windows won't start and can't reinstall

JamesUK · 29 Aug 2011 at 19:02

I am writing this on my phone so will try and keep it short and simple, the other day my laptop had froze when I woke up and had to turn it off, when I turned it back on windows would not start and kept freezing just after the windows logo screen, it does this even when in safe mode, so can't get in there either, my laptop seemed fine when I went to bed. I have tried pressing f8 and going to repair from the recovery image but this also freezes before it starts, I have put the Dell windows 7 disc in and tried reinstalling that was and it gets a little further to where it asks what language I want and freezes shortly after that.

I am thinking I need to take it to a repair store as its 2 months past its warranty, does anyone have any ideas please?

James

ShakenNstirred · 29 Aug 2011 at 19:54

its suffered a hardware failure of some kind
can you get into the bios and is it still locking up while in there?

JamesUK · 29 Aug 2011 at 19:57

Yes I can get into the bios fine and it doesn't lock there at all, it does seem to see the hard drive in there

Philtor · 29 Aug 2011 at 20:19

Sounds like it may be related to your HDD. I would grab the relevant diagnostic software for your drive and run it. You will get it from the Manufacturers website.

BigBoy · 29 Aug 2011 at 21:44

either the hard drive or RAM failure I would say.

Also I would be checking your CPU temps.

JamesUK · 29 Aug 2011 at 23:26

Thanks for the advice guys

JamesUK · 30 Aug 2011 at 10:53

I am going to put it into a repair shop later, im hoping it wont cost too much

Donkeyfumbler · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:47

Might have been cheaper buying a new hard drive and reinstalling on that, as it does seem more likely to be a HD issue. Would be cheaper than a repair and if it isn't the HD causing the problem, you get a new HD out of it (maybe an SSD if you can afford it) and can wack the other into a caddy and use as an external drive.

You should be able to rule out RAM too as I presume it has two sticks so you could try running with just one for a while and seeing whether you still have the problem.

It it's not either of those, then it's either mobo or CPU - expensive stuff to repair on a laptop.

JamesUK · 30 Aug 2011 at 15:46

The place i took it to have phoned me before saying they have found it to be the hard drive and a new 500gb 7200rpm hard drive will be £60 plus £15 for installation.

I asked if they could reinstall windows 7 but they said they charge £40 for that, i do have the dell windows installation disc so said i would just do that myself.

Nevram · 30 Aug 2011 at 18:57

could have saved yourself about £30 if you just put the hdd it in yourself

JamesUK · 3 Sep 2011 at 13:30

i now have mylaptop back and have reinstalled windows on it myself. they said it was the hdd and they have replaced it with a 500gb Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500420AS HDD.