Having Laptop Problems Anyone Have Any Idea

[emmie]

why it wouldn't turn on, i tried about a dozen times, and finally it
coughed into life. This was not a connectivity issue, as far as i can tell.

[ummmm]

How old is it?

[emmie]

about 7 years i think, i know its getting on a bit but don't want a new laptop as all the faffing about getting the add ons like printer and stuff.

[emmie]

its a laptop, Dell Inspiron..

[Hopkirk]

Mine does that occasionally, and I wonder if I have confused it whether I want it to sleep while it is trying to start up. Alternatively it might be due to a big update which always causes big delays on mine.

I suggest leaving it switched on, logged in but not in use for quite some time to sort itself out. Perhaps then do a restart for everything to shuffle into place.

[ummmm]

My old laptop used to do it when it was giving up the ghost.

[emmie]

umm
that's what i am hoping it won't do. I struggle to get around as it is, the thought of going to PC world makes me panicky.

[Togo]

Have you looked at update history Emmie to see whether you have had the big upgrade. I take it you are using W10. If so there has been a big system overhaul knocking about for a week or so that can take a couple of hours on slower internet speeds. If you do not know how to check your updates we can do a walk through. If it was in the process of updating your system after loading your lappie would have not fired up giving you just a black screen.

[ummmm]

I'm amazed my laptop works the amount of times I've dropped it.

[Bathsheba]

I'll subscribe to this post cos I would benefit from that walkthrough Togo.
Might have to do own though, need advice on Rapport.
In fact, ignore all above :)

~Baths~
x x x

[Togo]

OK Baths this is how to look at "Recent Updates" W10.

Left Click Windows icon bottom left of screen(Task Bar)
Left Click little cogged wheel icon( again on left of screen in pop up menu)
Left Click Update and Security.
You should now be in the menu (that shows on the left)that says Windows Update.
That page will have a grey box that you can check for updates and a message that gives a date and time of your last update.
There will also, on that page, be a message IN RED that says "View installed update History"
If you click on that message it will give dates, and Versions of updates carried out.
Be carefull not to click on ininstall updates on that page or recovery options( Recovery options are there for emergencies only) and not to be used as a navigation tool.

[Bathsheba]

Thank you so much Togo!
Shall just have to get coffee before writing all this down (printer not working;)

~Baths~
x x x x

[Bathsheba]

So sorry Emmie.
Thanks Togo, shall do a separate post in a while about my Rapport extensions problem:)
~Baths~
x x x

[emmie]

windows 7 im afraid.

[youngmafbog]

Win 7 is probably pushing it on an Inspiron.

Best think to do is unplug it, flip the battery out. Reboot the modem/router then put the battery back in plug in and see if it starts. If it does then leave it alone for a while especially if the disc light it flashing.

Presumably you are running an anti virus? On mine i have seen the machine freeze with Avast so it now has AVG which seems to be better. Part of the problem is the AV files are becoming huge.

For low powered machines they also need to be kept clean. Download CCleaner (there is a free version). First run the clean to remove the rubbish files (you can adjust the clean parameters) then run the registry clean. Windows often leaves rubbish in the registry when doing upgrades which mean broken links. You may need to run the registry clean a few times until it comes back clear (although I did notice Avast items would not clear)

[emmie]

thanks for all the advice, will see what happens if i log out...

[hc4361]

Could it be a physical problem? Muck under the power button, perhaps

[zebo]

My HP whatever, on W10, takes ages to come alive in the morning, reminds me of the old TVs and waiting for the valves to warm up. I tend to put it down to living in Norfolk, a NFN situation.

[mikey4444]

We have 3 mini power cuts here. Not sure why because its a lovely day outside....no wind or rain. And I have had to reboot the PC every time.

[emmie]

it just wouldn't come on, so far though i have turned it off completely, logged out and left it for a bit, then pressed the start button then logged in again, fingers crossed it's working.