big computer problem...

So, I am being all excited about having high speed internet (finally) at home... browsing AF on mylaptop with wireless when all of a sudden... the computer just shuts off. Black screen. Dead. So, I restart it and it gets as far as the XP user choice page... with nothing on it. Restart again, this time try to load in safe mode. Same thing. All the while, the wireless internet light is on, and it WON'T shut off.

Anyone know how to fix this?

Computer won't go past the sign in page for XP, wireless internet on through all of startup and won't turn off.


thanks in advance.

Hmmm....interesting one. Sounds like a physical hardware failure of some kind (maybe dead hard drive?) I'd take it back to the manufacturer or place of purchase.

Hmm..can you hear the hardrive working at all? It does sound like a hardware problem, but I have just recently had a weird problem where my computer would boot but the hardrive wouldn't activate and I would get no picture. Took it apart, took one ram stick out, still the same problem. Take the one out that was in it, replaced the one I took out earlier, and it works fine. I still get a drive error though. Not worried about it yet.

hard drive works fine... the light for it blinks like normal... took it back to the place of purchase (Fry's Electronics) and all i learned was: $60 to look at it, $60 to make a backup of my info, and $90 to do a HD diagnostic...

I'm just going to run a hard drive test in the BIOS and re-install the OS...

Let us know how you go. When you get it operational again, I can give you some diagnostic software to find out how r00ted it is.

hard drive works fine... the light for it blinks like normal... took it back to the place of purchase (Fry's Electronics) and all i learned was: $60 to look at it, $60 to make a backup of my info, and $90 to do a HD diagnostic...

I'm just going to run a hard drive test in the BIOS and re-install the OS...
I don't think 'tis the hard drive if you are able to get to the XP user signon selection. I've had this happen to an XP desktop -- it turned out to be the video driver (??? installed a Microsoft approved driver and it hasn't happened again).

Not sure what your problem is either, but ill tell you what has worked for me in those situations. Use knoppix to boot your sytem up with linux from the CD drive and then you will know if it is your hardware and then retrieve your data before you reformat and reinstall. go here for knoppipx: http://www.knoppix.com/

I don't know how to use that knoppix thing...

I don't know how to use that knoppix thing...


you dl the iso the burn it to a cd and boot of it. you will get into a linux GUI probably KDE. They are quite use friendly, just look around in the menus for the burning software.

fixed it... or rather, Data Doctors fixed it...

apparently i got a virus that deleted my security stuff for login... effectively locking me out of the computer. it couldn't be repaired because it didn't register that it was supposed to be there...

long story short, $90 and an external hard drive later... i have my laptop back.