Weird problem with HPCompaq nc6120 laptop

During a longer period, i've had a weird problem with my HP Compaq nc6120, wich makes it almost useless. Often the computer freezes, and i have to hit it before it continues. It doesn't restart, or turn black, or anything like that, it simply just freeze.
If i play music, and the computer freeze, the music stops like the rest of the computer, but when i hit it, the music goes on from the point were it stopped. The time does also freeze, so the clock is always wrong.
Sometimes, my external hardrives aren't recognized.
I have tried to dissasembling it to see if there is any loose cables, but evrything seemes to be normal.
I would be very glad if anyone could give me an answer to solve this problem, since i need this computer for school.

 

what do you mean by 'hit it'?

 

I'm sorry for my bad English. I'm from Denmark.

You know, when you give your computer a blow/hit with your hand

 

I think hitting the machine is making the problem worse. Your hanging, may be because of a damaged harddrive, or one which is about to die.
Run hdtune on your harddrive and look at the health tab. If any of the rows are highlighted in yellow or red, I suggest replacing the harddrive.
You also mentioned the time stops with the hangs, so that means their is a BIOS problem along the way.
Download and install the latest Bios for your system, from HP's website, and hopefully that will help solve your time problems.

Also a fresh install of the operating system may also help, if the problem is software related.

good luck,

K-TRON

 

I think all you need is formatting the haddrive and strarting over with a fresh copy of Windows. If you can't use your laptop to back up your files, you probably will have to take out of the harddrive from your laptop and connect it to another computer via a 2.5" USB enclosure or something simiar.

 

I have tried with a fresh installation of Windows, replacing the hdd, and so on, but nothing helps.

 

If is continually happens with different harddrives and operating systems, their is a Bios or other hardware related problem. Have you tried flashing the Bios?
That may be the only thing which can help you now.
If you dont want to flash the Bios, go into the Bios and look for something called: "load factory presets", and make sure you do that. Then hit save and exit, and then hopefully your problem goes away.

K-TRON

 

did you try to reset all te different bits, ram an so on. You could have dislocated them by hitting your laptop.

 

Yes, i tried that

By flashing the BIOS, do you mean downloading the lates BIOS upgrade from HP
s website?

 

lol...this thread is funny. Would u stop abusing ur laptop please! Stop it!

Yes I believe that's what K-Tron is talking about when he says flashing the BIOS. Download the latest ver. of the BIOS from HP's website for that model computer and see if that fixes it.

What I personal feel the issue is though is the CMOS batt. It sounds like it's dieing; and may need replacing ASAP OR it might not be seated properly on the MoBo.

 

It sounds physical to me. That means HDD, bad connection, frayed wire?

I don't know so asking, BIOS and CMOS in this case? During the active operation of the computer? Not start up or shutdown? Physical impact temporarily resolving issue? Battery not seated sure could be physical. I ask because I don't understand, not because I know. Well?

 

Well I hinted on the CMOS batt. as a possibility when I saw the OP mention the time being wrong. One of the responsibilities of the CMOS batt. is to store the system time in its memory.

Link | Link | Link

 

I thought that CMOS batteries lasted I don't know 5-6 years.

The sign for a faulty CMOS battery is when the bios keeps resetting the date and time.

 

True..maybe even longer..but if the OP hadn't been using the laptop for a while it's possible that it could have died down...or maybe it's just a bad batt. or just not properly seated on the MoBo. IDK, it has to be something causing his issues and that's a plausible cause I would think.

Edit: Also;

Powerpack made on some good hints as well.

 

I checked the CMOS battery, and it was placed right. I don't think its dead, beacuse the time does only freeze when the rest of the computer freeze. Do you think there is something wrong with the BIOS?

 

did you try to repair windows. I assume you have XP.
1) Boot from windows installation CD.
2) Ignore the first repair message and select the option as if you're going to install a fresh copy of XP
3) click F8 to ccept the EULA aggrement
4) select R for repair.
This will keep all your files, software and profiles but will delete and re-install XP

 

I have tried to reinstall windows several times, but that didn't help either.

 

If all the different modules such as ram... are fault free then the motherboard in your laptop may have a cold joint (broken soldering joint)... though I still think that you have a loose connection.

 

Let's proceed by elemination
1- go to the dos consol and run CHKDSK
2- If you have more that 1 memory module, remove one an test the laptop. Then try with the second one. If the symptom mnifest itself with one of the two modules than this module if faulty.
3- you could also try to stress the memory using MemTest. The Linux Ubuntu Live CD has one that can run directly from the CD at the boot menu.
4- Remove the optical drive and test again.

Basically leave the minimumnecessa to boot your system and test one by one.

Last remove the wireless module and test. I had a Dell D510 that was working fine but froze when I tried to get into the bios. Replacing the wifi fixed my problem.

 

I have already tried to replace the wlan card, but that didn
t help either.
I'll try memtest

 

read the following:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/laptop-support/180918-hp-nc6120-lock-ups.html
and
http://forums12.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?admit=109447627+1219863952406+28353475&threadId=1010118

It doesn't look promissing

 

No, it doesn't.
I think i just have to call hp, and see if they want to repair the computer, even if it's out of the warranty period.

 

alternatively you could try ebay for a replacement motherboard, as I would imagine HP would charge you a lot for the repair.

 

The price HP would charge you; it's best to just get a new computer. My Compaq R4000's screen got damaged, I called them up and they told me it would be $400 to replace. I was out of warranty..so I just went on ebay and got a screen and replaced it myself.

A Mother Board is different though...I wouldn't order that and try to replace it myself. I'd rather let HP deal with that or just get a new computer.

 

Talking about the compaq R4000. I had one about two years ago. I bought it with a faulty motherboard from ebay as a project. A new mobo from ebay costed £180 including customs as it was shipped from the US to UK. Total saving after repair £80-100 less than if I bought a working machine. A part from the faulty mobo that computer was as new... shame it was to havy for my test.

Changing bits in compaq or HP laptops is easy since the assemble and the disassembly guides are freely available at the HP.com website.