Compaq Problem - Two Minds

by venomexuk Aug 18, 2010 12:41AM PDT

Hi

Firstly
System Information
Compaq CQ5403UK
Ram: 5gb
Graphics - Nvida 9400gt 1gb

Two Hard Disks/1 DVD RW

Running Windows Vista

Ok to the problem

Started yesterday, Vista decided to hang while loading a program.

No BSOD just froze, mouse taking for ever to move across the screen etc, however no programs open other than the one I wanted to open.

Tried soft reboot, task manager but keyboard got locked out so had to hard reset (Press off button)

Waited about 5 mins then restarted - Windows failed to load, then loaded but hung after a few mintues. Tried several times, however the longer the machine was one, the shorter the amount of time I had to play with.

What I mean by that is Attempt 1, got to Windows.
Attempt 2, Recovery Screen came up
Attempt 3 Froze on Detecting Storage Devices
Attempt 4 Froze on Compaq Loading Screen
Attempt 5 Screen Blank

The longer I leave it the longer the machine lasts. When I have been getting into the diagnostic part of the machine, it says the processor (Phenom x3) is running at 51c (Under the temp)

I started thinking this was a hard disk prob, but thinking it is a BIOS or Motherboard prob.....

Basically I am stumped and Need some help.

BTW - Just to add, nothing new install/added for the last 6 months to the machine and had 0 probs up to this point.

Thanks for any help you can give

Chris

Discussion is locked

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To add

by venomexuk Aug 18, 2010 12:47AM PDT

Also, sorry for the double post, the USB ports keep "freezing" - mouse and keyboard both attached that way.

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51C

by samkh Aug 18, 2010 2:03AM PDT

under diag is high. CPU temps should be <40C w/o running apps. If you know how to, check temp in BIOS to see if it's comparable. If same, check HSF mounting and paste; if much lower, scan HDD for virus.

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Thanks so far

by venomexuk Aug 18, 2010 2:30AM PDT

Hi

BIOS does not include a temp reading (god knows why...) however the Diag for Compaq does and that is what I got the temp for.

Can't get into the system to run a scan for virus, but to be honest the system is rearly online (I use it for work and always find the net too distracting lol) but will check this out.

I will have a quick look at the fan - from first glance looks very dusty so this may be a reason......

Also - just to add into this, the computer is now refusing to recognize the drives! I have tried reseting the BIOS (Taking battery out) and the drives were still there after that but now....vanished...

Anyways thanks for the help so far - any further ideas greatly received.

Ta

Chris

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Too bad

by samkh Aug 18, 2010 5:25AM PDT

HP BIOSs are so limited but oh well.

Progression of maladies are signs of potential impending doom so if I were you I would disconnect the HDD to preserve data (unless you have latest already backed up) and try to bring system back to stable state before reconnecting HDD.

Clean the HSF, renew the paste, reseat DIMMs, reseat PSU cables, look for bulging capacitors. Then check temp and if ok, get into BIOS and let it idle overnite. Then check temp again and if still ok, you can rehook HDD.

Sure hope your data is backed up.

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Another twist to the tail

by venomexuk Aug 18, 2010 8:48AM PDT

Running Memtest on the system atm, disconnected the HDD - The HSF was caked in dust so cleaned this - it did go a bit further but threw up an "error 003" which is a sign of messed up HDD. Fortunatly disconnected the backup drive so other that programs, all the files are saved (I hope )

It also threw a failed memory allocation error - hence the Memtest to check the memory -very weird set up, three 1gb DDR2 and one 2GB DDR2.

The system is benched and open atm to aid in airflow to the system, however I did notice, after an hour, the heatsink on the graphics card was stuipidly hot (as in warming the wires around it) - this is probably my next port of call, disconnecting this and going through the on board system

again thanks for all the help so far

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Still having probs

by venomexuk Aug 18, 2010 10:19PM PDT

Ok left it overnight running Memtest - 8 passes all ok

However....

Now does not "see" the HDD's or DVD under the Raid Settings at all.

Reset Bios using the CMOS reset jumper and removing Battery

Now stuck

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No drives?

by samkh Aug 19, 2010 1:52AM PDT

Try w/o add-in video and other PCI cards. Same result?

Also try with only the original 1GB memory.

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Further adventures lol

by venomexuk Aug 19, 2010 2:15AM PDT

Ok, taken the memory out and all the extra bits (So I a left with a PSU, Motherboard, HDD (1) and Keyboard attached) Turned it on, did not recognize drive, did not see it.

Thinking the motherboard has gone?!?!

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Pls be precise

by samkh Aug 19, 2010 4:41AM PDT

Did you take out ALL the memory or left one stick in, in the first slot closest to CPU? If you left one stick in and still no drives show up in BIOS, the mobo is probably defective.

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Mem

by venomexuk Aug 19, 2010 6:35AM PDT

Ok I left one stick in slot 1 and also removed all the ram.

With the one stick, no drives are being detected anymore, and this remained the problem when the ram was re inserted.

All connections are secure so looks like mono is gone. The problem is getting progressively worse machine now does not even boot into post first time

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Either

by samkh Aug 19, 2010 8:43AM PDT

mobo is bad or CPU overheating quickly. Not much you can do except spend a lot. New PC is better value than diagnosing and repairing. Good luck.

Compaq Problem - Two Minds

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