compaq 6720 laptop wont load

Knarf44

Hirens has a mini version of XP on it. Boot into that and once at the desktop click on the HBCD icon. That opens a box then click on "Browse" and click on HD Testing Tools (i'm going by memory here). In the drop down menu that appears HD Tune.

Select the "Error Scan" tab and then "Start". It may take some time to complete but will identify bad sectors by marking them RED. Good sectors will be GREEN.

If the result shows more than two RED sectors you'll need a new hard disk. One or two RED sectors can sometimes be fixed via CHKDSK but more than two usually means that the drive has failed sufficiently to warrant replacing it.

Notmyrealname

rose28454 wrote: »

the fan looks quite clear and i cant access it anyway.

They do. You can't see the blockage from the outside which is why you need to shine a torch into the fan inlet on the base whilst looking through the vent on the side. No light, its blocked up which is the original source of the crashing.

The Windows not starting is likely to be a result of the constant freezing and crashing corrupting files.

rose28454

Knarf44 wrote: »

Hirens has a mini version of XP on it. Boot into that and once at the desktop click on the HBCD icon. That opens a box then click on "Browse" and click on HD Testing Tools (i'm going by memory here). In the drop down menu that appears HD Tune.

Select the "Error Scan" tab and then "Start". It may take some time to complete but will identify bad sectors by marking them RED. Good sectors will be GREEN.

If the result shows more than two RED sectors you'll need a new hard disk. One or two RED sectors can sometimes be fixed via CHKDSK but more than two usually means that the drive has failed sufficiently to warrant replacing it.

I have managed to get ss far as Browse folders then a alphabetical list comes up but wont scan down to error scan then all I get is programme not responding.

Knarf44

What's the exact model and serial number of the laptop?

If you are confident enough to replace the hard drive - here are the instructions:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01884065&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

TakeThis

Knarf44 wrote: »

What's the exact model and serial number of the laptop?

If you are confident enough to replace the hard drive - here are the instructions:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01884065&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

It's actually quite easy. I'm confident the OP can complete it in just a few minutes, if necessary.

It's the re-installation of the OS, Drivers and programs that is the drag.

rose28454

TakeThis wrote: »

It's actually quite easy. I'm confident the OP can complete it in just a few minutes, if necessary.

It's the re-installation of the OS, Drivers and programs that is the drag.

HI
been away for weekend and now back. ordered a new hard drive that arrived and have now installed it. However as I fiddled with so many settings still cannot get windows to load. can anyone tell me what to press when I switch on. i am afraid I pressed F9 F11 and f12 a few times when I was trying to get it going last week. help

TakeThis

It won't load as there is nothing on the hard drive. You need to install from disc. Will get you a link.

Oh....it's Vista(groan).

Did you increase the RAM on it or is it still at 1GB RAM?

rose28454

TakeThis wrote: »

It won't load as there is nothing on the hard drive. You need to install from disc. Will get you a link.

Oh....it's Vista(groan).

Did you increase the RAM on it or is it still at 1GB RAM?

i bought a hd with 80gb ram was that ok? i think i have a vista disc somewhere i bought on ebay when a previous laptop died on me. would that maybe ok?

Figment

rose28454 wrote: »

i bought a hd with 80gb ram was that ok? i think i have a vista disc somewhere i bought on ebay when a previous laptop died on me. would that maybe ok?

That's the capacity of the hard drive and has nothing to do with the amount of RAM installed in your machine.

rose28454

Figment wrote: »

That's the capacity of the hard drive and has nothing to do with the amount of RAM installed in your machine.

sorry having a blonde moment