Laptop problem

[rocketparrotlet]

My laptop has been having problems recently. I can turn on the computer, and the lights indicate it is on, but I can't see anything on the screen. My computer is a Toshiba Satellite (I can get the exact model number if necessary). Rarely, after dozens of attempts, it might boot up properly, and then it will function normally until it goes into sleep mode or I turn it off, and then I can't boot it again. I read support threads on laptop forums and discovered that other people were having the same problems as me. The solution was to download a new BIOS, which I did. The computer is still having trouble only a week later. Please help!

-Mark

 

[Drivinfast247]

What OS are you running? How old is the laptop? And when did this start?

Pete

 

[rocketparrotlet]

I'm running Windows Vista. I bought the laptop about 2 years and 3 months ago new. These problems started in the beginning of December, got better for a couple weeks, and began to get more serious in the past couple of weeks.

-Mark

 

[Drivinfast247]

I was thinking driver problems but since it happens before POST it may be a hardware issue. Very strange, let me think about this for a bit and Ill get back with you.


PS. Are you sure the BIOS flash took? Double check the version number just to be sure.


Pete

 

[phoenix77]

The Toshiba Satellite Lap-top that I have, has a screen brightness adjustment dial on it. Maybe that dial has developed a problem (if your model PC has this feature).

 

[Raybo]

Sounds like a cold boot problem usually associated with a bad power supply.

 

[Drivinfast247]

Sounds like a cold boot problem usually associated with a bad power supply.

Good one Raybo.

Try to power it up with the battery removed and just the ac adapter plugged in.

 

[mfo]

Backlight issues?

 

[rocketparrotlet]

It is probably not a power supply issue, because the battery charges properly and it works with or without a charger plugged in. When I plug the charger in, the "connected" and "adapter" lights turn on, and when I unplug the charger, they turn off. It is also not going to sleep or freezing on me, it just won't turn back on most of the time, but the lights will show that it is turned on.

How can I reinstall my OS? It came with the computer. I checked the BIOS- it is installed correctly.

-Mark

 

[Pilgor]

your problem is that your running windows vista

 

[Ramsey_innovations]

I am having the same issue with my satellite a-135. I was running windows media player (file from hard drive) on a crt with the display on the crt only (the lcd off) when it suddenly stopped playing. The screen froze displaying random code in the form a matrix and the audio held the last plaed tone. I promply shut down the computer by holding the power button. Now when I try to boot up, the on/off indicator light illuminates and then I can hear the the hard drive check once as the indicator light flashes but nothing else happens, no display at all, no other noise from the hard drive either. The disk drive has power and will eject and the cooling fan runs for several seconds after the power is turned on before it stops. My guess is that it's a hardware issue most likely the crappy intel(R) graphics media accelerator. Can anyone help me figure out what to do? Thanks!

 

[Raybo]

Mark,

If your computer is still not booting up I wouldn't worry about a reinstall of your OS YET, it still sounds like a power problem to me but I could be wrong. :thinking:
You also said you DL'ed a new bios, how did you go about flashing your chip?
Does your hard drive light stay on after power up?

 

[Raybo]

Good one Raybo.

Try to power it up with the battery removed and just the ac adapter plugged in.

Mark,

Did you try this suggestion yet?

 

[Ramsey_innovations]

In my case im not getting anything on the screen at all, not even a flash. Ive tried without the battery, ac adapter only but no change. I took the computer apart to check for burt component or loose ground connection but evereything checked out and no burt smell. I put it back together and nothing has changed, no display and the hard drive just flashes once. Any ideas.

 

[Drivinfast247]

In my case im not getting anything on the screen at all, not even a flash. Ive tried without the battery, ac adapter only but no change. I took the computer apart to check for burt component or loose ground connection but evereything checked out and no burt smell. I put it back together and nothing has changed, no display and the hard drive just flashes once. Any ideas.

check your power adapter and make sure its working properly.

 

[mfo]

It's not a power adapter issue, it's not an OS issue. The display is somehow messed up. This could either be a video card failure, or LCD failure. Turn the laptop on and shine a really bright light at the LCD screen If you see text, then that means the backlight burned out which illuminates the LCD screen. If not, then the LCD either isn't getting power (doubtful unless you dropped it) or the display card is fried.