Lockup problems with Compaq Presario r4000

roadkillkid · 10-19-2006, 08:52 AM

Hi, my first post in TSF. Hopefully someone can assist.

System specs are:
Compaq Presario r4000
AMD athlone 64 4000
2gb Ram
80gb Samsung HD
Win XP SP2

Problem description:
Bought the laptop in May, worked fine for a few months. Then started experiencing lockup problems, automatic reboots without warning. After it had locked up I would have difficulty getting it to restart, took several hard power-downs. Problem got progressively worse, and got to a point where there would be several long beeping noises before it even got to BIOS test. Tried reloading Windows, wouldn't complete setup due to locking up. Tried loading Ubuntu, couldn't get past first stage of setup.

Replaced original HD with Samsung 80gb, and the problems stopped immediately. Tested the original HD in another machine and it wouldn't even detect it. This led me to believe that the HD was fried. After a few days running laptop with new HD, the freezups and restarts began happening again, exactly the same as before.

- Tried running without AC power, same problem.
- Tried removing battery, same problem.
- Tried starting in safe mode, same problem
- It's not overheating issues, as the problem happens so soon after booting up that laptop doesn't have time to heat up.

I'm at my wits end with this thing. My initial thought was the mainboard had gone, but then why would it work perfectly for almost a week with a new HD and then start acting up again? Could it be a power supply issue, which is frying my HD every time? Could it be a memory issue? Driver issue?

Any input would be appreciated at this stage. Thank you.

**hwm54112** · 10-19-2006, 10:52 PM

Welcome to TSF,

Memory popped into my head first-corrupt memory writes corrupt data to drive, eventually it doesn't boot but that wouldn't cause non-detection in another computer. Non detection would indicate a bad controller.

I'd start with checking the AC adaptor with a multimeter- after that, the components that would make up a desktop power supply are on the mainboard, basically voltage requlators that change the voltage to the various components. It might be worth it to open the old drive and see if there's any sign of electrical arcing, or blackened areas on the controller (the green circuit board). you might check the mainboard as well-replacing drives get's expensive

You could also read the SMART drive statictics to see if any of the drive parameters are out of the ordinary already

roadkillkid · 10-20-2006, 06:21 AM

Thank you for your assistance. I'll report back once I've done those things.

**Terrister** · 10-20-2006, 06:38 AM

Is this computer still under warranty?

roadkillkid · 10-20-2006, 06:40 AM

Unfortunately not.

10-19-2006, 08:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
roadkillkid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP SP2	Lockup problems with Compaq Presario r4000 Hi, my first post in TSF. Hopefully someone can assist. System specs are: Compaq Presario r4000 AMD athlone 64 4000 2gb Ram 80gb Samsung HD Win XP SP2 Problem description: Bought the laptop in May, worked fine for a few months. Then started experiencing lockup problems, automatic reboots without warning. After it had locked up I would have difficulty getting it to restart, took several hard power-downs. Problem got progressively worse, and got to a point where there would be several long beeping noises before it even got to BIOS test. Tried reloading Windows, wouldn't complete setup due to locking up. Tried loading Ubuntu, couldn't get past first stage of setup. Replaced original HD with Samsung 80gb, and the problems stopped immediately. Tested the original HD in another machine and it wouldn't even detect it. This led me to believe that the HD was fried. After a few days running laptop with new HD, the freezups and restarts began happening again, exactly the same as before. - Tried running without AC power, same problem. - Tried removing battery, same problem. - Tried starting in safe mode, same problem - It's not overheating issues, as the problem happens so soon after booting up that laptop doesn't have time to heat up. I'm at my wits end with this thing. My initial thought was the mainboard had gone, but then why would it work perfectly for almost a week with a new HD and then start acting up again? Could it be a power supply issue, which is frying my HD every time? Could it be a memory issue? Driver issue? Any input would be appreciated at this stage. Thank you.

10-20-2006, 06:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Is this computer still under warranty? __________________

10-19-2006, 10:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Welcome to TSF, Memory popped into my head first-corrupt memory writes corrupt data to drive, eventually it doesn't boot but that wouldn't cause non-detection in another computer. Non detection would indicate a bad controller. I'd start with checking the AC adaptor with a multimeter- after that, the components that would make up a desktop power supply are on the mainboard, basically voltage requlators that change the voltage to the various components. It might be worth it to open the old drive and see if there's any sign of electrical arcing, or blackened areas on the controller (the green circuit board). you might check the mainboard as well-replacing drives get's expensive You could also read the SMART drive statictics to see if any of the drive parameters are out of the ordinary already

10-20-2006, 06:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
roadkillkid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP SP2	Thank you for your assistance. I'll report back once I've done those things.

10-20-2006, 06:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
roadkillkid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP SP2	Unfortunately not.