Eve of the Apocalypse: Twilight

OK so my computer crashed today. Well sort of, I think I may have dealt with this issue before, but I can't remember how to solve it entirely.

Basically,the computer turns on a stays there, doesn't even load to windows were my password is, the screen stay black but the lights are on. It's just isn't loading anything.

I was told you can try and take out the battery while it's on with the power cord unplugged. Tried that, didn't work. Too, I guess you can play with the RAM and stuff, tried that too, seemed to fail. Any ideas?

Need some help here.

When you turn it on, does it display anything at all before turning black?

No, but the screen does lighten a little, kinda like it does right before dsiplaying window, then the password promp.

Follow?

It starts out blank and remains so, as far as I can tell, at least.

Is the monitor correctly plugged in?

Err, sorry, forgot to tell you: it's a notebook.

Dark_Nemesis wrote:No, but the screen does lighten a little, kinda like it does right before dsiplaying window, then the password promp.

Follow?

It starts out blank and remains so, as far as I can tell, at least.

And in normal conditions, do you see any text-thingies (BIOS stuff) before it starts booting Windows? Stuff like


If you normally see BIOS doing its work, and you don't see it now, it's a hardware problem, probably related to the motherboard or processor. You can rule out software trouble, Windows being fucked up, hard drive, memory, or (the vast majority of) graphic card trouble.

If you never see BIOS anyway, it can be all kinds of hardware and software related stuff, ranging from a busted motherboard to a virus messing up your Windows installation.

If you get your PC to boot up, back up whatever you have on it.

Hmm, don't recall seeing any BIOs.

Curious though, are there other indications of a broken motherboard? Or any other piece of hardware for that matter?

The only thing that pops up is something about wanting to restart windows normally, which it does on any comp after being shut it down improperly, aka: holding down the power button, etc.

On a side note: I'm never buying another HP again, god those things suck, I've all kinds of trouble with this one....any recommendations for a new comp should I get one? (maybe looking into a new one).

Dark_Nemesis wrote:Hmm, don't recall seeing any BIOs.

Curious though, are there other indications of a broken motherboard? Or any other piece of hardware for that matter?

The only thing that pops up is something about wanting to restart windows normally, which it does on any comp after being shut it down improperly, aka: holding down the power button, etc.

In that case, as I've said, it could be pretty much anything.

As I've said, back up everything you have on that PC, and go to a repair shop. Any more detailed advice you probably shouldn't be taking from strangers on an internet forum (especially one only barely related to computer repair).

Lol, and my dad works for a computer company! Well, internet too.

Guess I'll have to send it over there. Thanks anyway all!

If you're not getting BIOS or post it's a mobo issue. Try unplugging the battery inside the mobo for 10 minutes and put it back in. This will reset it to factory defaults. If that doesn't fix it, you probably have a friend mobo.

Cokemonkey11 wrote:If you're not getting BIOS or post it's a mobo issue. Try unplugging the battery inside the mobo for 10 minutes and put it back in. This will reset it to factory defaults. If that doesn't fix it, you probably have a friend mobo.

He said he doesn't normally have any BIOS visible (if I understood him right). Some laptops are like that.

Mobo?

Dark_Nemesis wrote:Mobo?

Motherboard.

DiscombobuIator wrote:

Cokemonkey11 wrote:If you're not getting BIOS or post it's a mobo issue. Try unplugging the battery inside the mobo for 10 minutes and put it back in. This will reset it to factory defaults. If that doesn't fix it, you probably have a friend mobo.

He said he doesn't normally have any BIOS visible (if I understood him right). Some laptops are like that.

He would still see POST, at minimum.

Does it make any sounds?

No. Not to my knowledge.

Sounds pretty borked if it cant even get some error signal sounds out.

Meh, I dunno. It's had similar issues before. And the tech I talked to at HP said sometimes the juice left in the battery can short charge the comp or something (don't quote me on that). That goes hand in hand with playing around with RAM/battery, I guess it drains the leftover stuff or something.

Hmm, so tried turning it back on and it started up, sort of. Went to a repair computer mode (said recommended) went with it and did nothing. Turned if back off. My just try and start it up normally if it lets me and install AVG. I get the free/newest versions from the (my dad's) companies website

More later, possibly.

I'm gonna try and reformat it (again). Just did like a month ago though, arr, *sigh, oh well...

[edit] Another thing I noticed is that the screen will sometimes go whacky. Like its broken or something, did that when I tried to put the recovery disk in. Kinda flashes and is all pixelated. Just a side note.

reformatting won't change an issue that prevents the comp from POSTing.

I don't know why you'd even be able to.

I'd doubt the battery is gone since they are only really used to power the internal clock and a few select BIOS related things.

If you can't even get a post after reseating your shit and generic dust cleaning/shock pad etc, it's kind of beyond the extent of my knowledge.

Good luck getting it working.

I donno what's going on exactly, I think I may be a virus, in which case reformatting it should shake that, but there is always AVG. If that doesn't work, then there is aways sending it in. We'll see. And thanks for all the feedback, help, and well wishes, keeps me from going insane since I'm kinda attached to my comp and don't have the money for a new one.

99.9999% of viruses cannot affect your bios, which means I don't think it's a virus. I think you fried a component.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too, my dad agrees, so I'm sending it in. Wish me luck that it doesn't cost too much!