Fujitsu laptop fails to boot every other power up

[philrock]

I have a Fujitsu C2310 laptop computer running Win XP Home that reliably fails to completely boot every other power up - i.e. on alternate power ups. On a failed boot, it does not always get to the same place in the boot process. It always at least puts up the right desktop background color, and at least a blank task bar. Sometimes some or all of the desktop icons are put up, but always some of them are not brought to their correct final image. Usually the Quick Launch area is covered with what looks like a large solid blue task bar button. I am always left with a mouse cursor (arrow) that moves, but clicking on anything does not work. If I move the mouse cursor to the task bar, it becomes an hourglass. Sometimes I can bring up the Windows Task Manager with ctrl-alt-del, and sometimes I can shut down by clicking the appropriate items on the Windows Task Manager. In the Windows Task Manager/processes, I see nothing that looks out of the ordinary. Often, the only way I can shut down is with a power button kill. After a successful boot, if I go into msconfig/startup, the list has fewer than 15 items in it - many of them start with HK, which I think has to do with hotkeys. All this started when I went to Chicago and started using a wireless network that the computer seemed not to like - I often got the blue screen of death when on the network, but could eventually get the computer back up. I always use the computer with a USB Kensington Expert Mouse (trackball), and a full size USB keyboard. I have not been able to figure out how to boot into Safe Mode.

Any ideas on how to fix this short of re-formatting and re-installing everything?

 

[wolluf]

Connecting to a wireless network would not cause problems like this (unless you picked up some malware from the network of course). It sounds like either a hardware issue (ie, something is dying) or malware (have you scanned?) or bad driver. Did you install anything new for Chicago? Is it the same without the trackball and keyboard attached? (either could be dying).

Have you checked the hard drive (run manufacturer's diagnostic, most have one on their website - if they haven't - eg, Toshiba I think - run the hitachi one. Also run chkdsk if diagnostic ok).

Looked in event log (run eventvwr.msc) - lots of incomprehensible info, but also occasional useful items too!

If this were mine (after above checks), I'd do a complete image backup (true image/ghost etc) and do a clean install. If the clean install works ok, then the problem was with your installation - reinstall software and copy back docs etc). If it doesn't, you've got a hardware problem - then the fun of identifying what ('fun' probably not right word on laptop !) - RAM would be usual starting place.

 

[philrock]

wolluf,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give them a try over the next few days. As you say, Fun (not).

 

[linney]

What is your problem on reaching Safe Mode? If the F8 key is not doing it for you, try setting the option for a Safe Boot via the MsConfig tool (Boot tab).

 

[philrock]

I'm not sure any of the boot screens tell me F8 is for Safe Mode. Anyway, this is good to know, and I'll give it a try.

 

[linney]

315222 - A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP (or Vista)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315222&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[philrock]

I booted in Safe Mode, then shut down in the proper manner. Then booted in normal mode - no problem. Since then I have had 5 or 6 successful boots and no failed boots. I was hoping it might work this way.

The presence or absence of the external keyboard did not seem to have any effect. I did not try without the trackball.

After this, I found that I was running both Spybot and AVG anti-spyware, so I uninstalled Spybot. I don't think this was the problem though, because I had a couple of successful boots in a row even before uninstalling Spybot.

Thanks for all your help!