Dropped laptop now will only start in safe mode

Carolyn2

Hi,

I have a very old laptop that my sons basically just use for internet and msn only when the other one of them is on the main pc. Problem is my 3 year old knocked it onto the floor last night!

There doesnt seem to be any damage and pc powers up ok and loads up to the select users screen {its windows xp} - trouble is then when I click on any of the users, it says its loading the personal settings and the hard drive flashes for a minute or so, but then it just hangs with the egg timer showing, and the hard drive stops flashing altogether.

It will boot up in safe mode, but to be honest I dont know what I should be checking for to try and fix. Just wondered if anyone could tell me what to check for... one problem I have is that I dont have the XP OS disc anymore so I cant reload or repair it.

any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks

startrekker

Apart from opening it up to see if anything has come dislodged, (hard drive connector, memory)It sounds that some hardware is damaged, hopefully not

everythingblogcast

Load in using safe mode as you say the pc is only allows and back up all files in My Documents and Shared Document folders onto external hard drive or DVD. The reinstall Windows XP there is a chance that it will not work and its back using safe mode for general day use.

But do open the laptop up and see if the hard drive is connected correctly and ram etc..

Shy_Ted

Hi Carolyn, I can't really help you i'm afraid, but if no one on here can help, ask the question on the micro mart forum (google it) - it's full of boffins and geeks (in the nicest possible sense) i'm sure someone on there could help. That's what i do when i start having 'puter probs

Ted

Carolyn2

thanks all - i'll try and open it to look for superficial damage - its really old anyway to be honest and only ever worked at snails pace, so it may have to go to the laptop scrapheap!