Compaq Presario V5000 laptop problem

[meatguy2006]

I'm generally pretty tech-savvy, especially when it comes to computers (I have built and maintained 2 computers on my own), but I've got a problem that I'm having trouble fixing. My friend asked me to fix her laptop(I have very little experience with laptop troubleshooting). When it boots up it goes to a black screen telling me that windows did not start correctly. I've got the following options: Safe mode, Safe mode with networking, Safe mode with Command Prompt, Last known good config., and Start windows normally. I've seen this screen on my comps when I overclock too much, but I usually fix it by turning down some settings, but this is clearly not the problem here. No matter which option I choose, it will go to the windows loading screen for a while then reboot and come back to the same screen with the options.
I was thinking of doing a system recovery, but i don't have the first clue how. Also, I don't know if the recovery will erase all her data. I've tried going into the bios and disabling extra features, but got no results. I figured maybe she had a bad stick of ram, so I tried using only one stick in every possible combo, but still nothing. She said she downloaded some program like limewire, so she may have gotten a virus. Also there have been no hardware updates.
(windows XP)
Any help would be much appreciated!

[rjfvillarosa]

System Recovery (which should be an option on that black screen) will not remove her files, A full Windows recovery using the hidden partition and her install disks will erase all of her files.
If you think she may have a virus, why not connect her harddrive to your machine and recover her files, then you can do a full recovery, which will format her harddrive and reinstall Windows getting rid of any possible virus problem.

[meatguy2006]

I do NOT have system recovery as an option on the black screen.

Full recovery is definately out of the question.

Is it possible to connect a laptop HD to my PC?

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by meatguy2006 Is it possible to connect a laptop HD to my PC?

With an adapter yes.
If system recovery is not available then this machine hasn't been updated to Service Pack 2?

[meatguy2006]

I have no idea if it has or not, but apparently it has not b/c I don't have that option.

[meatguy2006]

I'v been researching other places that talk about fixing the problem from safe mode, but I can't boot into safe mode.

[rjfvillarosa]

Do you have any disks with the machine?
Can you see on the bottom of the machine what version of XP is installed?

[meatguy2006]

Windows XP Home edition

[rjfvillarosa]

I have just had a read through the HP/Compaq FAQ and all the recovery procedures they talk about involve the use of a set of recovery disks that the owner would have made when the machine was new, also it looks like most of those recovery procedures would wipe out all the existing personal files.
If you can get hold of an XP Home edition installation CD you could try a repair install, which replaces all the system files and leaves the personal files intact.

[meatguy2006]

Do you know of any way I can get a hold of these disks if she doesn't have them?

[rjfvillarosa]

I would imagine that they would be expensive:
https://warp2.external.hp.com/driver...icing_info.asp
You will need the serial number off the bottom of the laptop.

[meatguy2006]

I did the HP trouble shooting. They said to do the HD test in the bios, and if it fails, you need a new HD. Do I really need a new HD?

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by meatguy2006 Do I really need a new HD?

Thats a difficult question to answer without knowing the history of the machine, she may have bounced it down the stairs for all you know...
Can you get into the BIOS? is the harddrive recognised in the BIOS.
What about downloading the harddrive manufacturers diagnostic utility and testing the drive?
Do you know anyone with an XP Home disk you can borrow? you don't need their CD key you will use the one on the bottom of the machine to do the repair install.

I bought something similar to this a few years ago and it is in almost constant use.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...-USB31&cpc=SCH
Radio Shack have one but it is a bit more expensive, I would get something like this and try and recover her personal files just in case, if you do go for one make sure it supports 2.5 inch notebook harddrives.