Packard Bell SW51 takes AGES to boot

1) - 1) CD/DVD 1) - 2) HDD 1) - 3) Network (Defined as PXEin BIOS) 1) - 4) USB / Floppy (Defined as RemovableDevice in BIOS) 2) In Progress… 3) Will do this after noting all BIOS Settings 4) I don't think i have a corrupt MBR as i have just repaired it (that's how i got my OS back working) and it has been like this for about 7 months now I will do as you suggest but with an Ubuntu 9.04 disk as I already have one. Thanks for all your help paws. Duey

Boot priorities look good Lets see how you go with the BIOS to default/Conservative Regards paws

Just reset BIOS ( and changed boot priorities back to what they are listed as above) so i will post tomorrow (after all, it only does it if the computer has been shutdown for a while…) and while it's shut down i'll take HDD out and boot ubuntu 9.04 live cd - 2 birds, 1 stone Hope this works but i've got a gut feeling it wont Thanks paws, Duey

Hope this works but i've got a gut feeling it wont

I hate it when i'm right.
Also, another note, i now can't reply in firefox from this machine??

Maybe this post should be in What The Heck?

i've always used firefox (or as i refer to it - FailFox) LOL!. it worked this morning when i posted my last post.

Any Ideas??

and i can't be bothered with the HJT and others Logs…

you only need HJT etc if you suspect a malware infection….. Time for a format and reinstall methinks… Regards paws

I hope you mean a reinstall of failfox and not windows! I can't be bothered with the hassle of re-configuring my install & re-downloading all the programs (trust me, there are lots) Duey

I think your threat of a re-install shocked firefox into working again - I Love the self fixing stuff!! :yay:

it's only Quote and FULL Edit that it doesn't like doing!!! All Together now… WTF?!

I'm no purist in these matters, in my workshop time is money…… if the problems persist after the normal steps have been tried…then its a format and reinstall of the operating system and applications…. The format and reinstall should not take more than 45 mins to an hour+ the time for installing your applications and copying accross your back up…

When its all done, configured correctly, running fast and sweet, all junk files deleted, defragged, and with no viruses or undesirable elements present, take a disc image, keep it safe on removable media (plus a spare) make a bootable disc so in the event that sometime in the future a major problem arises that cannot be fixed in a timely and cost effective way by the normal means, you can re-image to your "perfect set up" in the time that it takes to walk the dog!
I use Paragon and Acronis…they are both good but for free disc imaging (and partitioning applications,) take a look here:
http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml
Finally make sure your disc image is verified correct and reproducible and that your boot disc works!
Regards
paws

Just finished formatting and reinstalling OS.

The OS isn't the problem.

It's got to be the BIOS chip or the motherboard as my original problem

…if i shut down my computer for over 1.5 mins it takes 8+minutes to boot to BIOS…

That is the issue that now needs fixing. I'm guessing - send back to techs who watch films on ur PC and about 3 months (and a few e-mails from a friends' computer) later you get your computer back!

I would name them but i feel there may be a lawsuit if they find it It's The Tech Guys!! (them from PC World / Curry's / Dixons / Comet) t/a DSGi PLC

Your choice…. Regards paws

Your choice….

I know it's my choice but i'd prefer it if one of the professionals here on WTT can fix it for me before they take my laptop apart and put me an new MoBo in so that I have to re-install everything again (or from image)

BTW, did you like my spoiler?

Regards

Duey

If the BIOS chip is U/S then its doubtful you will find a shop willing to replace, just the chip…its too costly and most of us have got rid of our eprom readers/programmers…..so if it U/S then a new mobo is worth considering…have a look on ebay if you need a deal!

If you have already stripped the laptop down then its worth changing the CMOS battery for a new one, they are only a pound or two…if you leave it out for 30 minutes or so before replacing then it should….( fingers crossed) find your hard drive etc on restarting……..if its doesn't …then that's why I suggested you write down all your BIOS settings…!
Presumably you had a multi boot set up with 3 different OS……… and presumably you have carried out in depth virus scanning?….(boot virus from an OS of unknown provenance etc)
Lastly the BIOS can be different on PBs depending on whether the Original OS was XP or Vista….. presumably you have the correct up to date BIOS? and you have checked, double checked and then checked again all the BIOS settings?
Have a look here:
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/ind…;ppn=PB57M01001
If you do need to flash the BIOS then do make sure that the laptop's battery is fully charged, and that you are operating from the 230V mains supply (via the adapter)

A power cut when flashing the Bios is very bad news indeed…

Regards
paws

It is under a Whatever happens after sales agreement so all repairs are carried out for free (parts incl) so do you reckon i should flash BIOS using just mains power or should i use software (i have a cd that has lots of tools on it (called Hiren's Boot CD) and one section is just BIOS/CMOS tools). Also, just had a quick look at the link you posted and i have already downloaded and installed v2.02 for the bios (the Vista one and the most up to date) as my computer shipped with Vista, this is the correct BIOS version. If the BIOS flash (Hardware or software) doesn't work, i'll give them a call and tell them my problem. 1 more reason that they are stupid The Tech guys that is… is that they aren't allowed to diagnose problems over the phone, even if it is blindingly obvious what the problem is/was. Regards Duey