I'm gonna try dropping in into a repair place but I just wanted to see if anyone has had any similar problems that they could offer suggestions as to how to continue before bringing it to a store?


Comments

  • #2
    Ghost Train
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,469 ✭✭✭✭Ghost Train


    strange to have nothing on the screen, any diagnostic beeps from it? sometimes these are listed in a manual

    you could disconnect any hardware thats accessable, ram, hard disk, cd drive etc, just to see if it makes any difference

    you could plug in an external monitor to see to see if it shows anything

    could be a motherboard issue.... or something basic since it's not getting very far at all


  • #3
    Kinetic^
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    Sounds like a power issue. It could be a case that the DC jack is faulty or has come off the motherboard.


  • #4
    FSL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭FSL


    If you have a multi meter check the voltage and current coming out of the power supply.

    If its fluctuating or the wattage is less than that required by the laptop, then its more than likely a power supply problem.


  • #5
    stuff.hunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭stuff.hunter


    ...well, if your laptop is a Presario C300 or C500, problem is with motherboard itself (voltage regulators) ... new will cost you around 100e


  • #6
    gripcasey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 316 ✭✭gripcasey


    ok had this problem with my own compaq. Take off cover where ram is installed. u should see cmos battery ( small silver ) leave it out for ten minutes put it back in and start it up. Make sure its diconnected from power supply first. let me know if this helped


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    splashthecash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,322 ✭✭✭splashthecash


    Thanks for the info guys!

    gripcasey - ill try this over the weekend and let you know how it goes!

    Fingers crossed :D


Advertisement