Quote: Leevil @ July 24 2008, 10:45 PM BSTDamn, didn't work - it hangs on a driver called agp440.sys and the blue screens and resets.
Oh well, thanks for the help guys, in the bin it goes and the power adapter on ebay, fetch a dime they do.
Put the whole thing on eBay. There's bound to be someone out there who wants it, even if just to harvest for components.
Quote: Leevil @ July 24 2008, 10:45 PM BSTin the bin it goes
Not a wise move (nor putting it unwiped on eBay). The hard disk may contain your confidential data.
If you dump it it may end up somewhere like nigeria, where crooks buy them to glean info off the hard disks.
see: http://www.datahighways.net/support/topic.asp?topic_id=167&forum_id=20
for more details.
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If it is a Dell with no CD & no floppy then an image of the disk is almost certainly there in a hidden restoration partition. It is unlikely that the restoration partition ids damaged unless the whole disk is failing. Restoration usually starts with some unusual keystrokes while starting.
The details of how to restore will be in the user manual that cam with the computer. If you have not got that you may be able to download it in the support section of the Dell website after typing in the 8-symbol identifier of your computer; which will be on a sticker somewhere.
Failing that phone up Dell support and ask how to do a restore.
Thanks billwill, I read about that before I think but my laptop may before Dell introduced that hidden partion.
Thanks for you help, I think I'll try hooking it up to my desktop and loading Windows off there onto it.
Quote: Leevil @ July 25 2008, 2:27 AM BSTI think but my laptop may before Dell introduced that hidden partion.
Unlikely, they have been doing that for a loooooong time.
If you want to investigate your hard disk on another computer
USB disk cases for laptop size hard drives are probably available from Morgan Computers in New Oxford St.
Or indeed almost any specialist computer shop.
Quote: Aaron @ July 25 2008, 1:42 PM BSTOr indeed almost any specialist computer shop.
I just happened to see them in the window the last time I was in New Oxford St.
Quote: billwill @ July 25 2008, 11:59 AM BSTUnlikely, they have been doing that for a loooooong time.
I read it was 2004 when they introduced it. Mine is from 2001. It's not the best laptop in the world but I really like it, so I'm gonna try this one last thing and then it's going on ebay, I'll just remove the HDD in case I can't wipe it.
Quote: Leevil @ July 25 2008, 1:48 PM BSTI read it was 2004 when they introduced it. Mine is from 2001. It's not the best laptop in the world but I really like it, so I'm gonna try this one last thing and then it's going on ebay, I'll just remove the HDD in case I can't wipe it.
If it's a Inspiron 3800, I might be able to help you out.
It's a Dell Latitude L400, but thanks anyway.
Lee, after reading through all this.
Just get a new laptop... Less trouble and modern laptop have those things... what are they called? Oh yeah CD DRIVES!
Quote: Paul W @ July 25 2008, 2:47 PM BSTLee, after reading through all this.
Just get a new laptop... Less trouble and modern laptop have those things... what are they called? Oh yeah CD DRIVES!
1. Can't afford it. Especially as I'm moving soon.
2. I don't like new laptops, they're too big and I can't find a cheap mini-laptop.
3. If I can get windows or any other OS installed on this one, I'll have a perfectly fine working laptop that I would be happy with.
4. Thanks for you help.
These things have saved my life when I needed to recover data from the drive in a dead laptop or PC. It basically turns any type of hard drive into an external USB drive that can be accessed from another computer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119152
Quote: Leevil @ July 25 2008, 2:52 PM BST1. Can't afford it. Especially as I'm moving soon.
2. I don't like new laptops, they're too big and I can't find a cheap mini-laptop.
3. If I can get windows or any other OS installed on this one, I'll have a perfectly fine working laptop that I would be happy with.
4. Thanks for you help.
It sounds screwed though Lee, could be nearly anything wrong with it, RAM and HDD most likely.
But the OS needs reinstalling, best of getting some bootleg copy and an external CD drive and just going from there, if that doesn't work most likely need a new HDD.
Cheers you two.
Yeah it is most likely dead. But I just bought a 2.5 - 3.5 adapter off ebay for 99p. So I'm going to plug my laptops HDD in my desktop and install either WindowsXP or Ubuntu through the desktops DVD Drive. I only want the laptop for basic internet browsing. so if this works I will be happy.
Quote: Leevil @ July 25 2008, 2:52 PM BST1. Can't afford it. Especially as I'm moving soon.
2. I don't like new laptops, they're too big and I can't find a cheap mini-laptop.
3. If I can get windows or any other OS installed on this one, I'll have a perfectly fine working laptop that I would be happy with.
All weak excuses! Can be summarised thus: "I'm lazy".
Seriously, laptops are dropping in price constantly. In all honesty, how much can you afford? It really sounds like you're going down a long, long road with nothing at the end of it. There are a bunch of models around now which are tiny and cheap. Check out the Asus Eeee for starters, as that's really begun the trend. Lots more coming over the next 6 months.