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BIOS or Video?

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by a former member

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Had an HP laptop brought in that was freezing when it became hot. I suspected the heat pipes needed to be reset. When I removed the heat pipes it was as I expected, they needed to be reset with new heat sink compound.

After reassembling the NB and booting it would BSOD and shutdown. I attempted to boot into Knoppix, failed boot (lockup). So I booted to Hiren's boot CD without a problem. I ran tests on the bios and the video with no problem showing. So, heartend, I booted with Winternals ERD and read the system logs. I found a repeated 102 error (video). I have to question this because I found that if you interrupt the boot, or if the boot fails, you have to do a full power reset (unplug, remove battery, and hold power button down 30 seconds) or else the keyboard will not respond.

The computer also fails to boot into safe mode. So, I got out the install CD with the intent of an inplace restore. The CD locks up. In safemode the computer locks up when MUP loads.

I am at a loss as to whether this is a video or BIOS or other issue.

What do you think?

10 replies

by Former member

Clarifications

by mjd420nova

THis really sounds like a strange but true moment. Try replacing the CMOS battery and check to be sure it has a tight contact. I've run across more and more strange troubles that defy troubleshooting and it usually occurs when that battery gets low. After a period of being powered up it just looses power and won't allow a reboot until it rejuventes a bit and then flakes out again. Good luck

by Former member

in the morning. If I recall correctly a CR2032 should read about 1.3 volts when good and below 1.27 when depleted.

by rob miners

condition is the RAM in. Try reseating and removing a stick at a time. Or try with known good RAM.

by Former member

T disassemble the NB you have to remove one stick of ram - the other is mounted inside. The outside Ram had been reseated several times. Did not think about the inside ram as it had never been removed. Will check in the morning.

Did run a brief mem test, indicated no errors, will also test with known good ram.

by Former member

the way the day worked out, I was unable to check the idea's given here. However the entire story came out; the user used the NB on a bed with blankets covering the vents.

Will have to try in the morning.

by Former member

Problem has deteriorated; now I cant boot ERD, it hangs during the graphics probe.

by rob miners

must have finally failed. Those errors must have been the indicator. It may have taken something else out with it.

by Former member

yet something I can not identify is niggling at me in the back of my mind.

by rob miners

and walk away. Start on something else because as soon as you get involved in the new project it will come flooding back. ;)

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