Laptop just dies.

APoc184

APoc184

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So I have this laptop that needed a new HDD. Got the HDD today, popped it in and started it with the XP disc inserted so I can install it again.

Everything went well ---> Started the setup ---> Loaded all setup files/drivers ---> Partitioned the drive ---> Copying setup files ---> When it reached about 50% of files copied it just died/switched off completely.

I found that very weird and restarted it and entered setup again. Now every time it enter setup it does the same. Just dies at different intervals now. Sometimes it last longer than other times.
Tried formatting the whole drive but it dies again. Sometimes before even starting formatting and other times between 1% and 3%

What can be wrong? How can I fix this?

Thanks
 
I have this just the other day-the fix secret is first try to install a xp thats clean..No service packs must be present.if that dont work try to install vista also clean.now to test you could try to install ubuntu.
 
It could be that you may have bent one of the pins on the hdd, I would check that and other hardware that may be loose..

My laptop switches of now and again, the charger acts up sometimes (battery cells are dead) check the charger as well..
 
remove the battery and run the laptop on mains while u install
 
Darshur said:
It could be that you may have bent one of the pins on the hdd, I would check that and other hardware that may be loose..

My laptop switches of now and again, the charger acts up sometimes (battery cells are dead) check the charger as well..
Click to expand...

I made sure not to force anything when inserting the HDD, so I am sure it cant be that.
I am using the charger of my new HP, but I will check the battery. Thanks

JUGGY said:
Maybe the old drive didn't die and it was actually the motherboard.
Click to expand...

I had it at a repair shop and they confirmed it was only the HDD that needs repairing and everything else is fine. I've been waiting all this time for that caddy connector that the repair shop lost. (remember I asked you about it:))

Lord Fubar said:
remove the battery and run the laptop on mains while u install
Click to expand...

I will test it like that tonight. Thanks
 
APoc84 said:
I had it at a repair shop and they confirmed it was only the HDD that needs repairing and everything else is fine. I've been waiting all this time for that caddy connector that the repair shop lost. (remember I asked you about it:))
Click to expand...

I do remember, sorry was late last night;)

Lets hope they were right, they buggered your laptop up by losing the caddy so I wouldn't take it for granted that they knew what they were talking about.
 
JUGGY said:
I do remember, sorry was late last night;)

Lets hope they were right, they buggered your laptop up by losing the caddy so I wouldn't take it for granted that they knew what they were talking about.
Click to expand...

I forgive you.... :p

Any DIY way to test the MoBo myself?

If I take one of my other Laptop HDD's with Vista already installed and put it in this laptop. Will it boot correctly?
Forgive me if this is a stupid question and if I should have known it is impossible. :o
 
APoc84 said:
I forgive you.... :p

Any DIY way to test the MoBo myself?

If I take one of my other Laptop HDD's with Vista already installed and put it in this laptop. Will it boot correctly?
Forgive me if this is a stupid question and if I should have known it is impossible. :o
Click to expand...

As long as the interfaces are the same it will work. Also, Vista is hardware independant unlike XP and will boot when stuck in any machine regardless of chipset.

Last time I had a machine constantly reboot in the middle of an install it was a Gigabyte 939 motherboard. Landed up getting it replaced by Rectron.
 
What make laptop is it? I remember having an Acer some time ago, and it ended up being the mobo that causes these intermittent shutdowns.

I hope there is a more simple=cheaper explanation for your problem.
 
ponder said:
Microscope PC Diagnostics test suite does a good job.
Click to expand...

What about asking the HP Support Centre in Johannesburg to check & test it for you, I am sure they would do that for a nominal fee (an hour's labour?) and at least you can then make an informed decision on the economics of repairing it or binning it.

AFAIK the cost of replacing a mobo on a notebook is quite pricey and often not worth the cost compared to purchasing a new notebook.
 
Sorry to bump this but I left it in the box for a while.

Is it possible that this happens because the Motherboard does not support the HDD I bought?
I have read that some laptops can only handle HDD's up to certain sizes and that anything bigger or faster will not work.
It always had a 40Gb HDD in and I bought a 160Gb HDD with the same speed 5400rpm. Can this be the cause? But surely then it wont even access the HDD and copy the files for setup.
 
APoc84 said:
Is it possible that this happens because the Motherboard does not support the HDD I bought?
I have read that some laptops can only handle HDD's up to certain sizes and that anything bigger or faster will not work.
It always had a 40Gb HDD in and I bought a 160Gb HDD with the same speed 5400rpm. Can this be the cause? But surely then it wont even access the HDD and copy the files for setup.
Click to expand...

I doubt it. Anyone else?
 
Have to agree. The notebook probably wouldn't even detect the hard drive. Tried installing to a flash or external?
 
sn3rd said:
Have to agree. The notebook probably wouldn't even detect the hard drive. Tried installing to a flash or external?
Click to expand...

Can I insert a flash drive into the USB and try to install onto that?
:confused: Im cluelesswhen it comes to anything other than a standard format and install. But getting there, slowly but surely.
 
APoc84 said:
Can I insert a flash drive into the USB and try to install onto that?
:confused: Im cluelesswhen it comes to anything other than a standard format and install. But getting there, slowly but surely.
Click to expand...

Should be able to, yes. Provided the flash is inserted at boot, when it gets to the point of the install where it asks you where you'd like to install, the flash should be an option.

Just remember to back up the contents of the flash beforehand.
 
rudirautenbach said:
I doubt it. Anyone else?
Click to expand...

Same here.

HD size was only a issue many years ago with BIOS chips of the time. If your computer recognises a 40GB then it will recognise bigger drives.

Your problem is not indicative of a HD issue.

You could always try installing Linux to see what that does.

Someone else metioned using a XP install without any service packs. If that worked for them it might work for you.
 
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