Hi There.

Can anyone give me a little bit of guidance with this issue with my laptop. When I go to turn it on it just sits on a black screen and then nothing....
At one point before this, it did log me into windows xp - came up with some windows error msg and then I think the battery lost connection and the laptop shut off...haven't been able to get back into windows since.

Thanks.

Hello, and welcome to Geeks To Go.
Did you get an I.E. window allowing you to buy a valid key code for XP for $149.00?

What exactly happens when you turn on the laptop? Do you get anything on the screen or does it stay black.

Are you plugged into A/C via the converter pack or running on battery?

Please provide some more information so we can hopefully help.

Hi,
Please go here to find out more about your problem.

A black screen comes up and nothing else.
I am plugged in with an AC adapter.

I did try hooking up the laptop to a external monitor and it allowed me to chose what I wanted to boot my laptop from HD or CD. I chose CD and the windows splash screen appear (on both the monitor and the laptop). Once I logged into windows it came up about 5 times that 'Windows has recovered from a serious error'. When I plugged the network cable into the laptop. I got the blue screen with an error msg but it was there and gone to fast for me to be able to read and the laptop shut down. I haven't been able to get it to work since!

Do I understand that the computer was working, you plugged in the Internet cable, and the computer died?

Yep.
Can't get it back up.
Left it alone for an hour or so...came back...turned it on and the laptop brand name screen came up but just hanged there.
And now I am back to nothing again

May I ask how much technical knowledge you have?
What I want to know is if you have the ability to remove all of the RAM from the computer?
And will you please tell me the make and model number of your computer? (service tag number if this is a Dell).
Thank you.

This post has been edited by hfcg: Jan 30 2008, 01:59 PM

I have beginner to intermediate knowledge...I guess. I would be able to remove the RAM yes.
It is an Avertec Laptop. 3200 Series.
Thanks

This post has been edited by northernmist: Jan 30 2008, 02:59 PM

Please go here to see how to remove the RAM.
You will have to scroll down a ways before you come to the section on memory.
Once you remove the memory, turn on the computer.
If it went Beep, Beep, Beep OK
If it did not make a beeping sound then your motherboard may be bad.

Is this laptop spose to make any beeping on a normal startup?
While waiting for your reply...I set up the external monitor again and now have the laptop logged into windows in safe mode. I went into msconfig and changed the startup to diagnostic and it restarted fine. I am nervous to connect it to the net again...lol I wonder what is causing this??
Do you still want me to try the RAM removal?

No, do not uninstall the RAM

That was a test to see if the motherboard was bad.
If you can log on using safe mode the motherboard is fine.
Please tell me what the computer is doing now?

It is just logged into windows...not connected to the net.

Is the screen on the laptop working?
Go ahead and connect to the net. I want to see if there is a conflict with the NIC and another piece of hardware.