Problem with system. Need help! (Sorta urgent)

Kristoph

Kristoph

Kristoph

Soldato
Joined
11 May 2007
Posts
8,303
Hey,

Feel free to move this to the laptop section but it was kinda urgent as I've got to use the laptop to do work on v.soon! Thought I'd get a quicker reply here.

I was using it earlier today, (it tends to overheat a lot) and was on the forums, I noticed some peoples sigs had become pixelated / lines were visible etc. It all then froze.

I restarted it, and nothing appeared on the screen.

Gave it 10mins - started it up and the screen didnt load again, but I got 3 beeps through my speakers.

Left it for an hour, started it - worked fine. I then decided maybe the fans were clogged up with dust. Opened it all up, no dust, closed it and started it again. Get a black screen again....

I've just started it up after leaving it for another hour or so and its done a few CHKDSK scans, and so far it seems stable.



Any ideas what the problem may be? My brother suggested the integrated graphics chip might have been overheating. I've never experienced that problem before though - and it's gotten much hotter!
 
How old is it, what model is it?

If it breaks completely you might be able to get it replaced if its still under warranty. Might be worth backing up any important data when its working.
 
It's fairly old, I'd say 3 maybe 4 years old. It's a mesh, its only being used for browsing/doing my uni work.

I'll start backing things up now.

It did it again last night, was only on for about 20mins.
 
Its finally died, the text on the start up screen comes up with some weird symbols, smiley faces, triangles...


Is it possible to hook the HDD up to a PC to recover music / photos that I didn't back up? They aren't really essential but if I can recover them I'd like to.
 
Is it IDE or SATA? if it's IDE you'll need a 2.5 to 3.5 IN IDE adaptor or you can buy a 2.5 in notebook HDD enclosure/caddy and use it over USB/SATA/Firewire
 
Ethics is right there, it isn't hard to do and not particularly expensive either. Going by the age of the laptop I'd be fairly certain it is IDE so either an adapter or a caddy - I'd probably go with the caddy if the drive is a decentish size so you can use it for backups of your important documents.
 
Going to back it up now! Whilst its revived.

I got home, turned it on - got a black screen... its dead cold..

Gave it a little open/close and a sharp hit against the desk, turned it on and the display is working again.

Odd this. I'll back it up and start looking at a new laptop! If it dies before I get to back it up I'll do what Ethics said.

Cheers.
 
sounds like a motherboard problem, i had something similar on my last laptop (Acer)

good luck getting all your data off it :)
 
Found a laptop repair shop just at the end of my road, "Free quotes, no fix no fee." - Might give them a challenge, I've not got a lot to lose.
 
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