Laptop wont start!

[Emily.]

Just thought I'd post this here on the off chance that someone might be able to help.

I have an old Samsung R40 Plus laptop. A few days ago it froze while playing a game and it wouldn't respond to anything so I shut it down. Ever since then it wont boot up. When I turn it on it gets to the Samsung screen and just freezes. I've managed to get into the bios about 2 times but it freezes after about 2 seconds. I've tried putting a new hard drive in it and thats not working. Any ideas as to what it could be?

 

[wezzel98765]

Try swapping out each RAM module

 

[Emily.]

How do I do that?

 

[mantis946]

If it's freezing in the bios it wont be the HDD, that's possibly relating to the RAM or the processor and or motherboard failure.

RAM's a solid shout, specially if you have some spare

 

[wezzel98765]

What's your laptop make and model emily then I'll tell ya

 

[Ronnie R]

Try booting the laptop up without any RAM in it.

 

[Emily.]

It's a Samsung R40 Plus

 

[conneh]

Just look in the back, will be a small cover with a Phillips screw in it I would imagine. Will probably say ram or memory on it. Flip that out, take out 1 of the modules and replace the cover. Try and start it up, if there is still no joy replace it and take out the other module.

 

[Emily.]

I opened up the cover that said memory on it yesterday, and there seemed to be 3 different bits in there, but none of them seemed like they would come out easily?

 

[mantis946]

If you could throw up a pic of the underside I should be able to give you a step by step

 

[Emily.]

Ahh thank you I haven't got it here at the moment but i'll try and get a photo tonight and put it up

 

[realnumber 1]

I'd start by trying to discharge any static build up in it.

Remove the battery and power supply then hold the power button down for 10-15 secs. Put back together and try it.

 

[Emily.]

If you could throw up a pic of the underside I should be able to give you a step by step

Here's a photo. Sorry it's crap - couldn't find my camera!

http://flic.kr/p/bmFvkV

 

[Revels]

Have you tried turning it on and off again?

 

[realnumber 1]

Do what I suggested first. Had similar issues with countless PC/laptops and it's nearly always static causing it.

 

[mantis946]

looking at that photo, it seems to be missing a lead on the card inserted in the left - typically it has one white and one black (You can see the golden connector where it presses on next to the white)

My guess is the lead that's disconnected is flailing around causing parts of the mobo to bridge and short.


You have two sticks of RAM there on the right of the photo, held in with two metal arms - if you press them away from the module at the same time it will pop out.

Can see quite a bit of dust there, can be the cause of a lot of shorts.

If you need to replace you are looking for PC2 5300 at 555 speeds

 

[Emily.]

Do what I suggested first. Had similar issues with countless PC/laptops and it's nearly always static causing it.

I tried that the other day and it didn't work But I'll try it again just to make sure!

Yep you got two sticks of RAM there on the right of the photo, held in with two metal arms - if you press them away from the module at the same time it will pop out.

Can see quite a bit of dust there, can be the cause of a lot of shorts.

If you need to replace you are looking for PC2 5300 at 555 speeds

Also looking at that photo, it seems to be missing a lead on the card inserted in the left - typically it has one white and one black (You can see the golden connector where it presses on next to the white)

Thank you very much! I'll try it out in the morning

 

[Emily.]

looking at that photo, it seems to be missing a lead on the card inserted in the left - typically it has one white and one black (You can see the golden connector where it presses on next to the white)

My guess is the lead that's disconnected is flailing around causing parts of the mobo to bridge and short.


You have two sticks of RAM there on the right of the photo, held in with two metal arms - if you press them away from the module at the same time it will pop out.

Can see quite a bit of dust there, can be the cause of a lot of shorts.

If you need to replace you are looking for PC2 5300 at 555 speeds

Right, just took one stick of RAM out and this time it managed to get past the Samsung screen but just went to a black screen with a flashing cursor in the corner. Couldn't press F2 or anything. Second one same thing happened but it just went to a black screen.

I see what you mean about the lead, I assume if another lead had somehow disconnected I'd be able to see it though?

 

[mantis946]

Right, just took one stick of RAM out and this time it managed to get past the Samsung screen but just went to a black screen with a flashing cursor in the corner. Couldn't press F2 or anything. Second one same thing happened but it just went to a black screen.

I see what you mean about the lead, I assume if another lead had somehow disconnected I'd be able to see it though?

They are normally tucked away - might be able to find it if you dig about...
your wireless isn't caput by any chance ? (Assuming you don't use a plug in dongle)

 

[Emily.]

Can't seem to find another wire anywhere and nope, the wireless is fine.

 

[mantis946]

Looks like it's the main that's connected, this could perhaps run on a single antenna cable (it would be the 1st Iv'e seen) They normally stem down from the monitor.

When you mention the flashing cursor, I suspect it's the waiting to type style icon. Sounds like it's failing to POST. Next step would be to get some RAM from something reliable to rule that out.

 

[Emily.]

Looks like it's the main that's connected, this could perhaps run on a single antenna cable (it would be the 1st Iv'e seen) They normally stem down from the monitor.

When you mention the flashing cursor, I suspect it's the waiting to type style icon. Sounds like it's failing to POST. Next step would be to get some RAM from something reliable to rule that out.

Yeah thats the icon thats flashing. Do you think I've tried most things I could do myself? Next stops gunna have to be a computer repair place lol

 

[mantis946]

If you where nearer i'd check it for you

Look's like it will need to be passed on to somebody but im sure that network cards meant to have 2 plugs

Odd's are it's just fubar RAM though - if you had another laptop handy they all tend to use 200 pin 555/667 RAM so you could swap them over.

 

[Emily.]

If you where nearer i'd check it for you

Look's like it will need to be passed on to somebody but im sure that network cards meant to have 2 plugs

Odd's are it's just fubar RAM though - if you had another laptop handy they all tend to use 200 pin 555/667 RAM so you could swap them over.

Ahh right, I have actually got another laptop that has a broken screen so I could check and see if they're the same. Is it the bit on the left with the wire that I'd want to swap over or the 2 RAM things?

 

[sbridgey]

Just swap one of the modules from the other laptop so you just have one in your laptop.

I doubt it is anything to do with the cable being missing as my old laptop only had one wire once i was finished with it! unless of course it is shorting something out inside.

I RAM doesn't work you could completely remove the network card and try that but if that doesn't work i would put money on the motherboard being knackered.

 

[wezzel98765]

Try removing one module of ram then try the other as I said. 1 cable for the wireless card isn't unusual! Usually have two or three though

Google how to change ram on your laptop and you'll see just take one stick of ram out first if it acts the same then take out the other and put the first back in

See how you get on. Private message me for more help ... After all I run a laptop and computer repair shop

 

[FiXX]

looking at that photo, it seems to be missing a lead on the card inserted in the left - typically it has one white and one black (You can see the golden connector where it presses on next to the white)

My guess is the lead that's disconnected is flailing around causing parts of the mobo to bridge and short.


You have two sticks of RAM there on the right of the photo, held in with two metal arms - if you press them away from the module at the same time it will pop out.

Can see quite a bit of dust there, can be the cause of a lot of shorts.

If you need to replace you are looking for PC2 5300 at 555 speeds

the card has no missing cables, the second connector you are looking at is just an aux... 100% not related to her problem and is correct the way it is.

 

[mantis946]

the card has no missing cables, the second connector you are looking at is just an aux... 100% not related to her problem and is correct the way it is.

I thought it was worth suggesting, I've not seen one with a single connector and I've worked on a load of netbooks/laptops/desktops for HP.

With the nature of the issue it was a longshot as it would be more intermittent.

Have you had any luck with the RAM Emily ?

 

[mace¬]

Hmmm I see what yu did here.

Quick shutdowns not fully rebootin' like you should. You're lucky that hundred shot of volts didn't blow the solders on the motherboard! You almost had me? Now, me and PC world got to rip apart the processor... and replace the solenoids you fried.

 

[mantis946]

Hmmm I see what yu did here.

Quick shutdowns not fully rebootin' like you should. You're lucky that hundred shot of volts didn't blow the solders on the motherboard! You almost had me? Now, me and PC world got to rip apart the processor... and replace the solenoids you fried.

:lolup:

 

[Chapster5]

Yeh was going to mention that second connector wouldn't be the problem. Maybe taking out the CMOS battery for an hour to reset the BIOS. It may help it may not is it beeping at all the laptop when it starts?

Nick

 

[Emily.]

I thought it was worth suggesting, I've not seen one with a single connector and I've worked on a load of netbooks/laptops/desktops for HP.

With the nature of the issue it was a longshot as it would be more intermittent.

Have you had any luck with the RAM Emily ?

Haven't tried switching it over with the RAM from another laptop yet but I'm going to try it later

Yeh was going to mention that second connector wouldn't be the problem. Maybe taking out the CMOS battery for an hour to reset the BIOS. It may help it may not is it beeping at all the laptop when it starts?

Nick

It's beeped a couple of times when I've turned it on but then other times it hasn't?

 

[Chapster5]

In what patterns did it beep?

Like Long beep

Long beep - short beep - long beep

and so on...

Nick

 

[mantis946]

Haven't tried switching it over with the RAM from another laptop yet but I'm going to try it later




It's beeped a couple of times when I've turned it on but then other times it hasn't?

is it showing anything on the screen now after the beeps ?
In reference to the beep's - what was the pattern (e.g high, low, high, low)

 

[Emily.]

Thinking about it, I think it just beeped when I went into the bios before it froze. It would just do one short beep.

Just tried swapping over the RAM from another laptop and it just froze on the Samsung screen

Think I'm just going to have to pop it into a laptop repair shop and see what they say.

 

[Chapster5]

Also Try removing the battery and power cord from the laptop and then hold down the power button for 10 seconds. It may also be worth removing the CD/DVD Drive and Hard Drive if able to put the battery back in and power cord then power up the system without these in and see if anything is different?

Nick