Computer Wont Boot and Freezes In Bios. HELP!!

LONG DESCRIPTION IS TO DETAIL EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE IN DETAIL. PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE AND READ.

Hi
I have a Compaq v4000
The computer was used a lot daily. The computer just seemed to crash (i expected this because of the amount of use). The computer would freeze while the windows xp loading screen.
I formatted the Hard Drive but another problem arose. When i hit the power button the computer once every (lets say) 10 times will decide to start booting. The HDD light would stay on for a few minutes with the screen remaining blank. Finally when it does give me an option to access the bios i can enter it and then it freezes in the bios. I assumed this was a HDD issue. I went out and purchased a Hitachi 80GB 7200 RPM IDE PATA HDD. The computer still was giving me the same problem of booting (and the computers HDD light still remained on for several minutes). I decided to put the HDD in another computer to make sure it wasnt defective it worked and installed XP pro on the new HDD (using the other comp.) I then swapped it back into the "broken" computer and still same problem of booting. but when it does finally get through the whole blank screen situation. It gives me the error message "A disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl+ Alt+ Del to restart".
At this point i am clueless of what the problem can be.
P.S. I tried setting the jumper settings on the HDD but same problem.

System Specs:
Compaq Presario v4000
Intel Centrino (forgot GHz and cnt access any info on it)
2Gb DDR2 Ram (2-1GB Memory Sticks)
NEW 80Gb 7200 Hitachi HDD
...Please let me know if you need more

Please help if you can.
Thanks!!

 

How soon did you arrive at the "conclusion" that it was a HDD problem? Can you do a memtest86+?

 

I assumed it was the HDD after the HDD refused to boot or cooperate in any computers. + the freezes....
I dont know what a memtest86+ is?? Please explain.
Thanks for quick reply!

 

memtest86+ is a memory testing software that you download and burn the image onto a CD. After you turn on your computer, you load the CD into the drive and boot from the drive. Basically it just runs an extensive series of tests on your memory to see if any of the memory modules have gone bad. BIOS not loading is a possible symptom of such memory failure. That is why zephyrus17 asked to perform a memory test on the computer.

 

Ok please "link" me to where i can get the software. I have problems getting to boot a CD all together. I am going to try and swap out the memory and see if it fixres anything. Il check back soon!
Thanks!

 

it is also on ubuntu forms of linux cd if you have any of those

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

 

Thanks!

I just swapped 1Gb Ram (2-512mb Sticks) from another comp. No Luck. Still not booting (Blank Screen).

 

Did you check whether there were any BIOS updates for your machine? Try flashing the BIOS. A poster in another forum posted that this fixed his machine.

 

If all else fails, I can only guess that maybe the processor is going bad. That is a possiblity and would explain the random crashes and freezes.

 

I there a way to update the bios if the system isn't really working?
I cant really boot up to do the flash...

This laptop is giving way to many problems for no reason. Its a family members comp. and i constantly say do not leave it on a plastic table cloth to suffocate the fans... do not leave it running on a bed or in yourlaptop bag. Some people just don't learn.
If the bios update doesn't work i think i am gana go with the RIP route

 

You can do a bios recovery without booting into an "OS".

 

Is it possible for you to walk me through the process? Im not familiar and never had to do it without having the OS working...

 

Please can someone help me walk the process of how to update the bios without being able to boot up windows??
My laptop is still down and I'm out of options.

 

1- If you can get into the bios screen it means that you bios is Fine; i.e. you don't need to upgrade it.

2- Try the following:
a. remove the following items from the laptop: DVD drive, battery, HDD and Wifi. Then swich the laptop ON and see if it reboots by itself
b. Burn a linux live CD such as Ubuntu. Put the DVD drive back in the laptop and see if you can use Linux
c. If b succefull then add you HDD and test again with the ubuntu live CD (you don't have to install Linux to use the Live CD).
Ubuntu has few utilities that will allow you to scan you harddrive. Please use google to find how to do it.
If this step works then we can safely assume that your harddrive is OK.
d. put the wifi back in and test.
e. last put the battery and test again.

hope this helps

 

OK i will give it a try. Only problem is that someone jammed the battery in and it wont come out

i will try the other steps and post back.
Thanks!

 

I think it's the wifi but it could something else.

 

Ok thanks! i will give that the first try