Hi,
I just bought a netbook (HP mini 1115, refurbished, windows XP) and trying to boot it up has been a nightmare. I get various errors, including:
- blue screen: "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. The problem seems to be caused by the following file: ACPI.sys" etc. etc. Computer then restarts.
- black screen: "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this." And more along those lines. Gives the following options:
- start in safe mode (computer freezes after a long list of text)
- start in "last known good configuration" (which gives the error that "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\system32\config\S
- start Windows normally (goes back into a loop from blue screen to black screen)
- occasionally the desktop wallpaper shows up, but then a dialog box pops up with "lsass.exe" in the title bar saying "When trying to update a password this return status undicated that the value provided as the current password is not correct."
- I've tried booting from the installation CDs, but after I go into the repair module it always ends up freezing at a blue screen with the following text at the bottom: "Examining xxxx MB Disk 0 on atapi..." (sorry, can't remember the number of MB, and I think there was something else in between
- under the BIOS setup utility I've tried to run a memory test, with the following results:
test finished: failed
test status: 1 (replace memory module)
- I then gave up on XP and tried to boot linux from a USB stick. This seemed to work the first time, but the computer froze soon after. Every time after that, a ton of errors were thrown while still on the black screen (while trying to uncompress the files).
I'm thinking the hard drive or RAM might be damaged and will have to be replaced to get this fixed. However, I'm not good with hardware stuff so I could be way off. Are there any "quick fixes" for this, or am I better off just returning it and getting another netbook? (I'd rather get this working ASAP if possible--otherwise I won't have one to use for another week while I wait for shipping!)
Thanks in advance!
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Thanks for your help! I didn't think it'd work (the RAM was fitted pretty snug in the slot) but I reinstalled it and after running the memory test again, it passed! :)
Unfortunately all the other errors are still there. I can boot up linux from my USB now, but still no luck with Windows. Tried booting from the installation CD again, still nothing...any ideas?
Oops, looks like I spoke too soon...the first memory test did work, but after playing around with it some more (trying to get it to run the repair/recovery off the installation CD), the memory test is failing again. :(
I definitely don't think I did anything to loosen or dislodge the RAM...I guess this is a lost cause then?
Thanks for the suggestions.
nobus: Getting a replacement isn't an issue (definitely looks like it's what I'll have to end up doing though), the thing is, I'd really like to get this up and running now so I can start using it immediately. Getting a replacement would mean waiting another week or so to get them to ship it to me.
sarasvatas: I looked in the BIOS but don't see any option for disabling native for sata? After googling it, it sounds like at some point HP removed this option from their laptops.
If it helps at all, here's some more details on the error at the blue screen: (I don't know if it means anything to you guys)
"The problem seems to be caused by the following file: acpi.sys
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_ARE
and further down:
"Technical information:
*** STOP: 0x00000050 (0x8927B1D1, 0x00000001, 0xF7507314, 0x00000000)
*** acpi.sys - Address F7507314 base at F74FE000, DateStamp 480252b1"
Then again, if the whole hard drive is corrupt, it might not be an issue with just acpi.sys, and if I get that fixed another problem will pop up...I'll try some more things today, if there's no improvement I guess I'll take it back for a refund tomorrow.
>> ...the memory test is failing again
Might just be a flaky stick of ram. But without being able to test it in another working system, or a different stick, it is hard to say if it is ram or motherboard.
The "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AR
I understand you wanting to get this up and running, but until the ram issue is sorted, you will just keep getting what you are getting now. A headache.
Sorry, I did attempt that but I guess my answer to you got lost in my previous long post, I'll repost it now:
sarasvatas: I looked in the BIOS but don't see any option for disabling native for sata? After googling it, it sounds like at some point HP removed this option from their laptops.
I did end up giving it up as a lost cause and returned it yesterday. I'm waiting for my new netbook to arrive, and I'll close this thread if all goes well. :) Thanks for everyone's suggestions!
Thanks guys, my new netbook arrived and it's working great. Guess I just got unlucky with the first one. I appreciate all the help!
Now I know this wasn't in the original question, but I have a quick question I was hoping you guys could answer:: the netbook came with a few programs installed that I'd like to remove (to try to free up the hard drive). Some of them don't show up in "Add/Remove Programs" from the Control Panel. Does this mean I can go ahead and delete the files from my computer? (I don't want to do anything to damage this new one!)
If they are just the program setup files (not actually installed yet), that should work.
I would try Ccleaner (remove programs tab) first. Just to see if they show up.
I would run the file cleanup and regcleaner after you unstall stuff, anyway. Just go through all the settings, to see if the defaults will take out anything you want to keep.
I have it tweaked to leave some of my cookies I need, alone.
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by: coral47Posted on 2009-10-02 at 20:17:53ID: 25483661
Since the BIOS says it has a memory proplem, I would start there.
It might be something as easy as a loose module. Remove the ram, and reinstall it, making sure it is fully seated.
If more than one module, try testing one at a time.