Laptop won't boot HELP HELP

SiMaster

albetross i just looked at your link for recovery console.

how do i t get into it? also i have my spare laptop here - is there a way of slaving the broken laptops hardrive - i guess theres not with out removing it from the broken laptop.

albertross_2

try chkdsk under recovery console (see my earlier link).

99/100 a PC not booting windows is a software issue/corrupt registry.

These 2 statements are pointing me towards a hardware issue though.

"I try and boot from Boot CD - it gets to desktop screen and switches its self off.

I insert recovery CD to do a fresh install of windows XP - it analyses my system, gives me the option to install a fresh version, hit enter - it swtiches its self off".

SiMaster

update

removed battery and hit the power button

windows loads and i can tell straight away the graphics card isn't working!

an error window pop ups ATI graphics card drivers not installed (they shud be because i did it two days ago)

windows hasn't shut down ........ so rush to system restore, its currently restoring to a point i saved straight after my last fresh install .... taking its time so will let you know.

could the battery be the problem? laptop is less than a month old!

albertross_2

run a start, run, cmd, chkdsk c: /F /R while you are at it.., it will check the disk on next reboot.

batteries (even new ones) can stop a PC starting up/switching on, but are unlikely to cause a reboot with an error on screen (which is usually a driver/corruption/ or hardware issue).

Do you have upto date av/spyware/windowsupdate etc??

SiMaster

yea i got the works, sp2, all updates installed, zone alarm, AVG, arovax and enwido.

SiMaster

windows stays on now, but not sure whats best to do now.

the system restore didn't work - i.e. it said it could not complete.

i can try a fresh install

try another restore point

any other suggestions

i've set chkdsk for net time i boot up.

albertross_2

do a backup? reboot and let it do a chkdsk.