Pc Permanently Frozen- Any Tips?

[David H]

My PC (Compaq, 2 years old, Windows 8) froze midstream which it has done before occasionally, and needed unplugging to switch off, but this time when it gets half way through bootup it happens again. I'm assuming it's terminal but as it's a few days before I can get someone to look at it is there any cause and solution that may not be hardware failure and could be fixed without having to replace a blown part or two?

[Buenchico]

Have you got the original Windows disc? If so, put it into the drive. (If necessary, open the drive while the computer is turned off by inserting a straightened out paperclip into the little hole next to the drawer). Then try booting your computer. Hopefully the BIOS will be configured to boot from the CD drive before the hard drive. (If not you'll need to try to get into the BIOS to change the setting and then try again). If you can boot from the Windows disc you should be able to access a 'repair' option, which might solve your problem.

Good luck!

[David H]

I should have but would need to check. If so I'll go through the process (although the monitor is now hooked up to the old PC I keep as a backup), if I can do a software fix and not need to send it away and pay I'll be very happy. I'll report back when I've got somewhere.

[David H]

OK, update time. I have no recollection of being served with a Windows disk, but as soon as I turned on it told me to make a recovery disk (major clue here). Not one of my wide range of DVDs was accepted, and in the end I gave up, and forgot about it. Bad move but inevitable. I suspect in the absence of a personal copy of Windows (despite paying for it) that was the replacement. Too late now obviously. There was also no code with it either.

I contacted HP (who now own Compaq) who informed me they won't authorise any models they didn't test for Windows upgrades for them so it is blocked from 8.1, possibly permanently. The model is a CQ2000. I will now have to call Curry's tomorrow (on a Saturday...) for their stock non-service dept. solution, as this must happen all the time and there must be a plan B when there is no Windows disk (which I paid for) or recovery disk (which not everyone is likely to have made however many times it reminds you). But I'm sure there's a 50-50 chance had I possessed either of these I may not be waiting for the letters to appear on my ancient hand made PC I keep as a spare.

[David H]

Oops- cont.

How does it hang? (ooer missus). It froze during normal internetting, the major way when the entire PC (or laptop, that does it as well) won't unlock or even turn off at the switch so have to unplug it. Every previous time it simply works as per normal, but this time it did it's beeps on startup, (normally takes 1-2 minutes), but bleeped again a minute later and froze without anything appearing on the screen. It wouldn't turn off and just failed at that point on every try.

[David H]

Phew, I left it in the other room after I switched it, and turned it on and the lights appeared to be working normally after a while, so unhooked the monitor (three cables, never again!) as the old PC was still plumbed in and may have needed to leave it, and wonder of wonders it was back working again. I don't know if it may have been static buildup (it affects digiboxes) or maybe needed to wind down for longer before it was switched on again, but I've learnt my lesson and will be backing everything up and making those recovery DVDs even if I have to buy them specially. Any insights into the cause and future solutions (including alternatives for absent Windows disks) gratefully approved.

Thanks for all your help and I'll be keeping up to date in future.

[TTG]

Good result David. If you have a sticker on the laptop stating the Windows licence key then you can legally download a copy of Windows 8 and 8.1 just in case a full reinstall or repair is even needed. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only. There is the option to download an iso file which can be burnt to a dvd.