Fuckity Fuck

[liadnan]

Laptop dead. Will go no further than flashing the lights and starting the fan: normally the fan will then go up a step and then the maker's splash screen comes up before going on to boot, none of which is happening. Fuck: can't afford this and also I need my computer, right now.

Comments

[kittenexploring.livejournal.com]

Do the lights keep flashing or flash in any particular way? That usually indicates something and the manual will tell you what (although it will probably still be dead).

Desperate things to try: Remove battery. If your laptop runs off mains power without the battery in place then try it like that. Replace battery and see if anything has changed. After that, I think you're stuck with either magic or repairs.

If you just need something from the computer and the hard drive still works, a computer store (assuming competent staff) can get it for you pretty easily. They can take the drive out, put it in another computer with a laptop enclosure and copy it to new hardrive/dvd.

[brelson.livejournal.com]

I had a similar issue once and the battery thing worked. A more drastic thing is to:

- Leave laptop on with its fan running and *not* plugged into mains until battery simply dies
- Remove battery
- Re-insert battery
- Plug into mains
- Turn on

If this doesn't work, then you'll need to probably need to visit a computer store, as mentioned previously...

[geeklawyer.livejournal.com]

have you tried hitting it?

It sounds consistent with a stuck hard-drive head (though it could be many other things as well of course). Give it a good clump. And if you can take the hard-drive out hit that instead.