new problem; on laptop this time

[it1958]

i'm going to post this here (don't even know if you 'guys' deal with this sort of problem but you've been so good helping with the PC, I thought i'd try!).

My Toshiba laptop is about 2.5-3 yrs old, running WinXP.

it's been having a problem with the fan not running all the time so i shut it down/off every time i am not using it continually.

tonight, i went to 'turn it on' (bring it out of hibernation, i think) and i get this black screen stating:

>>the last attempt to restart the system from its previous location failed.
attempt to restart again?<<

my options are:
>>delete restoration data and proceed to system boot menu<< (this is the default)
or
>>continue w/system restart<< (i tried this one the first time i got the msg, then the screen went total black. i had to shut the Laptop down and i got this msg again).

anyway, LMK if anyone here tends to this type of problem and, if not, could you direct me to someone else who might be able to help?

thanks!

[jintan]

Although MalwareCrypt, even by the name, is primarily for malware removal help, I try to cover all aspects of computer repairs at this forum.

Not good that the fan doesn't stay running. Just for that alone have you tried blowing it clean through the vents using a can of compressed air? You will need a fine, pointed item to stick into the vents to keep the fan blades from "hyper-spinning" while doing this. May improve some heat-related problem.

I also suggest on a laptop that is having problems to not have the power settings set to a laptop, where things like hibernation on low battery levels occur. Too often this places the laptop in a no-bootup situation, as the reason for going into hibernation remains when you try to bring it out of that. Better to change the Power Schemes settings (for XP, right click the desktop, select Properties - Screensaver tab - Power button) to "Home/Office Desk", then stay alert to things like low battery levels.

For this current problem, remove the battery and unplug the power adapter. Then press and hold the start button for, oh, maybe 30 seconds or more. See if you can drain off any stored capacitors that are keeping some setting changed.

Then with the battery still out, connect it to the power adapter and press the start button, and see if it will boot normally. And then shut down and put the battery back in and boot up normally.

[it1958]

Originally Posted by jintan

Although MalwareCrypt, even by the name, is primarily for malware removal help, I try to cover all aspects of computer repairs at this forum.

thanks so much!!

For this current problem, remove the battery and unplug the power adapter. Then press and hold the start button for, oh, maybe 30 seconds or more. See if you can drain off any stored capacitors that are keeping some setting changed.

Then with the battery still out, connect it to the power adapter and press the start button, and see if it will boot normally. And then shut down and put the battery back in and boot up normally.

did this; still no change. still have the black screen.

did blow out the fan area w/canned air..

[jintan]

The fan not running consistently was actually a warning that things were already not right. The fan connects to the motherboard, and not running suggests less a fan issue (though possible) and more some corruption with the motherboard. You have no display info now at all - no failure or error messages, and just a black screen each bootup?

[it1958]

Originally Posted by jintan

The fan not running consistently was actually a warning that things were already not right. The fan connects to the motherboard, and not running suggests less a fan issue (though possible) and more some corruption with the motherboard. You have no display info now at all - no failure or error messages, and just a black screen each bootup?

))-:

i get this:

>>the last attempt to restart the system from its previous location failed.
attempt to restart again?<<

my options are:

>>delete restoration data and proceed to system boot menu<< (this is the default)
or
>>continue w/system restart<<

[jintan]

Moving away from there being actual laptop hardware issues, when you opt for that "Delete restoration data" the system deletes the Hiberfil.sys file, which is the "snapshot" it uses to load when coming out of hibernation. And the error issue then would be some corrupted info in the hiberfil.sys file. Assuming you selected that at least once, and that file was deleted, really no longer is a return from hibernation issue. Any chance you have some external item attached during the bootup? USB/flash/thumb drive, even perhaps a plugged in mouse?

[it1958]

Originally Posted by jintan

Moving away from there being actual laptop hardware issues, when you opt for that "Delete restoration data" the system deletes the Hiberfil.sys file, which is the "snapshot" it uses to load when coming out of hibernation. And the error issue then would be some corrupted info in the hiberfil.sys file. Assuming you selected that at least once, and that file was deleted, really no longer is a return from hibernation issue. Any chance you have some external item attached during the bootup? USB/flash/thumb drive, even perhaps a plugged in mouse?

i only chose the 2nd option and just once (i never chose 'delete'; that sounded too scary to me).

at the time (when i first got that error), i did have my external HD attached, but it is no longer attached (nothing was attached when i turned it off, took out the battery, etc)...

[jintan]

The external drive changes may have set the stage for a mismatch in devices, before and after the system went into hibernation. Go ahead then and select that first "Delete restoration data" option. It will remove the hibernation snapshot, which may be keeping the system from a successful bootup.

[it1958]

First off, super BIG thank you as chosing the 'delete' option got my Laptop back up on her feet.

now, I must confess i didn't see the part about a 'fine, pointed item to stick in to the vents'.....

Not good that the fan doesn't stay running. Just for that alone have you tried blowing it clean through the vents using a can of compressed air? You will need a fine, pointed item to stick into the vents to keep the fan blades from "hyper-spinning" while doing this. May improve some heat-related problem.

i did not do that.

am i going to want to put this 'fine, pointed item' so far in to the vents as to touch the fan?

as to hibernation:

I also suggest on a laptop that is having problems to not have the power settings set to a laptop, where things like hibernation on low battery levels occur. Too often this places the laptop in a no-bootup situation, as the reason for going into hibernation remains when you try to bring it out of that. Better to change the Power Schemes settings (for XP, right click the desktop, select Properties - Screensaver tab - Power button) to "Home/Office Desk", then stay alert to things like low battery levels.

Lappy is set to 'Home/Office Desk' but also to allow hibernation... so is it hibernation that i want to turn off/disable?

and then my next move? getting the fan fixed/replaced?

in the meantime, i would close her lid to 'shut her down' (which, i suppose, means going in to hibernation....) when not in use. opening the lid when i was ready to be on again, i'd have to log back in an everything was just how i left it.

what do you suggest instead?

[jintan]

The more common hibernation issues I see on laptops is when the battery is failing, the owner switches to relying on adapter power along, but leaves the various laptop power setting as is. The laptop enters hibernation due to a low battery issues, then comes out of that into the same low battery issues. Your method of closing the lid is set to place the computer into hibernation, so when things aren't working right, better to disable hibernation.

Fan stopping is not a common event, or a very good sign of things. If dust buildup is setting up an overheating situation, this might be what you see as the fan not running. If you look through the vents in the plastic over the fan you usually can see the fan and it's blades. And so yes, use a small piece of wire or similarly very small "stick", and just put that through the vent to hold and keep the blades from spinning.