Laptop Help....Please

Question

Ok So I have this Dell Inspiron 5150 and last night i just shut off, I thought maybe it was too hot or whatever, but now when I go to start it I can't get passed the boot screen. Well It does get passed the big DELL letter but then it says, that the computer was not shut down the right way and if I wanna start it in Safe Mode or Normal, Or last known cofig,etc. but the problem is none of that works, it just keeps going back to the same screen. I have tried all the options...??!! Anyone?

Thanks Mike

bigmikedmb · Answer

I ran that Test and the DST Short Status test - failed   it then said that No Diagnostic Utility Partition Found and that I need to put in my utilities and drivers CD which is not with me right now...now what?

ejn63 · Answer

Can you get into the boot menu (F12)? If so, run the extended diagnostics on the entire system.

bigmikedmb · Answer

are you kidding me? so I just lost everything on my computer?

ejn63 · Answer

Not necessarily - but if you don't have a backup, remove the drive, purchase a 2.5" EIDE drive enclosure, install the drive into it, and attach it to a working system by USB and copy what you can.

When you order a new drive, order two - one to replace the internal drive, and the other to install in the external case for keeping backups.

ejn63 · Answer

Your hard drive has failed - replace it. Any 2.5' 9.5 mm EIDE (NOT SATA) hard drive up to and including 120G will work as a replacement.

bigmikedmb · Answer

good call thanks. I am doing that now...what exactly am I looking for?

ejn63 · Answer

The system isn't going to boot any better in another notebook, so make sure you go the external recovery route - the more you do to a dying drive, the greater the chances become that you won't be able to read your data from it.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins5100/en/sm/hdd.htm#1084976

bigmikedmb · Answer

I know someone with the same laptop as me so that might just work, just to get the information off of it. Is there some kinda of a guide to taking out these harddrives that you might be able to direct me to?  I appreciate all of your help btw.

bigmikedmb · Answer

ok sweet did what you did and the HD DOES work inside the external box...now I have a question...why does this HD work outside of the computer and not inside of the box? Just curious...   Thanks Mike

ejn63 · Answer

Because the damaged sectors hold the operating system, fortunately not your data. Get the data backed up, replace the drive, and keep backups going forward.

SlamX · Answer

Don't be so quick to replace the HD  The windows may just be corrupt and the HD not dead.   Backup your data friom it then play with it, See if it will do the system restore or install  new copy of XP.   If allfails get new HD

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Laptop Help....Please

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