Is my laptop dead?

happyhaddock_2

I know this is a long shot but I've been searching the internet and have tried various fixes but nothing is working

I have an old acer 5510 which upon start up goes to the windows recovery page, highlighting the start up repair option. The keyboard and mouse are not working, neither is F2. After the allotted 30 seconds the laptop then starts "start up repair" and appears to be checking the system. It then goes to 'do you want to restore your system using system restore?' but as the keyboard is frozen I am uunable to click on restore.

This 'loop' happens every time I turn the laptop on. I have tried putting the system CD in (windows vista), but am unable to access 'boot from CD. I've also tried Ubuntu from a USB stick, but nothing works.

I've removed the battery and tried a supposedly 'hard system reset' nothing!. Alt + F10,F8, F12 nothing!.

Am I wasting my time? Does anyone know of anything else I could try, it's only a crappy old laptop but the kids like it!

Many thanks for any help.

Oh forgot to add I've also tried a USB mouse but that won't work either!

closed

does capslock work?

usb keyboard?

happyhaddock_2

Hi, no keys work and I've not got a usb keboard only a mouse. Is the caps lock key significant?

closed

it usually lights up a led if the keyboard is connected

check for any keyboard related bios settings, check inside that the ribbon cable is intact, or borrow a usb keyboard to test

happyhaddock_2

I downloaded the Bios from Acer onto my usb stick but nothing is loading. I think it was a virus that's knocked it all out, can't load anything and keyboard and mouse frozen, would this be plausible?. Many thanks for your help.

closed

do you mean you downloaded a newer bios, but never actually flashed it?

if you are unable to get into the bios, and are unable to get any keys to work before windows starts, ie bios keys, F8, erecovery key, boot from cd key, and are pressing the correct key at the right time, the evidence would point to a faulty or disconnected keyboard/ribbon cable

do you know anyone with a desktop pc, and usb keyboard?

happyhaddock_2

Hi, defo pressing the right keys, is it easy to check the ribbon cable?. We've got another laptop and a desktop pc, but the keyboards are ps2, not usb?

I downloaded the bios for the laptop from the acer site, at the risk of sounding stupid what do you mean by flashed it:o

closed

usually undo a screw or two, life up keyboard carefully, and look underneath

flashed means updated the bios, ie actually did something with the bios download.

any computers at work/family/friends? you only need the usb keyboard for 2 minutes to check

happyhaddock_2

Thanks Closed, I'll have a look inside and see if anything looks amiss, can't make it any worse I plugged the usb in with the bios on, but nothing is loading, it just keeps doing the system recovery thing. It's very frustrating because in all other respects the laptop is fine, it'd make a good doorstop I suppose

Thanks very much for your help though.

gonzo127

have you tried a Ubuntu liveCD on a disk (CD) and not the USB stick might just be that your laptop is not set up to be able to boot from usb.

also if you have a usb keyboard, plug it in before you start booting to give the bios time to recognise it