Over The Hill Laptop?

[markjj]

Hi everyone.
I have recently acquired a second hand HP Omnibook 5500 laptop. All worked fine until the H/D failed on me. This was replaced without any problem but after a week or so, whilst on the internet, the machine shut down on me. Ever since then I have been umable to get it to boot up at all. The only thing that does work is the lcd display above the F keys, illustrating all the icons. I have tried everything to try and get it to boot up but it refuses to do so. There isn't even any noise from the machine, e.g. whirring h/d, when the power is turned on

I was advised by a retailer that once something goes on a laptop I should expect a whole catalogue of disasters to follow. Thanks a bunch!

Any advice would, as usual, be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Mark

[bassvax]

Don't know much bout laptops...but I don't see any reason to throw in the towel yet especially if you just bought a HD for the sucker. The statement from the retailer is a "safe" statement and yes you may see things tucker out on you like trying to fix plumbing...but again only a week after the HD upgrade this starts. Possible the HD's spinning has loosened the connection between itself and mobo (is that what's in a laptop?). If you can access the HD from the bottom (I believe this and the RAM are nearly all you can upgrade in a laptop) you may be able to determine if something has indeed loosened and reconnect it. Can you get into your BIOS settings screen? There may be some info in there that would help you. If you can't find help in here there may be some help by searching Yahoo. I did a quick search and found a couple of mentions of laptops and help forums and there seemed to be several that you would have to pop in and out of. Sorry I can't be of more assistance than that. Having the system in front of you makes you more the one to do the deciphering of those found on Yahoo. Good Luck!

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Jerry

[MeadowsG]

I have had some similar problems with my old Compaq Aramada laptop. I find taking the batteries, harddrive and floppy out of the machine and clean the connections with a contact cleaner the problems go away for months, when they return I merely repeat the process and away I go again.

G

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Pass the coffee and no one gets hurt

[markjj]

Thanks for that tip, mate. Will give it a try. Anything's worth a go at the moment.
Regards
Mark

[DEACON]

I have two older laptops,with win 3.1 and win 3.11,I had problems with a virus called EXE VIRUS .This virus hides in your BOOT FILE.If it is'nt a virus from the internet ,as this was the last place you were before it crashed.I would check the power contacts as the other person sugested.
DEACON

[tjaymadison]

You can try booting from the A: drive.
If you don't already have one, you can download a bootdisk here. Good Luck!

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')