My laptop fell over and will not boot now
My daughter has an Acer Aspire 3100 which fell over a couple of weeks ago. It sounded just like an HDD failure to me so I bought a replacement drive and fitted it. I then tried to restore the system using the restore disk that I had created when originally setting it up for her. Everything seemed to go fine until it got to a point where the message at the bottom of the screen said it was loading Windows – when it hung – no activity at all. I immediately assumed it was a problem with the boot disk and tried a Window upgrade disc – similar result, I scrounged a Dell XP system disc from work – no go. Then I popped the old HDD into a remote enclosure to see if it worked – and it did, nothing wrong with it – so it wasn’t the HDD… My local laptop shop had a look and said – it’s the motherboard or the video card (but the Acer splash screen appears when you try to boot it). So, as a last thing to try I set the BIOS to boot from a USB HDD and connected the original hard drive, in its new remote housing, and the thing immediately booted not to Windows but to DOS! It says Windows 98 but it comes up with the C prompt. It says there is only one file on the disc… So I am utterly confused! Can I save this machine?
Here something you can try in order to narrow down the problem.
1. Try reconnecting the memory module. If you have two modules, reseat both of them. This problem may occur because of loose connection between RAM module and motherboard.
Download Memtest86+ and burn it on a CD. Run this utility to test laptop RAM. Make sure it passes test. If you have two modules installed in your laptop, remove them one by one and test the laptop with each module separately. It’s possible that one of the memory slots on the motherboards was damaged when she dropped the laptop. In that is the case, you still can use the laptop with one good memory slot.
2. Download Knoppix (live Linux) and burn it on a CD. Try booting the laptop from this Knoppix CD while the hard drive is removed from the laptop. If you still cannot boot to the desktop (similar to Windows desktop) even with the hard drive removed, most likely this problem is not related to the hard drive and something else is going on.
3. I don’t know if you feel comfortable opening up the laptop. If you do, you can try reseating internal components (wireless card, DVD drive, video card, CPU, cable connections, etc…) just to make sure it’s not connection related issue.
4. If the video card in your laptop is a separate module, try reseating the video card. Make sure it’s making good connection with the motherboard.
Do you need spare parts for your laptop? Search here by the laptop model and part description.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 am
Many thanks for the help – interesting results after trying as much as I dared! Reseating the memory chips and what I assume to be the video card – the only card I could see – made no difference. Memtest86 wouldn’t run, I put it on a usb stick and told the Bios to boot first from that but no joy – I just got a message saying failed and check cable – but I got that if I left the USB stick out too (no HDD fitted at all). When I try to boot the Acer splash comes up, followed by the Windows splash and the animated blue bar plus evidence of HDD activity and then it just stops….
April 21st, 2008 at 2:34 am
Had EXACLY the same problem on a Tosh Sat Pro. Boots from a boot floppy ok but the Restore disk loads the files for W98 ok then halts on the W98 splash when it retarts. Checked with MS MemTest on CDROM and it fails every test. Have only got onboard memory so it looks like its bricked.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
my laptop fell over its still has power but the screen is black and you can bearly is the picture
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Alex,
If you still can see the picture on the screen then your problem could be related to:
1. Loose connection between the video cable and the inverter board. In this situation reseating connectors on both end of the inverter board can fix the problem.
2. Bad inverter board. It’s unlikely bad possible. I doubt that you can damage the inverter board if you drop the laptop, but I had to mention that. In this situation you’ll have to replace the inverter board.
3. The backlight lamp has been damaged. In this situation you’ll have to replace the whole LCD screen because the backlight is located inside the screen. It is possible to disassemble the LCD and replace just the backlight lamp but it’s not easy. You’ll find instructions in this guide.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Our Dell Inspiron 1720 was dropped about 2 feet onto a tile floor and now it will boot up but once comes to the desktop we cannot open any programs. I’m reluctant to crack it open without knowing what exactly what I am doing since I am not familiar with laptops
December 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
My Sony VAIO which was working fine has stopped working after my young nephew shook the laptop violently.
The laptop starts normally — shows the VAIO spalsh screen — then displays several modes for restarting (Safe Mode, Safe Mode with DOS, Safe Mode with Networking, Last Known Configuration, and Normal) — clicking on any of these modes will then show the Windows splash screen — then the laptop will restart again! It’s a continuous cycle. I hope this is not a hard disk issue as I have very important documents saved in my hard disk! Please advise!!!
December 21st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
latheef,
Try reconnecting the hard drive, maybe it’s not making good connection with the motherboard. Disconnect the hard drive and then connect it back in place. Test the laptop again.
If the hard drive is OK you can recover your files using an external USB enclosure.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I have a Toshiba Satellite. I fell on the laptop while it was closed, and now it won’t even come back on. Can I get a little help as to what might be the problem?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
My Thinkpad laptop suddenly had an error saying “NTLDR is missing” , it’s been a couple of months now that i wasnt able to use my laptop, im just using my one super slow laptop, maybe you can help me fix the problem?
June 5th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
My Compaq 8510w laptop fell down. It was on at that time. Now its not working. The power LED keeps blinking. What is wrong? Please replyyyyy…
June 6th, 2009 at 8:58 am
shweta,
It’s hard to tell. Try reconnecting memory modules.
Will it blink if you start the laptop without hard drive, DVD drive, memory modules installed?
How to disassemble HP Compaq 8510p notebook PC
July 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
Our Dell Inspiron 1526 was dropped on a hardwood floor and then wouldn’t pass the startup repair boot on the next boot up. I’ve tried restoring it to factory settings and reinstalled Vista and it works fine at that time, but after powering down it goes back to startup repair boot and says there is an error (code = 0×17) in the OS loader, but it could not be repaired. The computer then just turns itself off. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
July 21st, 2009 at 9:32 am
Paul,
First of all, try reconnecting memory modules and hard drive. Maybe memory or hard drive not making good connecting with the motherboard. After you reconnect the hard drive try running the restore again.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Well i have a dell precision m60 laptop, and unfortunately i dropped it. However that was almost a month ago, and a few days ago i realized that the battery lights, the external sound controls (to adjust the volume up and down and mute it with buttons), and even the power button don’t work. All of these buttons and indicator lights are in the same general area, so i’m wondering if the motherboard was damaged or if a connection may have been shaken loose. I am an IT student studing studying cisco and A+ certifications, however obviously im not that far along. I just need some input on where i should start to solve this problem, and maybe i can take care of it myself. I am writing this post on said computer. I guess my main concern is, if i shut this computer down to open it up, will i be able to restart it if the power button doesn’t currently work? Thanxs in advance for any help
November 12th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
My dog nocked my Dell Latitude D600 off the table
when it was on now I can not get any power to start
it how can I get it to work. Thanks for you time.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Tony,
Is it completely dead or the laptop starts but nothing appears on the screen?
Check memory modules. It’s possible that one (or both) memory modules got dislocated. Try reconnecting memory.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
my d600 dell gives 4 seconds power and then shuts off . no screen at all..
i took the whole lap apart and i have three part on my table
motherboard + mem + cpu
switchboard
adapter
i turn it on , nothing ,the cpu or the videochip doesn’t get warm and the green light remain appr. 4 seconds..
then he shuts down..
what can i do , where do i have to look?
cause i reheated a lot of pins by now on the board
maybe a power issue?
can somebody give a tip ?
like the c640 u45 chip?
thanx thanx thanx