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Computer keeps restarting with black screen

Forum Systems : Compaq - Computer keeps restarting with black screen

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Hi everyone

 

I have a laptop that doesn't boot up. The last time I used it was 11 hours ago and I used the hibernate feature to shut down the computer. THe last software I installed is Big Kahuna Reef Game found on Amazon.com and the Amazon.com game download program. Those are found here: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Kahuna-R [...] 820&sr=8-1

 

So I press the power button and these are the symptoms:

 

-black screen, no a single text, letter or image shows up
-No option for entering setup or bios
- keyboard does not show lights, so I can't tell if it responds even after hitting cap locks.
- touchpad mouse has a light but when I push the disable touchpad button it doesnt change to orange as it should. So that's frozen
- I dont hear any beeps or error codes
- It automatically powers off and back on repeatedly every 20-30 seconds

 

Here's my specs:

 

Compaq Presario Laptop F557US model
2 years old
Windows Vista Basic 32Bit SP2
AMD Sempron Processor 1.8 Ghz
2GB DDR ram
Broadcom wireless card that failed 1 month ago (randomly boots back up)
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6100 Video Card
100GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
15.4" WXGA High-Definition Brightview Widescreen (1280 X 800) Display

 

Any other specs may be found here if needed:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] ct=3370444

 

Software:
Avast Antivirus updated daily
Spybot SD updated biweekly
Router Firewall

 

Stuff I tried:
I removed CMOS battery for 1-2 mins.
I removed both ram sticks, Hard drive, wireless card, cmos battery and booted it up.

 

I put the items back but 1 at a time while turning on the laptop before putting the next item.

 

Got any solutions? Also according to the manufacturer site, I have a SATA hard drive. If I cant get the laptop to work, how do I know which enclosure to buy so I can transfer my files to my desktop?


Message edited by distingy on 09-13-2009 at 05:17:49 AM
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You'll need something like this for that hard drive. http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Prod [...] 89&ID=1646

Do you have Vista installation disc? Insert the disc and reboot then run a fix from there. If you don't have one, try pressing F8 before booting up. If you got the screen to select the option the select "Last Known Good Configuration"

If that fail then remove the hard drive and start the computer, if it doesn't start then your hard drive maybe ok but you laptop.

Reply to rexter

Did you also try the memory per stick, first one solo, then the other one solo? Can you get an image on an external monitor? Get the cpu out and have it tested? Warranty?

Reply to Que

DVD drive works but the computer doesn't read the recovery disk. So no change in symptoms.

 


Que wrote :

Did you also try the memory per stick, first one solo, then the other one solo? Can you get an image on an external monitor? Get the cpu out and have it tested? Warranty?

 

Yeah I tried 1 memory at a time. I plugged in another monitor. It didn't work. Normally if connect the external monitor I am required to press Fn and F4 to switch monitors. Unfortunately the keyboard doesn't respond either. I bought an enclosure and accessed my hard drive on my PC. It seems to work fine.

 

I'm having a lot of trouble getting access to the CPU. The case seems to be tightly mounted onto the entire motherboard. I'm trying to find screws or hinges that can let me remove the frame but somewhere its hanging on tightly.

 

Out of warranty 1 year ago. I sent it in 1 year ago right before warranty was over for a motherboard issue and I'm not sure what they did to fix it last time. The symptoms were different before. My USB didnt work last time.


Message edited by distingy on 09-25-2009 at 02:16:09 AM
Reply to distingy

You just have to remove the bottom plastic part that covers the ventilators (including the small memory cover, and the heatsink with the 4 spring-screws. Then it's a lever to release an AMD cpu. or a screw for an Intel processor. I hope it is the cpu (or still both memory sticks), but I'm afraid it may be gpu/gpu-memory since there is no life on an external screen.

Reply to Que
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Compaq > Computer keeps restarting with black screen
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