HP G62 - 144DX won't boot past HP screen

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  1. Posts : 40
    Windows 7 64 bit
       #1

    HP G62 - 144DX won't boot past HP screen


    I can't get into the BIOS options to see what's wrong or to boot from a flash drive or CD, either. It just sits at the startup screen with the HP logo and says something to the effect of "Press the ESC key for startu options". Pressing ESC, however, does nothing (none of the F keys help either, I tried that).

    Anyway, here's how I messed things up. I was trying to install openSuse to my Windows 7 computer. First I went into my start menu and searched partitions, so I could change those. When I was first installing openSuse told me it was going to format all of my partitions, so I backed out to change those manually. I shrank my largest partition, which has the Windows operating system on it by the maximum it allowed (16,142 MB or something like that. It was a little under 16 gigs).

    After doing that openSuse told me it was going to install to sda6, I believe, and when I checked the memory of the partitions it seemed to match up. When I went to install it after making the changes, it didn't say that it would format my partitions. I figured that this meant I was good and everything would install fine, and it definitely appeared to. I didn't change any settings or anything, but instead just installed everything as default from my flash drive using the 4.7 GB DVD download for a 32 bit PC (mine is a 64 bit, but I wasn't paying attention).

    I'm going to call support in the morning, and I'll post about that when I can. But for now I'm curious to see if anyone has any advice. Is my computer done, or is it just a matter of replacing the hard drive (or possible anything else)?
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    I would boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to see your existing partition structure and content (using rightclick Explore). If Win7 is intact then mark it or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) Active with Modify>Set to Active, then click on HD # to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply both steps.

    If Win7 doesn't start at reboot, boot into Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

    If this fails and you marked 100mb Active, boot back in to change Active flag to Win7 partition itself and try all steps again.

    If you start Win7 then add your Linux to Dual Boot using this method: Dual boot Ubuntu-Win7

    If Win7 won't repair and start or it's damaged, see if the Recovery partition is intact and attempt to run it: HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English). I would run the Minimal Recovery which is close to a Clean Reinstall without the load of HP crapware.

    If this fails and you didn't make your Recovery disks you can order them from HP Tech Support, or follow these steps to get the vastly superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 without the crippling HP bloatware.

    It would be very helpful if you could maximize the PW window and catch a clear camera snap of the drive map and listings to post back: Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 40
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Alright, I'll do that as soon as I'm on a computer than can burn CDs (I'm on a netbook right now). But I'll be able to do that without being able to enter the startup menu? Will it boot from the CD automatically without me telling it to?
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    As shown in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot you can write the Win7 installer to flash stick using Step 5, then mark Active and run Startup Repairs using Step 8.

    To write Partition Wizard to flash stick require the paid version, however Hiren's Boot CD includes it for free.

    To boot DVD or flash stick tap the HP ESC key at boot, select DVD drive or flash stick listed under USB, REmovable or HD's.

    There's also a slight chance you'll still get System Recovery Options using F8 key.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 40
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    gregrocker said:
    To boot DVD or flash stick tap the HP ESC key at boot, select DVD drive or flash stick listed under USB, REmovable or HD's.

    There's also a slight chance you'll still get System Recovery Options using F8 key.
    That's part of my problem, though. Pressing the ESC key should open up the startup menu, but it's not doing anything. I don't think I'll be able to boot from a CD or a flash drive, because I can't get off the HP screen.
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    Try resetting the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS.

    Can you get the F8 or F9 Factory Recovery key to respond?

    Partition Wizard CD should autostart without having to do anything.

    Sometimes boot code on the HD can block BIOS post. Try unplugging the HD to see if stick or DVD will boot. If so see if you can access HD in another computer to copy out your files, however it may require wiping the HD to remedy the problem.

    You can boot the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to test the HD and wipe it. You can also wipe the HD with PW CD which should boot itself. Or you can wipe it in another computer using Diskpart Clean Command.

    Then plug it back into HP, boot Win7 installer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 40
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    gregrocker said:
    Can you get the F8 or F9 Factory Recovery key to respond?
    No, I can't get anything to respond at all.

    gregrocker said:
    Sometimes boot code on the HD can block BIOS post. Try unplugging the HD to see if stick or DVD will boot. If so see if you can access HD in another computer to copy out your files, however it may require wiping the HD to remedy the problem.
    I have no idea how to go about unplugging the Hard Drive. Anyway you could help me through that? Would it be in the section with the little disk looking symbols, or would I have to open the whole laptop?

    And I don't mind wiping the hard drive, since nothing important was on it.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    win 7
       #8

    sorry dude i also don't know how to go about unplugging the Hard Drive?
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Unplug all peripherals. Unplug PC, Remove the battery, hold power button down from 30 seconds to drain all power from board. Now plug back in power cable and restart. Any change?

    What happens when you reset BIOS to defaults using the tutorial I linked for you? Does the HD show in BIOS setup?

    [Unfortunately reading the Manual for your model and looking at the latest BIOS version, it appears you must remove the System Board to access RTC (CMOS) battery, or have Windows installed to reflash the BIOS. In that case I would contact HP Tech Support for assistance in trying to unfreeze your BIOS splash screen.]

    If resetting or reflashing the BIOS still freezes the splash screen with no ability to boot a disk, try free Partition Wizard bootable CD or the HD maker's HD Diagnostic CD which should autostart on its own. PW can run a File System check and HD surface scan on each partition, while HD Diagnostics CD can test the HD. If this doesn't repair HD and regain ability to boot then you can quick wipe the HD with either disk.

    From there you can Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 17 May 2012 at 11:51.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 40
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    gregrocker said:
    Unplug all peripherals. Unplug PC, Remove the battery, hold power button down from 30 seconds to drain all power from board. Now plug back in power cable and restart. Any change?
    Nope, nothing.

    gregrocker said:
    What happens when you reset BIOS to defaults using the tutorial I linked for you? Does the HD show in BIOS setup?
    I don't know. I can't do the first one, and I haven't opened up my computer to try one of the others. Should I try those now, or is there something else I should try first?


    gregrocker said:
    [Unfortunately reading the Manual for your model and looking at the latest BIOS version, it appears you must remove the System Board to access RTC (CMOS) battery, or have Windows installed to reflash the BIOS. In that case I would contact HP Tech Support for assistance in trying to unfreeze your BIOS splash screen.]

    If resetting or reflashing the BIOS still freezes the splash screen with no ability to boot a disk, try free Partition Wizard bootable CD or the HD maker's HD Diagnostic CD which should autostart on its own. PW can run a File System check and HD surface scan on each partition, while HD Diagnostics CD can test the HD. If this doesn't repair HD and regain ability to boot then you can quick wipe the HD with either disk.

    From there you can Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
    I made a bootable flash drive with the iso, but it still didn't boot up. Would it boot from there if I removed the hard drive? 'Cause I opened the part of the laptop with the hard drive, but I'm not sure how to remove it and I'd really rather not mess everything up.

    But here's a picture of the hard drive, maybe you could tell me what to do if I need to remove it. Anyway, what do you think is the first thing I should do from here?
      My Computer


 
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