HP 520
Intel dual core 2.2ghz
2gb ram
Vista SP2
Hi, my HP 520 notebook recently began to freeze up arbitrarily. everything stops suddenly with no warning. mousepad, keyboard, screen, harddrive etc. my laptop is set to shut down with a push of the power button- this does nothing. it's set up to just switch off the screen when the lid is closed but touching the lid-closed sensor button does nothing. it's completely unresponsive and the only thing left to do is to remove the power or push and hold the power button to force the power off.
this can happen at any time including before/during the HP splash screen, in the bios screen, while windows is loading ... any time. it seems to not be related to any stress or load on the computer, or any particular activity.
things to know:
i recently cloned and replaced the hdd. i don't envisage this being the problem. i've done it before with no probs and the machine was running for about a month with the new drive before this problem started.
i recently replaced the fan following these instructions: http/tim.id.au/laptops/hp/hp%20520.pdf
this was a two stage process- the first time i only got as far as the keyboard before deciding i would leave it for another day....... two days after this the freezing started. research suggested the freezing may be caused by overheating so i completed the job, ensuring the build up of filth (there was a lot) was gone. also replacing the thermal material under the heatsink. the problem continued.
observations:
# the blue, wireless indicator light always goes out at the same time as the computer freezes (it can't be turned back on- the entire machine is frozen). i don't see how this could be related but am willing to consider it. manually turning it off when the machine is running has no effect on the freezing.
# lifting/moving the computer seemed at first to provoke the machine to freeze but it's certainly not a prerequisite.
things i've tried:
# swapping out/reseating the memory sticks. booting with just one, then the other one.
# memtest86 (no errors found).
# cpu temp testing- it rarely rises above 50 degrees. the computer has frozen with the display on the screen.
# opening up the case and checking everything was put together correctly.
# updated the bios.
# updated windows. (prior to this i was running vista with no service packs. i didn't expect the upgrades to help but tried just in case)
# disabling/re-enabling the wireless in the bios.
# chkdsk
# disabling/re-enabling dual core processor in bios.
# limiting to boot with one core in msconfig.
# Malware bytes anti virus. ran twice in safe mode.
# running machine in safe mode (has no effect- will still freeze at random).
# running machine with all combinations of power cord and battery.
i would love it if someone could provide a solution to this which doesn't involve buying a new machine! thanks for reading, i hope i've provided enough information.
Intel dual core 2.2ghz
2gb ram
Vista SP2
Hi, my HP 520 notebook recently began to freeze up arbitrarily. everything stops suddenly with no warning. mousepad, keyboard, screen, harddrive etc. my laptop is set to shut down with a push of the power button- this does nothing. it's set up to just switch off the screen when the lid is closed but touching the lid-closed sensor button does nothing. it's completely unresponsive and the only thing left to do is to remove the power or push and hold the power button to force the power off.
this can happen at any time including before/during the HP splash screen, in the bios screen, while windows is loading ... any time. it seems to not be related to any stress or load on the computer, or any particular activity.
things to know:
i recently cloned and replaced the hdd. i don't envisage this being the problem. i've done it before with no probs and the machine was running for about a month with the new drive before this problem started.
i recently replaced the fan following these instructions: http/tim.id.au/laptops/hp/hp%20520.pdf
this was a two stage process- the first time i only got as far as the keyboard before deciding i would leave it for another day....... two days after this the freezing started. research suggested the freezing may be caused by overheating so i completed the job, ensuring the build up of filth (there was a lot) was gone. also replacing the thermal material under the heatsink. the problem continued.
observations:
# the blue, wireless indicator light always goes out at the same time as the computer freezes (it can't be turned back on- the entire machine is frozen). i don't see how this could be related but am willing to consider it. manually turning it off when the machine is running has no effect on the freezing.
# lifting/moving the computer seemed at first to provoke the machine to freeze but it's certainly not a prerequisite.
things i've tried:
# swapping out/reseating the memory sticks. booting with just one, then the other one.
# memtest86 (no errors found).
# cpu temp testing- it rarely rises above 50 degrees. the computer has frozen with the display on the screen.
# opening up the case and checking everything was put together correctly.
# updated the bios.
# updated windows. (prior to this i was running vista with no service packs. i didn't expect the upgrades to help but tried just in case)
# disabling/re-enabling the wireless in the bios.
# chkdsk
# disabling/re-enabling dual core processor in bios.
# limiting to boot with one core in msconfig.
# Malware bytes anti virus. ran twice in safe mode.
# running machine in safe mode (has no effect- will still freeze at random).
# running machine with all combinations of power cord and battery.
i would love it if someone could provide a solution to this which doesn't involve buying a new machine! thanks for reading, i hope i've provided enough information.