Solved Laptop freezes intermittently.

[webcrawlur]

Hi, I have a Compaq laptop CQ57-229WM that will freeze up on occasion. It has not go a lot of use since I bought it and I would like to use it more often with out it freezing up.

Most of the time it won't start up and get's stuck on the red Compaq screen with the q and won't budge. After holding the power button and resetting it a few times it finally stays on for a bit and I can use it until it freezes again.

A couple of times I got to the diagnostic screen and checked the hard drive and didn't find one installed, weird. A different time the message said there was no bootable device or something like that.

Is it time for a new hard drive?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gregrocker]

The problem could be related to the inferior Factory Preinstalled Win7 with all of the bloatware and duplicate utiltiies which have better versions built into Win7. These throttle Win7 from its native performance and can cause problems. It's the worst possible install of Win7 you can have.

That's why most tech enthusiasts will not run such an install but instead Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Everything is provided in the blue link tutorial. Just make sure to use the licensed OS and the Product Key is readable on COA sticker on the bottom.

At the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware but it may be too late for that if you can't start it. Before I'd waste time Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start I'd get a perfect Clean Reinstall.

If this doesn't resolve performance problems, work through these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

 

[webcrawlur]

Thanks for the reply, I have misplaced the install disks and it does stay on for some time every now and then, can I download from the link you provided and do it that way or will I need to find the original install disks? The sticker on the bottom has the key.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, use the latest official installer for you licensed version provided in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 with the Product Key on COA sticker.

If you'll stick with the steps in that tutorial you'll get and keep a perfect install. Ask back if any other questions arise.

 

[gladson1976]

I'd check the harddisk if I were you and backup any important data in the drive. I had the same symptoms on my HP laptop for almost a month (total freeze at random times, mouse moves and keyboard lights work but every thing is frozen). The harddisk died after that and with a new harddisk, no problems at all.

 

[Yax1]

You may try to run an hdd diagnostic .. use the MHDD to diagnose any delay of reading from hdd's sectors or PARTED Magic ( from the hirens boot cd ) to backup your files ..anyway if it does find aome bad sector - I recommend to replace it once for all .

 

[webcrawlur]

I'd check the harddisk if I were you and backup any important data in the drive. I had the same symptoms on my HP laptop for almost a month (total freeze at random times, mouse moves and keyboard lights work but every thing is frozen). The harddisk died after that and with a new harddisk, no problems at all.

Yes, this is what I've experienced as well, thanks for your input.

Thanks to all of you for your help, much appreciated, I will be looking for a replacement hard drive.

 

[gregrocker]

To know the condition of the HD for sure test with with the maker's Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure Extended CD Scan, followed by http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html, if necessary run from the Win7 installer http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html or http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html.