Is My Laptop Dead?

[wolf63]

Before leaving the house this morning I put my Lenovo laptop on, it started making funny noises - which it had never previously made.

I got an error message telling me that it couldn't boot or boot up.

Is it dead or can it be resuscitated? I have purchased another Laptop but I wanted to use the old one for as long as possible.

I have switched the computer off and I am hopeful that once I return home it will magically be working again.

[barry1010]

What sort of noises? A grinding noise could be a sign that the hard drive has failed

[wolf63]

It was beeping away. It wasn't loud. It has been heating up and is warmer to the touch than it should be.

[barry1010]

Try cleaning the fan and vents

[AuntPG]

I agree with Barry -a beep is not as bad as a grind lol! The vents can get really clogged, especially in older laptops, some of which have very weak fans.

[barry1010]

Do you smoke or vape?

[bhg481]

I'm not convinced that a problem with the fan would stop it booting.

[johnny.5]

does it keep playing chasing pavements ?

[AuntPG]

15.00 I had an old HP that stopped working because it got overheated. It can affect the booting up process.

[bhg481]

Was the beeping noise from the speaker? ie, Microsoft telling you there was a problem. Whenever I've had a disc fail it has been making a clicking noise where the read-arm is thrashing about trying to find the data it needs.

[wolf63]

My little brother suggested that Cat fur may be the culprit. I will have a poke around in it at the weekend.

I am using my new computer now, but all my 'stuff' is still on the other one. It is mainly work stuff and funny cat pictures.

This one is about half the weight of the first Lenovo.
Thanks all - this one is an ASUS (as chosen by my brother) and I think that once the initial 'newness' has gone it will be a good little worker.

[barry1010]

Have you tried booting up in safe mode?

[curlygirlies]

What sequence is the bleep?
A 1-3-1-3 beep code pattern means that the 8742 keyboard controller test has failed. This usually means that there is a problem with the currently connected keyboard but it could also indicate a motherboard issue.
One long, continuous beep generally means that there is a hardware problem – often memory related – that can prevent your computer from starting up at all. In a worst-case scenario, your computer is experiencing a major hardware malfunction that will require repair or replacement.
A computer that won’t start and makes beeping sounds is experiencing a malfunction severe enough to prevent the system from booting up.

[wolf63]

Barry - it won't boot up at all, I can't get as far as the safe mode option.

curlygirlies - it was beep - silence - beep. Not loud and didn't sound like a beep that was warning of imminent danger.

It is 8 or 9 years old and has been slowing down but I had it tweaked to my satisfaction.

I am lucky that I have this new laptop, my Chromebook (a gift from my favourite/only sibling) and my Kindle fire.

I will have a look at the laptop and see if there is some fur from the late, great Frankie - he spent enough sleeping on the laptop.

[barry1010]

You missed out an important sentence in your second paragraph, curly

".....If you can't start your computer properly, you'll need to take a look at the physical hardware inside your machine. In a best-case scenario, the computer can reset and return to normal functions...."
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/long-continuous-beep-sound-mean-computer-79252.html

[barry1010]

If you can get your hands on a W10 machine you could create a USB recovery drive, wolf.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-10-wont-boot/

[barry1010]

I asked if you smoked or vaped because both can clog up a machine with a very sticky residue - and of course that acts like a magnet to cat fur, dust, hair etc.
It will be well worth spending a bit of time to open up the laptop and have a good look inside. The problem might be immediately obvious.
I am loathe to give up on a machine just because it is a bit old.