Hardware troubleshooting think pad...
[embed=file 1116113] Working with a Lenovo think pad E531, that looked like a failed HD. Replaced HD, booted off win 7 DVD & it would just hang at the 'starting Windows' screen. Ran built in diagnostics & all passed. I went to Lenovo's site & downloaded an image for a diagnostics DVD & it gets as far as enclosed screen shot. Don't these things load into memory & run from there? All memory tests passed, so any suggestions as to what to try next?
Thanks!
Thinkpad.JPG
Thanks!
Thinkpad.JPG
SOLUTION
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ASKER
try redownloading the diag - maybe it's a corrupt download
ASKER
Same results after downloading diagnostics again. Tried creating bootable usb from the image using Rufus, and same results! Possible mobo problem?
If you can, take the hard drive out temporarily and test again to verify it is the motherboard.
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Try the UBCD, it includes memtest86+ as well as the diagnostics tools for HD's. If it boots fine the problem is with the iso image you downloaded. I seem to remember another problem recently with the lenovo diagnostics.
http://mirror.sysadminguide.net/ubcd/ubcd535.iso
http://mirror.sysadminguide.net/ubcd/ubcd535.iso
ASKER
When trying to boot from ubcd, it's back to same behavior when trying to boot from a usb drive, disk starts to spin up & then put me back to the boot menu....
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Make a USB stick from it, again with WinSetupFromUSB.
ASKER
It will not boot from usb drive, keeps coming back to the screen where it's asks to choose a boot device. Can't find anything in the bios that would prevent this, either.
You need to get the machine serviced because main boards are expensive and you do not seem to be able to rule that out.
You could always try putting the hard drive in a carrier to see if you can read the contents. If so, back it up and see if you can reinstall Windows.
If you can read the Hard Drive, the issue is corrupt Windows or possibly bad motherboard.
If you cannot read the Hard Drive, then it is a drive problem.
You could always try putting the hard drive in a carrier to see if you can read the contents. If so, back it up and see if you can reinstall Windows.
If you can read the Hard Drive, the issue is corrupt Windows or possibly bad motherboard.
If you cannot read the Hard Drive, then it is a drive problem.
this is how i handle such problems :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html
But earlier you said you were able to boot from a USB stick, at least part of the way. Make sure you select the correct setup in WinSetupFromUSB. If it hasn't already been formatted, select "Auto Format it with FBinst", and make sure it is FAT32. For the UBCD you need to select (LinuxISO/Other Grub4dos compatible ISO.
ASKER
Actually, I had said (or meant to say) I had booted from an external USB DVD drive. I figured if it was having trouble reading the disk, I'd try a different drive. After all this, I find this came my way after someone got a new laptop & they guy I work for thought it could be recycled. It will be headed to the scrap heap now. Can I basically split points up between those who've offered advice?
You can clock on Close Question (lower left Black button) and then select the posts that offered you help. Then complete the close.
ASKER
Thanks to all for the help, but after all that, laptop should have stayed in the 'to be recycled' pile, after all.
Thanks for the update and I was happy to help.
See also if you can go into BIOS and see if the hard drive shows up.