Laptop startup problem?

[mit74]

Recently damaged the processor and motherboard of my laptop (don't ask). I replaced both but mobo was cheaper version, integrated gfx card rather than seperate but uses the same chipset (£120 or £220 with mini-PCI slot??) When starting without any bootables it lights up and switches off 4 times before it finally shows the bios screen. I put in the old HDD with Windows 7 and it runs fine but still restarts itself 4 times before loading. Anyone know what the issue can be? I presume it's starting with the incorrect settings and maybe has to change them but when I restart Windows 7 it will still do this 4 cycle thing before booting.
One thing I have noticed is if I 'load default settings' Win7 will blue screen.

 

[Host Yorkshire]

It sounds like your old windows installation does not like your new hardware.

Try doing a windows repair to see if the installation can pickup the new hardware changes.

Good luck

 

[mit74]

Windows isn't the issue here. The laptop restarts itself 4 times before booting even without windows installed. I wondered if anyone who repairs laptops has come across this before?

 

[itschloe]

welll i think the re-installing the operating system can do the job for you...good luck

 

[pcproblems]

That's a strange one for sure...

Maybe you could reset the BIOS. There should be a very small battery somewhere that could be removed for a short period of time that will put things back to normal..

Best bet is to do some research via google and see what you can come up with

 

[PureIT]

Have you checked the HDD controller settings?

 

[mit74]

Have you checked the HDD controller settings?

Why the HDD settings? The laptop switches on and off 4 times before any VGA output even with the HDD removed... unless I'm missing something obvious?

As mentioned I think I'll reset mobo and if it means reinstalling win7 then I suppose I'll have to.

 

[nitro23456]

You cant just use an existing installation of windows 7 on a harddrive with a brand new motherboard.

The orignal installation is motherboard specific.

It wouldnt suprise me if its looking for your old graphics card. If it eventually boots and works, your hardware configuration must be plausible atleast... ie its not a dodgy stick of RAM. It must be software related such as a graphics driver.

I would do a repair install of windows 7.

 

[mit74]

Not true. The new motherboard is the same chipset plus hardware and therefore runs the same drivers. It's essentially the same board without the mini PCI slot. Windows isn't stupid and once realised the gcard was missing installed drivers for the built-in one. I don't think you guys are reading the thread properly. The issue isn't Windows.. the board has this problem without a HDD connected. As mentioned I will reset the CMOS when I get time.

 

[eog]

Windows will tend to blue screen if there a major hardware change. I suspect the reason why it bluescreens when you start it with default settings is because it is presuming it is loading with the original motherboard still installed.

This doesnt really have anything to do with the laptop restarting 4 times. Like you said it still happens with no HDD installed. I would try reseating all the components first. Also try booting straight of the battery without the power supply plugged in, and without the battery inserted and plugged directly into the mains. If you have more than 1 memory module, try booting with differant configurations of memory. This will at least let you know if there is a conflict with your existing components and new motherboard.

Sounds like a pain in the backside to me!

 

[mit74]

Ah well tried everything, reset cmos, flash bios and reinstall windows still same problem. Because I replaced both processor and mobo I'm not sure which is to blame. Stuck with a laptop that takes 30 secs longer to boot than normal but don't mind it's only for testing.

 

[nr-ts]

Hi mit74, out of curiosity, did you get the processor and motherboard together or from two different sources?
Reason I ask is because on a few desktop motherboards, they would have trouble with CPU's newer than their bios would properly support, and they would reset several times before running!

Other hardware possibilities for your issue could be aging capacitors in the power delivery side of the motherboard, and it takes a few moments for them to "warm up" and get close enough to their spec to allow the thing to run.

 

[mit74]

From a seperate source. The processor is the standard processor that would have come with this board and laptop. Not sure about the aging capacitors as it does it everytime you restart the computer even if been running for a while. The board is a new one although processor 2nd hand but pulled from a working laptop or so they say.

 

[nr-ts]

Definitely an odd one... I'd agree on it not being the caps of it will do it even on a warm restart.

That only leave a couple of other possibilities in my mind given it sounds like its at the POST stage - memory issue or HDD / CD initialisation.
Is the memory maxxed out for what the mobo can take? If you got a pair of SODiMMs try it with just one.
Some hard disks exhibit issues with certain bios/hdd controller revisions and require the drive firmware upgrading.

You said you can you can live with it, but frustrating nevertheless.

 

[mit74]

Definitely an odd one... I'd agree on it not being the caps of it will do it even on a warm restart.

That only leave a couple of other possibilities in my mind given it sounds like its at the POST stage - memory issue or HDD / CD initialisation.
Is the memory maxxed out for what the mobo can take? If you got a pair of SODiMMs try it with just one.
Some hard disks exhibit issues with certain bios/hdd controller revisions and require the drive firmware upgrading.

You said you can you can live with it, but frustrating nevertheless.

Board does it when nothing attached including hdd and DVD. I tried 4 different mem modules as well. I'm only using it for diagnostics and carrying it around to customers in case I need a working laptop for router setup etc so arent too bothered. I actually blew it testing a dodgy mini pcie wireless adapter. Blew the mobo and the processor

 

[pcproblems]

I think that there comes a point in time when you start wondering whether it's worth all the hassle

 

[calibra]

Unless you can test either the motherboard or CPU in another machine, your not going to find out which of those two are to blame.

I take it the laptop doesn't have diagnostics that you can boot in to?

 

[mit74]

no the acer motherboard barely has any options in bios.

 

[calibra]

no the acer motherboard barely has any options in bios.

Acer = Just chuck it in the bin

 

[mit74]

I find acer generally very reliable and easy to work on and this model they don't put the DC jack on the motherboard which really annoys when they do as the jacks are the most common breakage on laptops.

 

[Gatorservices]

go to gatorblog and you will find yout answer there.