aaaaaaaa laptp stuck won't boot!

[g48dd]

OK I am here in Iraq [ Al Asad Airbase that’s why we cannot just take it to local puter tech shop ] , and I have a friend with a laptop that he has managed to get it completely stuck and won't boot. Here is what he tells me he did. He boots the puter as it is booting he hits F2. He wants to set up a password as system administrator. Ok he enters new password [ there has never been a password in place, this is a new laptop for him, he is real new to computers ..... Isn't there a better way to do this instead of going this root?] After he enters password he said the option to save was F10? I am not sure that is the correct save but that is what he said he did. Now the rest of it I don't know. I don't know if the puter rebooted right then or if windows continued to load or what went on but at this time here is where we are ...... When I [ I now have the puter cause for some reason people think that just cause you know something’s about puters you are a whizzz ggggezezeze, but I do know where to go to get help don't I so maybe that makes me a whizzzzzz ] turn on the laptop I can hear it starting to boot and the Phoenix Technologies Splash Screen comes up and that is where it hangs, nothing else happens. You are unable to shut down the laptop at this point. The power button, Esc, F2, F10, Ctrl+Alt+Del, all these different combinations have no effect it is hung. The only way to turn it off is to pull the battery out.

I did try putting my boot disk in, but nothing happened. I have a friend coming over with a windows XP Disk and I will see if we can put that in and get the message asking if I want to boot from disk or install or whatever.

This guy has a custom built laptop Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.33 GHz, 2 gig Ram, 80 gig hard drive, running Windows XP Home.

I am standing by hoping to learn something new about fixing a real screw up. Oh and by the way if you can help me get this fixed can we talk about the proper way to put a system administrator password in? I am afraid that I am the one who encouraged this as he did come to me and ask about passwords and I told him that he should set up a system administrator password, and create a log in account for himself with password and that this would provide an extra layer of protection when he is on line. Am I correct in this? Or did I give him crappy info, obviously I should have put the passwords in as now we have what use to be a real nice laptop is now a piece of junk.

Thanks,
Ken

[minsonngo]

Custom built?

Is there a brand and model number?

[g48dd]

No, its not an HP, Dell or anything like that its completely a custom machine built by Sandia Computers Albuquerque, NM. I might have to contact them, is that what you are suggesting?

[minsonngo]

I was trying to figure out if there was a way to clear the CMOS settings and revert it back to default. Your friend probably did something wrong when he was changing the BIOS settings.


Are you sure there is not a brand or model number anywhere? You can't exactly build a laptop like you build a PC... the closest thing is buying a barebones laptop kit and adding your own CPU, HDD, and memory.

[g48dd]

This was actually my laptop 4 months ago, I am the one who had it built, but I sold it when it did not have enough power to run my stuff. Anyway let me check, I know that you are right they would have had to use a barebones type package, I am checking it now and I will send again in a min.

[g48dd]

The only thing that I can find is that the CD set that came with it that includes the drivers and the manual says it is an Compal HEL80.

I found a picture of it in another forum by doing a google search, I love Google

http://www.notebookreview.com/defaul...&review=Compal

The one I had built is a bit nicer with a 2.33 GHz but I already said that didn't I lol but this is difinately the laptop. I have no idea what MB was used, I am guessing that you are going to have me open it and look for the battery to the BIOS?

[minsonngo]

Here is how to clear the CMOS on the Compal EL80 notebook:

http://www.hi-upload.com/upload/uplo..._el80_el81.jpg

[g48dd]

Ok thank you I am going to try and get this done right way. I have never done this sooo can you explain where I am looking for the ... J1 ... contact, and what I am suppose to short it out against? I mean I know how to short something out but do I just keep touching the screwdriver head to anything I can find I am scared that I will touch it to the wrong thing and then I have another problem. I will check back in a few min see if you are around in the mean time I am going to work on getting the back of the computer off, I am asuming the whole back must come off to do this. I am going to fisrt just take the small covers off and see if I can see the the battery from there but I am guessing the whole back has to come of. I just got off work here it is 6:30am.

[minsonngo]

Just follow the instructions on the diagram I linked to.


You see where the red box is? Inside the red box... is two seperate gold colored contacts... what you want to do is take a flathead screw driver and touch both of those contacts at the same time for 30 seconds.

[g48dd]

ok I can see all I had to do was remove the ram cover, remove the memory, battery, and of course it was not pluged in. Found the two contacts you that were in the picture after pulling up a protective clear plastic covering. Used my flat head screwdriver [ one I use on my glasses] to touch the contacts 30 seconds. Putting everything back together .... still same problem. Repeated this process couple times thinking that I was not getting good contact with the screwdriver I am using but no luck .... anything else you think I can try? Or just keep trying this .... maybe use something different like small piece of copper wire ... something that I know will short it?