Laptop problem...Need Help

[Northstar]

For some reason my laptop suddenly decided to not work.

When I start it up I only get a screen with two options "Launch Startup Repair" or "Start Windows Normally".

The first (Startup Repair) just shows a progress bar than a black screen with a mouse icon. Nothing else happens and the only way to restart is to take out the battery.

Starting windows normally just does the little windows logo like it normally does when it starts, however it than flashes a blue screen fast than restarts.

Any idea what the problem could be? I tried searching but since there is no error code it's hard to find a solution.

-Thanks.

 

[nk4e]

Have you tried going into safe mode before the windows pop up?

 

[Northstar]

I've tried, doesn't work.

If it's a Windows problem, would getting Linux possibly take care of it?(I've been wanting to mess with it for some time).

 

[nick09]

You can try to use a Linux Live CD(such as ubuntu) to recover you data(you just go through the HDD to get the data) and then install Linux(if you don't have the money to buy windows). As far as running windows programs you can try to use Wine(winehq.org). Not gonna work 100% but it's what you get for free.

 

[Submerged]

Alternatively, if you can find some bootloaders that will run from the CD itself, they may be able to diagnose the problem for you.

Unfortunately, it has been some time since I've had to do that for any of my computers/laptops....I do recall a ISO file or a program called Hirem System Recovery or something like that being rather good, but that does has some "other" programs that could trash system files if used incorrectly (iirc, it may have some crack programs in it, so ymmv). That is, if you want to recovery the Windows system and get it up and running.

If you care about the data on it, do what nick09 suggest, Ubuntu LiveCD it and you should be able to make a copy of all the files. However because you have not shut down the NTFS partition properly, it may throw up wobblies and go: "Nope, can't see anything".

If you don't care about the data on it....Over-write it and just install any flavour of Linux on it to get some open source software. Again, it is relatively painless but there will be slight conflicts when using youtube websites and playing certain codecs.

 

[nick09]

Of course if you use VLC then you don't have to worry about codecs since it can play almost every type of video and audio out there.

 

[Northstar]

All that's on it is some music, some Steam games and a few text documents. All of which are not much of a problem.

I'm downloading Ubuntu now, will try that tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.👍

 

[Submerged]

Well....I don't know about the Steam games and whether they will work on Ubuntu actually. (I hope they do).

Yes, you can download VLC and use that, just was saying it does not work straight out of the box with their standard music players. Its not a problem, just a little step that most new users don't realise about until they hit onto that block.

 

[nick09]

It's rumored that steam will make a program for Linux but there is a run around to that problem here or look at the steam winehq page. Games will run slower of course on Linux(don't forget to grab the manufacture drivers, it helps).

 

[Northstar]

Well....I don't know about the Steam games and whether they will work on Ubuntu actually. (I hope they do).

By "no problem" I meant that the games from Steam have since been transferred to my desktop.👍

Edit: Ubuntu is currently installing, any programs that I should get?

 

[Submerged]

Er....oh man. I have to check my ubuntu and fedora setups then....:-s.

Off the top of my head:

VLC (also find out, if it doesn't come up on the menu immediately, a way to do that!)

mplayer (like vlc, but command line only.Normally I wouldn't mention it, but can be rather cool just typing some commands and all of a sudden, the video pops up out of nowhere to play that dvd...or play a music file!)

Get KDE or XFDE or Fluxbox desktop environment if you don't like the current Gnome DE's. (Stick with Gnome until you're used to it)

Make sure you get the correct graphics drivers for the cards if things go a bit wonky for flashy animation/desktop environment (pretty pointless the flashy stuff, but impressive for showing off to mates)

There is a monitoring program that puts it straight on the desktop. It is not called compiz but for some reason my brain keeps thinking it is that. Compiz is an older software that allowed Desktop Effects. The one I am thinking of allows you to put any information about your computer on the desktop, so you know exactly your up-time, network bandwidth, ram usage, memory usage, space left on the hard drive, etc etc. The name escapes me at the present moment....! Oh. Just remembered it. Its called "Conky"! Finally.

Pidgin is useful for IM's (MSN, Yahoo, IRC etc etc, even does Chinese QQ!). There are others that may be more suitable for you. The KDE IM may be a bit better in terms of layout? (IM = Instant Messenging)

Er, I'm out of ideas at the moment...