Laptop troubles..

[Si_bobs]

Hi, wondered if anyone could help me, i'm experiencing trouble with my laptop.

It's a 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4
40Gb drive
512mb memory - just the one stick
Ati Mobility 9000
Win XP

The problem is that it freezes after a being turned on for a short duration, then when i attempt to turn it on again it'll power up but nothing will happen (no boot-up). I have also experienced a few blue screen error messages. This led me to believe that there may be a problem with the memory, so I proceeded to open the little fella up and checked the memory, moving it to it's alternative slot. This worked... for a while at which point the computer would freeze after sitting in windows for a while. I have used it briefly from time to time in between its freezing sessions by checking the memory and moving it between slots.

To summarise, my laptop occassionally boots up and loads windows, freezing at various stages.. in windows, whilst loading up, etc. Other times it will not boot up and just sits with the power light on, and power is available to other peripherals - CD Drive etc. So any ideas or has anyone experienced anything similar.

I had assumed that if there were some damaged hardware then the computer would either work/or not. The tempermental nature of the problem is driving me insane...

Any help with the issue would be much appreciated, and if i left any important info out let me know... thanks

[Loz]

I cannot be sure as i am not facing the machine si_bob but it sounds to me as if your laptop is overheating is the fan working properly?
Do you have a loose power lead connection?
Can you tell me the maker of your laptop is it under warranty?
Are the problems when the laptop is using battery power or the same on the mains?

[Eric]

Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information

In the left panel, click "Hardware Resources", then click "Conflicts/Sharing". Highlight everything under there on the right panel, do "Ctrl + c" and paste it in this forum using "Ctrl+v" That will give me a list of things that could potentially be IRQ conflicts. Blue Screens sometimes indicate IRQ conflicts.

Overheating is common in laptops too, Loz already mentioned this.

[Si_bobs]

Thanks for your replies.

I cannot be sure as i am not facing the machine si_bob but it sounds to me as if your laptop is overheating is the fan working properly? The fan seems fine, it usually doesn't kick in properly after a little while, but then it really goes for it. So i think that's ok, but i've not really had it on for long since the problem started.
Do you have a loose power lead connection? Connection seems fine.
Can you tell me the maker of your laptop is it under warranty? The laptop is made by a company called IPC (i believe they're german but have a branch in York in the UK) However it's out of warranty which is a shame.
Are the problems when the laptop is using battery power or the same on the mains? Usually when i try to get it going I'll run it off the battery and then plug the mains in afterwards, there is no apparent difference, as it will freeze after a while from either power source.

I have not had a look at it in a while as I've been getting my desktop up and running in the meantime. But just picked it up to try turn it on. I got a power on, green light, but nothing on the screen. I think that if I open it up take the memory out, put it back in, turn it on again it'll work. For a while. This has been the standard procedure if i've needed to access it at all over the last few months.

I've recently ordered some new memory for it, and will see how it performs with that. Otherwise I may have to send it back to the manufacturer. If i get it switched on again I'll check the IRQ conflicts should the problem persist.

[Loz]

It could also be that the seating for the memory is dirty loose or a problem with it it might be worth looking into!

[mobitek]

Sounds like faulty memory to me :