[SOLVED] Help!

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 05:08 PM

Hey guys,

I'm not sure if this is in the right category but if anyone can help me it would be greatly appreciated.

I have a toshiba satellite A200 and it has recently started freezing and the screen turns black. The only thing I can do from here is hold the power button down for a few seconds to turn it off.

I tried a fresh install of xp and it does it while it's setting up, and if it makes it past there it will do it during the install.

I figured it was a hard drive problem, because it's also done it while trying to format the hard drive, so I went out and baught a new hard drive.

The crash is still happening! I had the crash a few times while trying to install xp, it finally made it all the way through but now whenever i start windows it does it.

Can anyone tell me what the problem is? I have not been able to find anything quite like my problem on google, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jay.

**ahmorrow** · 11-11-2009, 05:23 PM

Did it come with XP or Vista? If it came with Vista there isn't much I can tell you. I can tell you this post is probably best suited for Windows XP help since you're having installation issues... either that or Laptop support since well... this is a laptop.

**simpswr** · 11-11-2009, 05:30 PM

I would run diagnostics on the hard drive ( click here )

See this for how to make a bootable cd

If the drive checks out ok, test the memory . . click on the link to Memtest in my signature. Run the test overnite or until it reports errors

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the replys,

I don't think this is a windows problem though... when the crashes originally started happening I was running windows 7.

It's not just the install i'm having trouble with either, it's crashed on me several time's while I was in the windows recovery console, not doing anything, just looking through help commands...

Also, i'm 90% sure it's not the hard drive because I just got a new hard drive yesterday and it's doing the exact same crashes as it was with the old hard drive...

Also I thought it could be the ram but I have tested 3 different sticks by themselves and the crash still happens.

**ahmorrow** · 11-11-2009, 05:58 PM

Go into bios and look around for something along the lines of halting on errors. Make sure that it isn't set to restart on errors. I think you need to set it to Halt on All Errors or something along those lines.

Not sure, but you MIGHT be getting the BSOD.

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 06:22 PM

thanks again for the replys,

i'm pretty sure it isn't the BSOD because i've never once seen an actual error, it just locks up completely and the screen goes black. The fan is still running when this happens though, and continues to run until i hold the power button to turn off the computer.

as for the bios, i don't see anything like that in there.

**simpswr** · 11-11-2009, 06:22 PM

Could be a heat problem . . look in BIOS for the temps . . you should be able to blow out the inlet and outlet ports on the bottom of the case with a can of air

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 06:30 PM

how do i find the temps in the bios?

**simpswr** · 11-11-2009, 06:42 PM

If it shows them, usually in a section called PC Health

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 06:51 PM

My bios doesn't show temp, what could even be causing this to happen if it isn't the ram or hard drive?

**simpswr** · 11-11-2009, 06:56 PM

Could be overheating or a bad power suppoly . .

jayskates · 11-11-2009, 07:02 PM

how costly is taking it in just to get the problem diagnosed? any idea?

I live in Canada if that's any factor haha.

thanks.

**ahmorrow** · 11-11-2009, 08:32 PM

MOST places offer free diagnosis if you commit to using them to fix it. If not it's anywhere from $1-100 USD. I wouldn't go for anything that charged over $35 though.

Honestly if you just take the RAM/video cards, etc. out and blow everything off really good--especially the fans--it could fix the problem. It's a $5 can of compressed air or some rubbing alcohol and some q-tips or $35 to get it diagnosed. Your call.

Keep in mind that the diagnoses are not usually guaranteed.

jayskates · 11-17-2009, 08:14 AM

I just wanted to come back and thank all you guys again, from a computer noobs point of view it seems like it's an overheating problem, probably caused by mass amounts of dust/dirt that has built up.

I didn't use it for a few days and then I booted it up with a laptop cooling pad, and I got through a clean install of xp, and installed a bunch of my software for school without any crashes :D.

I'm going to get that can of air soon and give it a nice cleaning.

Thanks again,

Jay.

**simpswr** · 11-17-2009, 08:35 AM

Well done! Thanks for posting back

11-11-2009, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	[SOLVED] Help! Hey guys, I'm not sure if this is in the right category but if anyone can help me it would be greatly appreciated. I have a toshiba satellite A200 and it has recently started freezing and the screen turns black. The only thing I can do from here is hold the power button down for a few seconds to turn it off. I tried a fresh install of xp and it does it while it's setting up, and if it makes it past there it will do it during the install. I figured it was a hard drive problem, because it's also done it while trying to format the hard drive, so I went out and baught a new hard drive. The crash is still happening! I had the crash a few times while trying to install xp, it finally made it all the way through but now whenever i start windows it does it. Can anyone tell me what the problem is? I have not been able to find anything quite like my problem on google, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jay.

11-11-2009, 05:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 893 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Help! Did it come with XP or Vista? If it came with Vista there isn't much I can tell you. I can tell you this post is probably best suited for Windows XP help since you're having installation issues... either that or Laptop support since well... this is a laptop. __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

11-11-2009, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,230 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Help! I would run diagnostics on the hard drive ( click here ) See this for how to make a bootable cd If the drive checks out ok, test the memory . . click on the link to Memtest in my signature. Run the test overnite or until it reports errors __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-11-2009, 05:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! Thanks for the replys, I don't think this is a windows problem though... when the crashes originally started happening I was running windows 7. It's not just the install i'm having trouble with either, it's crashed on me several time's while I was in the windows recovery console, not doing anything, just looking through help commands... Also, i'm 90% sure it's not the hard drive because I just got a new hard drive yesterday and it's doing the exact same crashes as it was with the old hard drive... Also I thought it could be the ram but I have tested 3 different sticks by themselves and the crash still happens.

11-11-2009, 05:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 893 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Help! Go into bios and look around for something along the lines of halting on errors. Make sure that it isn't set to restart on errors. I think you need to set it to Halt on All Errors or something along those lines. Not sure, but you MIGHT be getting the BSOD. __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

11-11-2009, 06:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! thanks again for the replys, i'm pretty sure it isn't the BSOD because i've never once seen an actual error, it just locks up completely and the screen goes black. The fan is still running when this happens though, and continues to run until i hold the power button to turn off the computer. as for the bios, i don't see anything like that in there.

11-11-2009, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,230 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Help! Could be a heat problem . . look in BIOS for the temps . . you should be able to blow out the inlet and outlet ports on the bottom of the case with a can of air __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-11-2009, 06:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! how do i find the temps in the bios?

11-11-2009, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,230 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Help! If it shows them, usually in a section called PC Health __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-11-2009, 06:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! My bios doesn't show temp, what could even be causing this to happen if it isn't the ram or hard drive?

11-11-2009, 06:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,230 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Help! Could be overheating or a bad power suppoly . . __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-11-2009, 07:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! how costly is taking it in just to get the problem diagnosed? any idea? I live in Canada if that's any factor haha. thanks.

11-11-2009, 08:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 893 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Help! MOST places offer free diagnosis if you commit to using them to fix it. If not it's anywhere from $1-100 USD. I wouldn't go for anything that charged over $35 though. Honestly if you just take the RAM/video cards, etc. out and blow everything off really good--especially the fans--it could fix the problem. It's a $5 can of compressed air or some rubbing alcohol and some q-tips or $35 to get it diagnosed. Your call. Keep in mind that the diagnoses are not usually guaranteed. __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

11-17-2009, 08:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
jayskates Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8 OS: windows xp sp3	Re: Help! I just wanted to come back and thank all you guys again, from a computer noobs point of view it seems like it's an overheating problem, probably caused by mass amounts of dust/dirt that has built up. I didn't use it for a few days and then I booted it up with a laptop cooling pad, and I got through a clean install of xp, and installed a bunch of my software for school without any crashes :D. I'm going to get that can of air soon and give it a nice cleaning. Thanks again, Jay.

11-17-2009, 08:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,230 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Help! Well done! Thanks for posting back __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?