Need help diagnosing Laptop fault.

Dman001

I was browsing on my Netbook last night, and all of a sudden the screen froze. There was no response when I moved the mouse, when I clicked the Start button or when I tried Ctl+Alt+Delete. So I powered off the Netbook (I had to hold the Power button for a few seconds), and now it won't boot up. When I try to turn it on, the Power Light comes on along with the WiFi light and I can hear the Fan/HDD running. But there is nothing coming up on the screen.

I had no problems with the Netbook before this, and I've tried hooking it up to an External Monitor to see if it's a Screen fault but had no luck.

Mance Rayder

Could be a graphics card failure. Could of burned itself out.

Freezing screens and video not initiating despite the fact that the HDD is working. It is an area I would investigate.

Dman001

CiscoStudent wrote: »

Could be a graphics card failure. Could of burned itself out.

Freezing screens and video not initiating despite the fact that the HDD is working. It is an area I would investigate.

Is there any way or anything I could do to confirm this? And is it repairable?

Mance Rayder

Well if it was a desktop then I would just swap out the graphics card for one I borrowed and see if it works. Since yours is a netbook that means the graphics card is probably integrated into the chipset and therefore non removable. I doubt there is space for another one. Unfortunatly when it comes to Netbooks and laptops, things are rarely so easily fixed. your probably gonna have to bring it to a specialist repairs shop.

Can you get anything on the screen? even the boot up screen?

I am afraid Your about to discover why people choose desktops. Surely your notebook is under warranty from the manufacturer?

Dman001

CiscoStudent wrote: »

Well if it was a desktop then I would just swap out the graphics card for one I borrowed and see if it works. Since yours is a netbook that means the graphics card is probably integrated into the chipset and therefore non removable. I doubt there is space for another one. Unfortunatly when it comes to Netbooks and laptops, things are rarely so easily fixed. your probably gonna have to bring it to a specialist repairs shop.

Can you get anything on the screen? even the boot up screen?

I am afraid Your about to discover why people choose desktops. Surely your notebook is under warranty from the manufacturer?

I thought as much. I don't think it will be worth repairing a 300 Euro Netbook either. Nope, nothing comes on the screen. I have the Netbook 2 years so the warranty is up on it.

HelpWithIT

I'd say hard driver errors maybe causing it

dogtoffee

Dman001 wrote: »

I was browsing on my Netbook last night, and all of a sudden the screen froze. There was no response when I moved the mouse, when I clicked the Start button or when I tried Ctl+Alt+Delete. So I powered off the Netbook (I had to hold the Power button for a few seconds), and now it won't boot up. When I try to turn it on, the Power Light comes on along with the WiFi light and I can hear the Fan/HDD running. But there is nothing coming up on the screen.

I had no problems with the Netbook before this, and I've tried hooking it up to an External Monitor to see if it's a Screen fault but had no luck.

will it boot in safe mode?

Dman001

RepairMyPC wrote: »

I'd say hard driver errors maybe causing it

I think it could be the HDD alright. When I turn on the Netbook now it isn't as loud as it used to be. Infact it's silent, until you put it up to your ear and can hear the fan going. But if it was the HDD, Im guessing Isomething would still come up on the screen.

Roman Emperor

Dman001 wrote: »

I think it could be the HDD alright. When I turn on the Netbook now it isn't as loud as it used to be. Infact it's silent, until you put it up to your ear and can hear the fan going. But if it was the HDD, Im guessing Isomething would still come up on the screen.

Something similar happened to my son's acer laptop.Just a black screen on startup. He just went and bought a new one . I installed the Ubuntu operating system in it and it's been working fine since. I did the same with an acer netbook that had similar symptoms and it's working ok too.I don't know much about computers but if you have a disc it might be worth trying to reinstall windows

Dman001

Roman Emperor wrote: »

Dman001 wrote: »

I think it could be the HDD alright. When I turn on the Netbook now it isn't as loud as it used to be. Infact it's silent, until you put it up to your ear and can hear the fan going. But if it was the HDD, Im guessing Isomething would still come up on the screen.

Something similar happened to my son's acer laptop.Just a black screen on startup. He just went and bought a new one . I installed the Ubuntu operating system in it and it's been working fine since. I did the same with an acer netbook that had similar symptoms and it's working ok too.I don't know much about computers but if you have a disc it might be worth trying to reinstall windows

It's hard to do anything though when you have a blank screen. I tried putting it into Safe ;ode and everything but no luck.

I opened it up last night, and there doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong with it. The HDD definitely works anyway,along with thw fan.

Roman Emperor

Do you get a flashing cursor ( - ) in the corner of the screen?

Dman001

Roman Emperor wrote: »

Do you get a flashing cursor ( - ) in the corner of the screen?

Nope, nothing. Totally blank.

Allyall

Have you tried booting without battery?

Have you tried checking the RAM? Try booting with only one stick in, and alternating it, i.e. Swap that stick to other RAM slot and try and boot, then do the same with the other stick.

also try

Install Ubuntu on USB Stick and run checks from there.


EDIT.

What model is it?

Dman001

Allyall wrote: »

Have you tried booting without battery?

Have you tried checking the RAM? Try booting with only one stick in, and alternating it, i.e. Swap that stick to other RAM slot and try and boot, then do the same with the other stick.

also try

Install Ubuntu on USB Stick and run checks from there.


EDIT.

What model is it?

My battery is dead so have been using the Laptop plugged in the last few months. Well it only has one 1Gb stick of RAM, so can't switch it. And don't have any RAM to try to switch it. It's a Samsung NC10. Won't I need to set the laptop to Boot from USB to try Ubuntu on it?

Allyall

Yeah, But as it's a netbook, i'd say it may be already set to boot from USB.

Can you take out the RAM and clean it gently with some alcohol or alcohol lint free wipes. which you can get in Harvey Normans, or PC World etc.. Clean along the Brass coloured teeth at the bottom. Gently, holding the edges of the RAM.

Is the battery removed? Have you tried booting without the battery at all?

DrGreenthumb

if your netbook has a vga d-sub connect a monitor and if that works your screen is busted, if that doesn't work probably the onboard graphics card thats gone

Dman001

Allyall wrote: »

Yeah, But as it's a netbook, i'd say it may be already set to boot from USB.

Can you take out the RAM and clean it gently with some alcohol or alcohol lint free wipes. which you can get in Harvey Normans, or PC World etc.. Clean along the Brass coloured teeth at the bottom. Gently, holding the edges of the RAM.

Is the battery removed? Have you tried booting without the battery at all?

Yep have tried booting with and without the battery inserted. Will try giving the RAM a clean too.

DrGreenThumb I did try connecting it to an external monitor with no luck.

Cheers for all the help and suggestions, much appreciated!

Allyall

This seems to be a big problem with many users..

Just a quick google, comes up with A LOT of people experiencing the same problem with that model. After the initial number 1 result.

One guy says in one result that pressing ALt/Delete at boot, will get it to power up.. (never heard that combo for that before, but if it works....)

Dman001

Allyall wrote: »

This seems to be a big problem with many users..

Just a quick google, comes up with A LOT of people experiencing the same problem with that model. After the initial number 1 result.

One guy says in one result that pressing ALt/Delete at boot, will get it to power up.. (never heard that combo for that before, but if it works....)

Yeah I Googled it before posting here, and found a few suggestions. But nothing that worked. I didn't come across the Alt/Delete suggestion though, so I'll give it a go. Cheers.

Edit: I've just discovered quite a big crack on the battery. As I've said, I use the Laptop plugged in with the battery inserted. Could damage to the battery cause damage to the laptop?

Allyall

It could.. Difficult to say that's what actually caused it though.


Sometimes damaged batteries can force someone to update their BIOS, or the laptop won't boot, so it does sound similar.
Also sometimes, it can prevent the laptop from booting unless the battery is in and there is no power, or Only when there is power, and no battery.

It is a possibility, but judging by the amount of people that have this problem with this model, i'd say it could be something else..


Have you tried pressing F2 at boot? (Tap it once a second while booting) It will allow you to access the hidden BIOS.

After entering the NC10 BIOS page (by tapping F2 at boot) it is possible to unlock further advanced options that are initially hidden from the user. These options appear under a new tab called 'Intel' and include CPU control, MCH control, Video control, ICH control and ACPI control each containing advanced settings that should not be changed without doing research first.

How?
Once inside the bios press (Fn + F11) release the keys then press (Fn + F12). Then make sure that caps lock is disabled. Now scroll accross using an arrow key and the new tab 'Intel' should appear. The hidden bios settings are now visible under this tab. (Be careful!)

Allyall

This seems to be a solution to your problem, and the links that go to sammynetbook, also have links in there for Samsung NC10 FAQ pages..

Situation: Your NC10 has a BIOS level password and you can't get access to the BIOS setup menu or even worse you can't boot into your operating system at all.

[URL="Situation:%20Your%20NC10%20has%20a%20BIOS%20level%20password%20and%20you%20can%27t%20get%20access%20to%20the%20BIOS%20setup%20menu%20or%20even%20worse%20you%20can%27t%20boot%20into%20your%20operating%20system%20at%20all."]Suggested Solution [/URL]

Shorting the reset pins, isn't something new, and is quite easy, still though, be careful. If you follow their instructions, and decide to go ahead with it, you shouldn't have a problem.

Dman001

Yep, believe it or not I just tried it. Came across the solution on the same forum. But still no luck. The laptop sounds much more "Normal" if that make sense. It's less silent now, and back to the way it was. But still nothing on the screen.

Allyall

Are you now without battery? i.e. No battery inserted at all?

And tried the F2 option? Holding down F2 also boots into hidden BIOS.

Allyall

Failing all of these, i'd say your best bet is to go to the "Sammy" forums, This Section in Particular, for your model.

Dman001

Allyall wrote: »

Are you now without battery? i.e. No battery inserted at all?

And tried the F2 option? Holding down F2 also boots into hidden BIOS.

Yep, no battery and tried F2. Tried hooking up to and external monitor too and no luck. Ah, it's like Im so close yet so far Cheers, really appreciate the help!

Allyall

No problem.
Starting to run out of ideas though. Hopefully cleaning the RAM will make a difference.
Have you tried booting from USB yet?

Dman001

Allyall wrote: »

No problem.
Starting to run out of ideas though. Hopefully cleaning the RAM will make a difference.
Have you tried booting from USB yet?

Nope not yet, will give that a go next. I even went as far as taking out the Cell Battery (as suggested on another Forum with a HP Laptop with similar issues) but nothing. I think I've settled on getting a new Laptop, this one is well outdated anyway.

Dman001

Tried running Ubuntu from USB with no luck. I officially give up. Cheers all for the help!

Allyall

No problem. pity it wasn't sorted..