Laptop won't boot

ukthunderace · 04-19-2009, 03:11 AM

Hi all...looking for some help.
I have a laptop that just won't make it past the "do you want to start in Safe Mode" screen. No matter what I choose, it seems like the computer just restarts itself...not that it completely powers down...just goes right back to the first screen you see when you power up (where you can select BIOS).

So I selected BIOS and did a hard drive test and it said it failed. There is a lot of info I would like to get off that hard drive, but don't know how to go about it. I have a feeling that the boot sector may just be hosed and I still may be able to get the info off if I get a usb hard drive sleeve and hook it up to another computer.

I am not very computer savvy...just wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

Thanks.

Mega Man · 04-19-2009, 03:17 PM

What kind of laptop? My friend had this problem; after doing some searching on the internet, it seems that he updated a driver he shouldn't have causing the main board to not recognize the HD.

In the mean time, if it is a matter of your BIOS not recognizing your HD, start your BIOS, make sure your boot order doesn't load any external drive first; that is make sure it loads your HD first (if it can't find the HD, this may take some fiddling around with and luck: explain more if this is your case), and then your secondary drives (or don't load them at all if they're causing the hang up).

More information from you will help, but we will get through this, together!

frahuang · 04-19-2009, 03:21 PM

Try booting from CD drive with xp startup disk or Linux or something. If that works then it's probably your hd. Yeah in that case you need to put that hd into a usb enclosure and try to get files off it. Good luck.

Mega Man · 04-19-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahuang

Try booting from CD drive with xp startup disk or Linux or something. If that works then it's probably your hd. .

Not necessarily, it's not always the OS. It sounds like it won't even get into his OS, so it's probably a BIOS config error.

frahuang · 04-19-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mega Man

Not necessarily, it's not always the OS. It sounds like it won't even get into his OS, so it's probably a BIOS config error.

Not necessarily, not able to get into OS can mean defective hd or even memory. I like how you jump to conclusion on this one without additional information from the original poster.

Mega Man · 04-19-2009, 11:05 PM

Alright, Taiwan, whatever you say.

radix · 04-20-2009, 01:37 AM

One option:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...53&postcount=5

frahuang · 04-20-2009, 01:40 PM

Heinzftw · 04-20-2009, 03:50 PM

A stick of RAM might be bad. Try that.

ukthunderace · 04-20-2009, 03:55 PM

Well, it appears that something was wrong with the hard drive. I used the OS disk to get to a DOS prompt and ran a chkdsk /r...that took forever...then restarted in safe mode and restored to a checkpoint earlier in the month.
Crazy enough, it worked. The relabled file folders were all Live Update stuff. I had noticed the day of the crash that LUProxy and some other LU processes were really slowing my computer down. Wonder if that's what did it?
Thanks for the responses...dunno why I didn't think of booting from the CD in the first place!
Thanks again!

frahuang · 04-20-2009, 04:06 PM

Great, this is good news. Now backup your important files, just in case...

Mega Man · 04-20-2009, 09:30 PM

Glad you got your PC up and running again! Check on all the other stuff while it's up, it's not good to rely on a CD to boot.

Also, as already mentioned by frahuang, make sure to back up your important stuff.

ukthunderace · 04-21-2009, 01:18 PM

Yeah...Norton 360 keeps reminding me....gettig that set up to my external HD tonight in fact.
Thanks again for the help gents!

cheers

04-19-2009, 03:11 AM	#1
ukthunderace Autobahn Cruiser 25 Rep 272 Posts Drives: '07 335i Tief Gruen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hockenheim Germany iTrader: (0)	Laptop won't boot Hi all...looking for some help. I have a laptop that just won't make it past the "do you want to start in Safe Mode" screen. No matter what I choose, it seems like the computer just restarts itself...not that it completely powers down...just goes right back to the first screen you see when you power up (where you can select BIOS). So I selected BIOS and did a hard drive test and it said it failed. There is a lot of info I would like to get off that hard drive, but don't know how to go about it. I have a feeling that the boot sector may just be hosed and I still may be able to get the info off if I get a usb hard drive sleeve and hook it up to another computer. I am not very computer savvy...just wondering if anyone has any suggestions? Thanks.
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04-19-2009, 03:17 PM	#2
Mega Man エアーマンが倒せない 292 Rep 2,037 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	What kind of laptop? My friend had this problem; after doing some searching on the internet, it seems that he updated a driver he shouldn't have causing the main board to not recognize the HD. In the mean time, if it is a matter of your BIOS not recognizing your HD, start your BIOS, make sure your boot order doesn't load any external drive first; that is make sure it loads your HD first (if it can't find the HD, this may take some fiddling around with and luck: explain more if this is your case), and then your secondary drives (or don't load them at all if they're causing the hang up). More information from you will help, but we will get through this, together! __________________ 1ADDICT \| Black Shadowline Grills \| KW V2 \| CP-E Tow-Hook Plate \| CP-E Catback Exhaust \| Tow-Hook \| Evolution Racewerks Intercooler \| ER Charge Pipe \| HKS SQV IV \| ER Intercooler Shroud \| BMS Oil Catch Can \| COBB Access Port \| APEX ARC-8 \| EAS OE Performance Brake Upgrade \| SLeK Carbon Fiber Hood \|
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04-19-2009, 03:21 PM	#3
frahuang First Lieutenant 7 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 08 328i e90 Blk/Blk 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Irvine, CA, USA iTrader: (14)	Try booting from CD drive with xp startup disk or Linux or something. If that works then it's probably your hd. Yeah in that case you need to put that hd into a usb enclosure and try to get files off it. Good luck. __________________ 08 328i e90 Black/Black 6MT, BMS POWER BOX, Eibach Pro System, Blacklines, M3 Spoiler, 197 BBS Wheels, Xenon and Homelink
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04-19-2009, 11:05 PM	#6
Mega Man エアーマンが倒せない 292 Rep 2,037 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	Alright, Taiwan, whatever you say. __________________ 1ADDICT \| Black Shadowline Grills \| KW V2 \| CP-E Tow-Hook Plate \| CP-E Catback Exhaust \| Tow-Hook \| Evolution Racewerks Intercooler \| ER Charge Pipe \| HKS SQV IV \| ER Intercooler Shroud \| BMS Oil Catch Can \| COBB Access Port \| APEX ARC-8 \| EAS OE Performance Brake Upgrade \| SLeK Carbon Fiber Hood \|
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04-20-2009, 01:37 AM	#7
radix you know he kills little girls like you 398 Rep 892 Posts Drives: - Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: - iTrader: (0)	One option: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...53&postcount=5
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04-20-2009, 01:40 PM	#8
frahuang First Lieutenant 7 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 08 328i e90 Blk/Blk 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Irvine, CA, USA iTrader: (14)	__________________ 08 328i e90 Black/Black 6MT, BMS POWER BOX, Eibach Pro System, Blacklines, M3 Spoiler, 197 BBS Wheels, Xenon and Homelink
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04-20-2009, 03:55 PM	#10
ukthunderace Autobahn Cruiser 25 Rep 272 Posts Drives: '07 335i Tief Gruen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hockenheim Germany iTrader: (0)	Well, it appears that something was wrong with the hard drive. I used the OS disk to get to a DOS prompt and ran a chkdsk /r...that took forever...then restarted in safe mode and restored to a checkpoint earlier in the month. Crazy enough, it worked. The relabled file folders were all Live Update stuff. I had noticed the day of the crash that LUProxy and some other LU processes were really slowing my computer down. Wonder if that's what did it? Thanks for the responses...dunno why I didn't think of booting from the CD in the first place! Thanks again!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-20-2009, 04:06 PM	#11
frahuang First Lieutenant 7 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 08 328i e90 Blk/Blk 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Irvine, CA, USA iTrader: (14)	Great, this is good news. Now backup your important files, just in case... __________________ 08 328i e90 Black/Black 6MT, BMS POWER BOX, Eibach Pro System, Blacklines, M3 Spoiler, 197 BBS Wheels, Xenon and Homelink
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-20-2009, 09:30 PM	#12
Mega Man エアーマンが倒せない 292 Rep 2,037 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	Glad you got your PC up and running again! Check on all the other stuff while it's up, it's not good to rely on a CD to boot. Also, as already mentioned by frahuang, make sure to back up your important stuff. __________________ 1ADDICT \| Black Shadowline Grills \| KW V2 \| CP-E Tow-Hook Plate \| CP-E Catback Exhaust \| Tow-Hook \| Evolution Racewerks Intercooler \| ER Charge Pipe \| HKS SQV IV \| ER Intercooler Shroud \| BMS Oil Catch Can \| COBB Access Port \| APEX ARC-8 \| EAS OE Performance Brake Upgrade \| SLeK Carbon Fiber Hood \|
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04-21-2009, 01:18 PM	#13
ukthunderace Autobahn Cruiser 25 Rep 272 Posts Drives: '07 335i Tief Gruen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hockenheim Germany iTrader: (0)	Yeah...Norton 360 keeps reminding me....gettig that set up to my external HD tonight in fact. Thanks again for the help gents! cheers
	Appreciate 0 Quote