AboutShot Expertise I can answer most questions concerning Microsoft operating systems from DOS through Windows 2003. Hardware or software questions welcome. This is what I do for a living, and I love it! So instead of giving extra to Uncle Sam, I decided to give a little for free. Fire away!
Experience I have been working with computers for over 20 years, currently hold a full time job as a Network Administrator for large financial institution, and run my own PC/Network consulting company since 1998.
Education/Credentials Microsoft Certified;
Novell Certified;
Comptia A Certified;
IBM Certified Business Partner in Desktops/Laptops/Servers;
HP Certified Technician Desktops/Laptops/Servers;
Toshiba Authorized Service Technician;
Question QUESTION: I have been given an E-System laptop and when the power-on button is pressed the hard-drive light flashes twice but boot-up doesn't follow. The screen lights up OK with the Intel logo in the centre, but nothing else happens. What are the possible faults and remedies?
ANSWER: Hi Ray, when the screen lights up are you given the option to press a key to get into the BIOS/Setup? If so, can you get into it? If you can get into the BIOS, look to see what it shows for a hard drive. This sounds like the machine is not finding a boot device. Will it boot from CD?
Let me know!
Shot
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QUESTION: Thank you for your time. It is good to know that there are still people in this world who are prepared to help a stranger.
To follow up your advice, there is no option to get into Bios and the machine will not recognize or boot from a CD.
Can it be that the hard drive has failed entirely? I should mention that the laptop is just about fourteen months old, so this is unlikely. Or is it? Any further comments would be much appreciated by me, a man in my seventies.
Regards, Ray
Answer Glad to help Ray. The hard drive is not required to get the computer to boot up far enough to enter the BIOS. All that's required for that (besides power of course)is the motherboard, CPU and memory, so one of those must be the culprit. It's also possible that someone shut the BIOS prompt off so it doesn't show it to you. You might try just pressing the key to enter the BIOS. I wish I knew for sure which one it is on your system. Usually it's F1, but it could be F2, F12, Del, etc.
The easiest one of the hardware options to check/change is the memory. It's usually under a small cover on the back. Sometimes just taking it out and putting it back in helps.
After that, there's not much you can do without swapping parts.
