Need Help Pinpointing Problem

timmy2383 · 09-14-2008, 02:56 PM

Ok, I will describe a series of events that happened yesterday and I would appreciate anyone and everyone's thoughts regarding my issue. Also, it's kind of long so I apologize to those who do take the time to read this.

I have a Gateway P-6831FX laptop (w/ Windows Vista), about 2 months old (purchased off ebay). Up until yesterday, I only experienced one problem w/ the laptop when I accidentally unplugged the adapter (whilst the battery was removed) while it was shutting down. It was giving me a boot loop and stop message that disappeared so fast I couldn't read it. I had to use the recovery CD burnt from ISO image to perform a system restore. This happened earlier this week, on Monday.

So, yesterday morning I was playing around on the computer (with battery removed, as I typically do when leaving it plugged in for extended periods of time). I thought I had set it to hibernate, then unplugged from the wall in order to move it around. Next time I go to turn it on, I see the AC/Battery LED flashing, but I cannot turn the computer on. I had the battery in with adapter unplugged, then tried battery out and adapter connected and then finally tried both to no avail. Then, I took out the battery, looked at it in utter confusion, then placed it back in and successfully turned the computer on. However, when it came to the Windows preloader screen, it sat there indefinitely, not frozen, but just loading for about 30 minutes.

I tried to manually reset by holding down the power button, but it never worked. So (and I know this is stupid) I took the battery out while it was unplugged so as to remove all power. I then plugged it back in and booted up to Windows successfully. Now is where it gets weird.

I booted up to Windows, thinking all was normal, and then connected my VGA cord to my LCD TV for some nerdy stuff I wanted to do. However, I noticed that when I was moving windows around it was a bit choppy, as if there were framerate problems. I thought maybe it was just the connection to the TV, so I changed the settings to display on both laptop LCD and TV so I could see if it was a problem with both or just the TV. HOwever, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get any video on the laptop LCD, but then I noticed that if I looked at the screen at an angle, I could see the slight images of the windows that were running, but the backlight was completely turned off. So, at this point, I decided to restart the computer properly. However, it takes me the logging off screen w/ the saving of settings and whatnot, but sits there for about 20 minutes.

Finally it locked up. So now I remove power source again and reboot. This time it takes me to the "Windows did not shut down properly screen" but my keyboard isn't working so I can't make a selection. It then boots to login screen, but I can't do anything b/c keyboard isn't working. I can't shut down using power button so I remove power source again. This time I run the Vista repair cd, check for boot problems (none) then run a memory test (everything fine) and then reboot in safe mode. I get to windows fine in safe mode, no problems. I then shut it down and restart. This time it boots to login screen running windows normally, but after 3 seconds the backlight on the LCD went out. I could still see the image of the login screen and the blinking cursor, so I tied to type my password in, but the keyboard wasn't responding. So I remove power source and reboot. This time it boots to preloader screen, and basically stays at that screen for about 40 minutes. So I removed power source again and gave up. About one hour later I tried booting again, but this time it just froze on the POST screen.

After that, I left it alone for about 5 hours. I tried to turn it on again, but now it won't even turn on. It also doesn't seem to be recognizing the AC adapter when I plug it in b/c no LEDs light up.

I'm guessing that at some point in time when I, stupidly, removed the power sources, it possibly fried some circuits on the mobo?

**TriggerFinger** · 09-14-2008, 06:17 PM

Have you tried fixing Vista (startup repair) or have you tried a restore point? I suggest you try this first. I think to access recovery partition, you should press F11 when Gateway logo appears during boot up. Refer to your User's Guide for the exact procedure on how to use the recovery partition.

timmy2383 · 09-15-2008, 06:34 AM

Well, I never tried that b/c I was able to boot into windows and the issue appeared to be hardware related. However it's moot at this point because I can't even turn it on now.

**TriggerFinger** · 09-15-2008, 07:40 AM

Oh ok... if you cannot turn it on now then you may have another problem. When you power ON do you get any (as in any) indication of life (lights coming ON, beeps/noises, fan spinning, etc..)

I suggest you power ON without the battery (AC only) and do it the other way around. If you still cannot get any power ON, measure the output of your AC adapter.

You can try a reset as it helps sometimes. Remove battery and unplug AC then press POWER ON for 30 secs. Put back battery and plug in AC then power ON as normal.

If still no indication of life then it could be your motherboard.

timmy2383 · 09-16-2008, 06:55 AM

Yea, I don't get any LEDs at all, even with battery out and AC in. I will try to reset later today and post my results. Thanks!

09-14-2008, 02:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
timmy2383 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Need Help Pinpointing Problem Ok, I will describe a series of events that happened yesterday and I would appreciate anyone and everyone's thoughts regarding my issue. Also, it's kind of long so I apologize to those who do take the time to read this. I have a Gateway P-6831FX laptop (w/ Windows Vista), about 2 months old (purchased off ebay). Up until yesterday, I only experienced one problem w/ the laptop when I accidentally unplugged the adapter (whilst the battery was removed) while it was shutting down. It was giving me a boot loop and stop message that disappeared so fast I couldn't read it. I had to use the recovery CD burnt from ISO image to perform a system restore. This happened earlier this week, on Monday. So, yesterday morning I was playing around on the computer (with battery removed, as I typically do when leaving it plugged in for extended periods of time). I thought I had set it to hibernate, then unplugged from the wall in order to move it around. Next time I go to turn it on, I see the AC/Battery LED flashing, but I cannot turn the computer on. I had the battery in with adapter unplugged, then tried battery out and adapter connected and then finally tried both to no avail. Then, I took out the battery, looked at it in utter confusion, then placed it back in and successfully turned the computer on. However, when it came to the Windows preloader screen, it sat there indefinitely, not frozen, but just loading for about 30 minutes. I tried to manually reset by holding down the power button, but it never worked. So (and I know this is stupid) I took the battery out while it was unplugged so as to remove all power. I then plugged it back in and booted up to Windows successfully. Now is where it gets weird. I booted up to Windows, thinking all was normal, and then connected my VGA cord to my LCD TV for some nerdy stuff I wanted to do. However, I noticed that when I was moving windows around it was a bit choppy, as if there were framerate problems. I thought maybe it was just the connection to the TV, so I changed the settings to display on both laptop LCD and TV so I could see if it was a problem with both or just the TV. HOwever, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get any video on the laptop LCD, but then I noticed that if I looked at the screen at an angle, I could see the slight images of the windows that were running, but the backlight was completely turned off. So, at this point, I decided to restart the computer properly. However, it takes me the logging off screen w/ the saving of settings and whatnot, but sits there for about 20 minutes. Finally it locked up. So now I remove power source again and reboot. This time it takes me to the "Windows did not shut down properly screen" but my keyboard isn't working so I can't make a selection. It then boots to login screen, but I can't do anything b/c keyboard isn't working. I can't shut down using power button so I remove power source again. This time I run the Vista repair cd, check for boot problems (none) then run a memory test (everything fine) and then reboot in safe mode. I get to windows fine in safe mode, no problems. I then shut it down and restart. This time it boots to login screen running windows normally, but after 3 seconds the backlight on the LCD went out. I could still see the image of the login screen and the blinking cursor, so I tied to type my password in, but the keyboard wasn't responding. So I remove power source and reboot. This time it boots to preloader screen, and basically stays at that screen for about 40 minutes. So I removed power source again and gave up. About one hour later I tried booting again, but this time it just froze on the POST screen. After that, I left it alone for about 5 hours. I tried to turn it on again, but now it won't even turn on. It also doesn't seem to be recognizing the AC adapter when I plug it in b/c no LEDs light up. I'm guessing that at some point in time when I, stupidly, removed the power sources, it possibly fried some circuits on the mobo? Last edited by timmy2383; 09-14-2008 at 02:57 PM.

09-14-2008, 06:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,791 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Need Help Pinpointing Problem Have you tried fixing Vista (startup repair) or have you tried a restore point? I suggest you try this first. I think to access recovery partition, you should press F11 when Gateway logo appears during boot up. Refer to your User's Guide for the exact procedure on how to use the recovery partition. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-15-2008, 06:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
timmy2383 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Need Help Pinpointing Problem Well, I never tried that b/c I was able to boot into windows and the issue appeared to be hardware related. However it's moot at this point because I can't even turn it on now.

09-15-2008, 07:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,791 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Need Help Pinpointing Problem Oh ok... if you cannot turn it on now then you may have another problem. When you power ON do you get any (as in any) indication of life (lights coming ON, beeps/noises, fan spinning, etc..) I suggest you power ON without the battery (AC only) and do it the other way around. If you still cannot get any power ON, measure the output of your AC adapter. You can try a reset as it helps sometimes. Remove battery and unplug AC then press POWER ON for 30 secs. Put back battery and plug in AC then power ON as normal. If still no indication of life then it could be your motherboard. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-16-2008, 06:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
timmy2383 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista	Re: Need Help Pinpointing Problem Yea, I don't get any LEDs at all, even with battery out and AC in. I will try to reset later today and post my results. Thanks!