ERR1ERR3 start-up issues pavilion dv4

treosforever

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Sep 15, 2011
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Working on my friend's laptop, pavilion dv4, it's having start-up issues. The laptop powers on and won't load the OS (vista). It shows the message 'Err1Err3' and nothing happens from there. I tried running diagnostics with the vista recovery disk but after loading the cd, i only got the windows loading bar and than a blank black screen that never changes. Can't run any tests. Could this be a motherboard problem? HDD? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
When you say "never", how long did you give it before deciding nothing was going to change? I ask only because Vista is sluggish at the best of times but particularly slow in these restart circumstances. Give it another go and leave it for a cup of coffee and a game of golf - you may see some results.
 

treosforever

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Sep 15, 2011
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thanks for the reply, I say never because after running the recovery disk I got the blank screen and it remained there for at-least 5 hours, I went to work while I let it run. still no results
 
You can run a Live CD of a Linux operating system to test the hardware, or even from a flash drive. Google for Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux for the versions small enough to put on a stick or download PCLinuxOS from the dotcom siite of the same name and burn it to a CD using ImgBurn or similar. Your local news shop may have a magazine with a Live CD on the cover. If it works you may find it so easy to use, you'll never buy another Windows system again.