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Question

Is this a bad HD? and that's why I can't get it working?

Nov 16, 2012 12:43PM PST

Okay, I think I give up .. been working on this for hours and hours; trying to fix my wife's Compaq Presario P2500 laptop, running Windows XP Home edition.
All we've been getting is BSOD.

I cannot even get it to boot up in Safe Mode; and I cannot even get it to boot from the boot CD disk.

(It just keeps reverting to BSOD)

I figure I'll just go ahead and reformat the HD; nothing on it anymore we need; but I cannot even get into a setup or boot menu to do so.

Is my HD bad? Is that the problem?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Since there are so many ...
Nov 17, 2012 8:33AM PST

different causes can you elaborate a bit on WHICH BSOD you are getting?

The screen should tell you the error and often the faulting file itself.

Can you describe how you are "telling" the laptop to attempt to boot from the CD? Some offer you a menu to select the boot device by pressing a function key when attempting to boot and others simply require you to enter the BIOS and select the first boot device then save and exit CMOS Setup.

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This is the BSOD I get:
Nov 17, 2012 12:53PM PST

It's blue, of course, but it does have that wavy Windows logo just sitting there.

I tried the online HP troubleshooting steps ... hard boot ... resetting with battery removed ... other methods; F12 key and/or F10 key presses while booting ...booting from an XP boot CD.. I cannot get past the BSOD I described above.

If I could just get into a prompt, I'll just go ahead a reformat the HD, but I cannot get to that point.

I tired doing the Ubuntu deal descrived in the post tin this thread ... still trying to create an *.iso file from it;

Thanks for any help!

Michael

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safe mode
Nov 17, 2012 10:13PM PST

Try starting up in safe mode

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Answer
Basic quick tests
Nov 16, 2012 1:27PM PST

A quick test i do is use a "live CD" of Ubuntu Linux. Burn the .ISO file to make a bootable disc. Then mount it in the CD drive and boot from it. It eliminates any XP OS issues and immediately tests the CD drive and how your laptop responses. Maker sure the BIOS set to boot from CD drive -OR- you select it from the boot menu if applicable by your laptop model#. If you can boot into Ubuntu, then check out the Hirens Bootdisk, burn it also. It's a good resource to test your laptop as well. Google for these pgms, HIRENS and UBUNTU. I do exclude any true h/w faults with the laptop.

tada ------Willy Happy