Laptop Issue

bbwannabe · 01-05-2005, 14:44

While doing some work my laptop frooze on me, making a whirring sound and vibrating. Couldnt call up the task manager to see if it was a program using a lot of the cpu/memory.

When i turn the computer on it beeps like normal, but after a while it freezes up again and I can't do any other operations on it, it completely locks up. I feel its an issue with the hard drive as the hard drive icon flashes up and remains on, can't even do the scandisk as it locks up when doing it.

Any suggestions on what i can do to fix this? or does it seem my hard drive is done for? If its done for, can i retrieve all my files on it as i have assignments due in in just over a weeks time... also appreciate any recommended laptop HD brands and online places I can buy from.

EDIT: oh and is hard drive replacing relatively easy?

01-05-2005, 14:59

Can't say if its the hard drive or not,can you access bios and see what the temps are?Its impossible to say if yoru data can be recovered until you know for sure the extent of the problem
Does the laptop get into windows or freezes up before?If its getting into windows and freezing up intermitantly it could well be a temperature issue
If it is and its not dying\dead fans something like this may help
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=115162

Changing the hdd on a laptop should not be to difficult its just a matter of finding it

It may be simple and be on the side ,a draw will pull out and hard drive is there,ive also known then to be under cd rom,its just a matter of looking
loads of laptop hdds here
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...&subcat_uid=19

Halcyon · 01-05-2005, 15:04

Also check whether the laptop fans are working as it could be overhearting and causing it to crash if the fans have died.

Graham M · 01-05-2005, 15:06

Can u hear a "ticking" from where the hard drive seems to be situated, I had a very similar problem with my laptop (probably due to me dropping it) replaced the HDD and all was sweet again.

Paul K · 01-05-2005, 15:10

What laptop is it bbwannabe? Mine's got a removable hard drive so I'm wondering if yours has too.

Graham M · 01-05-2005, 15:12

Most do. I bought my replacement from www.scan.co.uk quite cheap too.

01-05-2005, 15:13

I got hold of a time laptop and had to go on a right hunt the find the hdd,then on a medion it was just in a clip off draw on the side

bbwannabe · 01-05-2005, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Can't say if its the hard drive or not,can you access bios and see what the temps are?Its impossible to say if yoru data can be recovered until you know for sure the extent of the problem
Does the laptop get into windows or freezes up before?If its getting into windows and freezing up intermitantly it could well be a temperature issue
If it is and its not dying\dead fans something like this may help

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...&subcat_uid=19

Changing the hdd on a laptop should not be to difficult its just a matter of finding it

It may be simple and be on the side ,a draw will pull out and hard drive is there,ive also known then to be under cd rom,its just a matter of looking
loads of laptop hdds here
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...&subcat_uid=19

Ive tried to access the bios (by pressing a bunch of buttons - i cant rmember which one it takes to access on mine). But it locked up before i could access it.. Sometimes i can get to windows other times i can't. When my computer locks up i need to leave it for a while before trying again, otherwise it will lock it right away.

I've uploaded an image of my HD (which i think it is).

Graham M · 01-05-2005, 15:30

LoL. Your laptop takes full sized DIMMs? Thats very rare. Yeah those HDDs are really easy to replace, its just a case of swapping over and reinstalling the O/S.

bbwannabe · 01-05-2005, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Also check whether the laptop fans are working as it could be overhearting and causing it to crash if the fans have died.

i can still hear the fan.. me thinks... gonna go check.

Yep fan still seems to be alive.

Check bios as well and theres no heat info, just an option to choose which drive to boot from..
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Can u hear a "ticking" from where the hard drive seems to be situated, I had a very similar problem with my laptop (probably due to me dropping it) replaced the HDD and all was sweet again.

yep a tick, and then a whiirrrr, like revving a car and constant ticking afterwards. (WHY NOW!!!!... :'( )

Graham M · 01-05-2005, 15:34

Mine did it all of a sudden as well, i hadnt done anything to aggrievate it. Mine was like a week before i was meant to be taking it to a LAN so i took a chance on replacing the HDD and thankfully that was it!

bbwannabe · 01-05-2005, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

What laptop is it bbwannabe? Mine's got a removable hard drive so I'm wondering if yours has too.

mines a gericom.. unfortunately its not a removable drive as in you can pull it out without taking any covers off..
Its still under warranty but the support sucks, and will likely take longer to repair than the time i have.
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Mine did it all of a sudden as well, i hadnt done anything to aggrievate it. Mine was like a week before i was meant to be taking it to a LAN so i took a chance on replacing the HDD and thankfully that was it!

mine was sudden as well, i hadnt turned my laptop off for days, and even had it running fine for during the night and most of this morning and afternoon.. then it just locked out on me.. So do ya think its the HD at fault?

Full sized DIMMS? that good thing or a bad things ?

Do you reckon i can get my stuff off the faulty drive? or should i bury it now.

Any idea what that plastic strip on the top of the HD is there for?

01-05-2005, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbwannabe

Sometimes i can get to windows other times i can't. When my computer locks up i need to leave it for a while before trying again, otherwise it will lock it right away.

This sounds like it could be temps to me,leaving it a while so it cools maybe???

Still no sure evidence that the hdd is dead yet,check your temps. download home version of everest this will give you temps http://www.lavalys.com/

Graham M · 01-05-2005, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbwannabe

mines a gericom.. unfortunately its not a removable drive as in you can pull it out without taking any covers off..
Its still under warranty but the support sucks, and will likely take longer to repair than the time i have.
__________________

mine was sudden as well, i hadnt turned my laptop off for days, and even had it running fine for during the night and most of this morning and afternoon.. then it just locked out on me.. So do ya think its the HD at fault?

Full sized DIMMS? that good thing or a bad things ?

Do you reckon i can get my stuff off the faulty drive? or should i bury it now.

Any idea what that plastic strip on the top of the HD is there for?

Just odd/rare for a laptop to have full size PC memory.

The Strip on top of the drive is probably there to make it obvious if it has been tampered with, IE if its broken they wont fix it under warranty.

bbwannabe · 01-05-2005, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

This sounds like it could be temps to me,leaving it a while so it cools maybe???

Still no sure evidence that the hdd is dead yet,check your temps. download home version of everest this will give you temps http://www.lavalys.com/

i'll give it a shot. But chances are it'll freeze before i get the chance to find out or install it.