Korean Job Discussion Forums

peppermint · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject: Another Uh oh.

Okay, guys, I installed the crack you guys posted yesterday, and it worked fine. I had to reboot to install the service pack, no problem.

This morning, I was checking my e-mail, and all was good. I got some breakfast, and when I came back, my computer had shut down and won't boot up again. I press the power button, something starts whirring and then everything stops.

Could the two be related?(I'm not blaming anyone, just want to know what to tell the repair guy) And does anyone know of a good repair shop in the eastern Seoul area, say around Jamshil, or Technomart?

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Hmmm....well, the "crack" was probably not the issue, seeing as you rebooted and I assume you used the computer for some time before going to bed. It booted up in the AM no probs, so I don't think it's the "crack". Too bad you weren't there when it crashed....it may have given some signs first that would be helpful in a diagnosis.

I'm not sure if I would have changed the OS on a laptop though...I didn't want to be an "I told you so" type of guy, so I didn't post this in the first thread, seeing as you had already done it. I guess (only guess....no experience with XP Home edition) that they are directly compatible, but that may be an issue.

Honestly, it sounds more like a hardware issue. One way to tell for sure....can you boot from the CD? When you turn on your comp, can you get into the BIOS? Press "Del" on the boot screen....if you can get in there, then reboot and try "Safe Mode". If you get into safe mode or can boot from the CD, then it's probably not hardware, then try a format and re-install Home Ed. and see if that works ok. I guess your laptop came with custom installation CDs? Those are the ones you should use for a re-installation.

If you can't get into the BIOS, boot from a CD or even safe mode, then something is cooked inside the computer. The "whirring" sound could be a fan or the hard drive...maybe the hard drive went south, or a heat issue with the CPU.

Could you post some more details of exactly what happens when you turn it on? Anything come up on the display? A flash or anything? Did you let it cool down and then try again?

It is odd that this happens right after you use a "crack"....does seem suspect. Dunno if the "crack" could have fried something...I used a "crack" on my wife's Korean edition of WinXP Pro...a Korean "crack", and there are no problems....the friend who used the "crack" when XP SP1 came out has since recieved a "network edition" of WinXP, and doesn't need the crack now, but he didn't have any issues like this when he did use the "crack". I would be happy to give you a copy of this edition...it works well and needs no "cracks" to update.

So, my first guess is hardware....do the BIOS, boot from CD and safe mode things. If it's a no-go, it's hardware. If you can get into these, then format and re-install from the disks that came with your laptop.

Sorry...long post. I work near Techno-mart on Mon, Wed and Fri....could have a look at it if you like.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

No, it's doubtful they're related. Sounds like some sort of a hardware failure. Do you see anything at all on the screen? Does the 'whiring' sound like a fan or a hard drive? No beeps? How long after you press the power button does 'everything stop'? The power supply is the first thing I'd check.

peppermint · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 4:38 pm Post subject:

My best guess is that something has overheated, cause I've noticed that when I take CDs out they're very hot.

Nothing shows up on the screen when I press the power button. The power light flashes, and for a second and that's it. There are no beeps, it crashes well before the POST.

I unplugged it from the wall and tried just using the battery pack, still nothing. I'm at work now but will try again when I get home.

Thanks for the help guys.

Thunndarr · Joined: 30 Sep 2003

Well, I know for a fact that this kind of thing can happen when your heatsink fan goes bad.

Well, on a desktop anyway. Still, might be possible on a laptop also.

peppermint · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject:

Here's hoping that's all it is, cause that would be relatively easy and inexpensive to replace.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Errr.....yeah....but if it took the CPU with it first....?

Intel have a thermal shutdown feature...if it gets too hot, it will auto-shutdown...let's hope it was working. I think it's implemented on laptops as well....makes sense as they get hotter than desktops sometimes.

Anyways, I hope it's just a fan replacement. Good luck....keep us posted!

peppermint · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:28 am Post subject:

yup, it's fried. Evil or Very Mad

Oh well, it was always twitchy anyway. A friend says he can build me a new desktop, how much should I expect to pay for a mid range system?

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

About 700,000 ~ 1,000,000 I guess....you can spend as much or as little as you want really.

EDIT: a nice link to a cool all-round setup:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1618454,00.asp

Remember....build, don't buy. Get your friend to build it for you, or PM me.