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Laptop dead???

bowfer (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 11:44

I`m posting this from another laptop.
My own one is doing the following

1/ Switch power on
2/ Windows XP logo and small progress bar appears
3/ Goes to `DOS` type screen, giving safe modes.
4/ Defaults to `Start windows normally" and counts down
5/ When zero is reached, screen quickly flashes blue, with some white writing I don`t have time to make out
6/ Machine reboots itself and goes through all this again.

I`ve got Toshiba coming to collect it for a warranty repair, I was just looking for opinions.
Am I looking at hard drive replacement and the rigmarole of loading stuff again??



This item was edited on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:46

RE: Laptop dead???

xfg (Elite Donator) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:06

My aunty`s HP had those symptoms and yeah it was a new hard drive job.

You have back-ups, right? A pain in the arse, I agree.




www.soundalikes.com ~*~ glitterkat.stumbleupon.com

RE: Laptop dead???

Miles (Elite Donator) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:09

Sounds like you`re getting the BSOD (Blue screen of death).
Could be for any number of reasons, to be honest. So its a bit tricky.

If I were you I would anticipate it being returned `freshly installed` (ie without your data etc. on there). If you`re lucky it won`t be done like that, but like I said, I`d just assume it will be.

I`m hoping you have a backup of all the stuff you have on there? Since they will be unlikely to care about your files too much.

"Build a man a fire, and he`ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he`ll be warm for the rest of his life."
-Terry Pratchett.

RE: Laptop dead???

bowfer (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:09

When you say back-ups, what do you mean?
I`m already assuming I`ll lose photos and music I`ve got on it.
No big deal, I don`t mind losing them.
I assume my itunes account won`t be affected though??
Just log-in again when I get it back?
Actually, IIRC, Toshiba were offering a no-quibble replacement if it went wrong in the first year, so I`l probably just get a shiny new one.
If I don`t, I`ll remind them.

This item was edited on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 13:12

RE: Laptop dead???

Miles (Elite Donator) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:13

If they do wipe the drive...then you won`t lose your itunes account itself (since that`s registered on Apple`s servers).

In terms of the replacement, it will depend on what they find is wrong...since it could always be software related...in which case they probably have a clause saying that its not covered under that.
Just worth thinking about anyway.

"Build a man a fire, and he`ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he`ll be warm for the rest of his life."
-Terry Pratchett.

RE: Laptop dead???

enemyonpc (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:23

I had the same problem with my mam Toshiba Laptop. A fresh OS install and it`s fine for the past 6 months.

If you`ve got an XP disc you could try repairing the OS and hopefully that`ll let you recover your photo`s and stuff.

Regards
Bryan

RE: Laptop dead???

bowfer (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:44

You get a Toshiba recovery disc.
But you don`t get an XP recovery disc, as it comes pre-loaded.
I`m just reverting back to my old PC (HP) and see what happens with this one.
It already lost all its personal settings a few months back, which was a pain.
I think it`s just been a wrong`un from day one. :(

This item was edited on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 13:46

RE: Laptop dead???

enemyonpc (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 12:57

If it came pre-loaded with XP you should have a serial key written on the laptop (underneath). If so you could download an OEM version and that key should work no problem.

HTH
Bryan

RE: Laptop dead???

bowfer (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 13:23

It does have that serial key.
Should I be able to download an XP recovery disc?
How would I get that onto my knackered laptop?
Burn it to a CD on the one I`m using?
Then what? ( I also have the Toshiba recovery disc)

RE: Laptop dead???

sj (Elite) posted this on Friday, 22nd August 2008, 13:31

When you buy stuff off itunes I thought they said you should back it up otherwise if you lose it you need to buy it again.?.. BUT, I had a few problems recently with some (free) apps on my Touch and needed to remove them and reset the whole iPod. When I went to get the Apps again it knew I`d already had them and just asked if I wanted them again..

Ste



We will pay the price but we will not count the cost..

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