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[Sir Tigger KC]

HP Compaq Presario CQ56 about 4 years old and it's not starting up properly.     It makes all the right noises but the screen remains blank.  If I keep trying eventually it will boot up, but tonight it has taken about an hour to get going. When it does start up it works fine. 

The battery is knackered but it still won't start with the battery removed, I have a HP G60 which had the same issue but that works fine on the mains lead.    A spot of googling suggests the hard drive is fubared. 

Any ideas chaps or should I just send it to Mrs Opti for her target practice sessions.       

[Broomies Mate]

I'm guessing not, but have you tried a fresh install (from CD or USB flash drive) of Windows?

If not, it's worth a go.

Failing that, don't condemn a laptop for a HDD issue - £30 will get you a new HDD, and being a Compaq, it'll have 2 screws to remove the storage (HDD) cover and bang a new one in there.

[Broomies Mate]

Or, if you are going to scrap it, PM me, and I'll pay you the postage plus a few beers.

I refurbish laptops for local charities.  They really do come in handy. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Ah yes I'll try reinstalling Windows, although I don't have a CD or USB flash drive just the reset to factory settings option. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

HP Compaq Presario CQ56 about 4 years old and it's not starting up properly.     It makes all the right noises but the screen remains blank.  If I keep trying eventually it will boot up, but tonight it has taken about an hour to get going. When it does start up it works fine. 

The battery is knackered but it still won't start with the battery removed, I have a HP G60 which had the same issue but that works fine on the mains lead.    A spot of googling suggests the hard drive is fubared. 

Any ideas chaps or should I just send it to Mrs Opti for her target practice sessions.       

Please don't.................

[Gaffers]

HP Compaq Presario CQ56 about 4 years old and it's not starting up properly.     It makes all the right noises but the screen remains blank.  If I keep trying eventually it will boot up, but tonight it has taken about an hour to get going. When it does start up it works fine. 

The battery is knackered but it still won't start with the battery removed, I have a HP G60 which had the same issue but that works fine on the mains lead.    A spot of googling suggests the hard drive is fubared. 

Any ideas chaps or should I just send it to Mrs Opti for her target practice sessions.       

Please don't.................

It would be cheaper for you to have a stock of already broken ones for her to throw 

[TheBoy]

It would suggest the HDD may be failing. Download Hirens (its now all legit freeware/trial packages, unlike its early days), you'll find some disk test tools on there.  In particular, I'd look at the SMART parameters.

New laptop drives are cheap....   ....or really boost it with an SSD, 240Gb from a premium manufacturer is under £50 now. SSD will need Win7 or higher though.


However, given than HP/Compaq machines oriented towards the consumer really are a crock of unreliable shite, do not rule out systemboard problems, esp around the power circuitry, or cooling issues.

[Sir Tigger KC]

However, given than HP/Compaq machines oriented towards the consumer really are a crock of unreliable shite, do not rule out systemboard problems, esp around the power circuitry, or cooling issues.

I've wondered about this, as the battery died while I was in Lanzarote and I left it plugged in on standby a couple of nights.  The start up issue started to happen then.  Maybe the power supply there isn't as steady as here.... 

[STEMO]

However, given than HP/Compaq machines oriented towards the consumer really are a crock of unreliable shite, do not rule out systemboard problems, esp around the power circuitry, or cooling issues.

I've wondered about this, as the battery died while I was in Lanzarote and I left it plugged in on standby a couple of nights.  The start up issue started to happen then.  Maybe the power supply there isn't as steady as here.... 

Don't drink foreign water or use foreign electricity. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Now you tell me.... 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Well I havn't done anything about fixing this lappy. 

However I've realised that when I switch it on and it starts up with the dead screen, if I leave it like that for half an hour or so, switch it off and on again, then it will start up fine!   

Does that mean anything to anyone? 

[dbug]

Could be dodgy screen inverter - when it starts with a blank screen shine a torch into screen - if you see anything faint there that you recognise its a duff inverter   Easily sourced and swapped.

Or as others have said could be a failing HD - is the HD unusually noisy?

[Sir Tigger KC]

No the screen is completely blank when it dosn't start properly.    Thanks for the suggestion though! 

If I put in a new hard drive or as TB suggests a SSD, how do I reload windows without a disc? 

[Broomies Mate]

Answer is in Post #2.

Have you confirmed the HDD as faulty?  Myself and TB have only suggested that is the problem (although, very likely).

It could be the SATA controller on the M/B for example.

[TheBoy]

Do you ever pass my way? If you do, and you want advice before spending any cash, swing it round.