Resolved Power issue with Dell a inspiron N5110

I'm currently working on a friends Dell Inspiron N5110 Laptop. It was to simply replace the hard drive but now I have run into further problems.

The failing HD would not save as a clean image for Clonezilla to restore from. So, back to the original HD and reassembled.

injust might have managed to create a repair disk and snapshot out of Windows for restore purposes but I was giving Clonezilla one more go to try and simplify things. but when then a low power message appeared - the power supply is plugged in and lit.

Next thing before I had a chance to remove the Clonezilla CD from the reader the Laptop shut down and won't restart.

i suppose this is motherboard related, or have I failed to reconnect something properly. Where do I start?

 

Thanks Steve. Turned out to be the fact that when I reassembled the Laptop I failed to seat the motherboard correctly in the connector for the power supply.

It's now a live Laptop again but I still can't get the OS to transfer from the failing HD to the new ones have fitted.

The Image I created with Clonezilla was only about 9GB of the 500GB HD and reported as incomplete every time I tried to create it.

The Windows Backup Repair Disk I created reported as being ok as did the backup I created to an external HD. However, on trying to boot with the DVD I get a message telling me:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disk and restart your computer.
2. Chose your language settings, and click "next. "
3. Click "Repair your computer. "

If you do not have this disk, (which I don't as the Laptop was purchased by my friend pre-installed and he hasn't made a backup / rescue set)' contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe

Status: 0xc0000001

Info: the selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

Options: enter = Continue
Esc = Exit

 

Is the hard drive setup as SATA in the system's CMOS/BIOS Setup?

 

Thanks SpywareDr it is a straight swap out for a Dell Inspiron N5110 spec Toshiba SATA drive replacing the existing drive.

 

Sounds like it may be a bad burn/DVD then.

Do you get the same error when trying to boot another PC from it?

 

Not tried your latest suggestion yet SpywareDr.

An update on this Dell Inspiron N5110 I’m trying to sort out. Running either the Dell on-board tune up software of that built into Norton 360 both report imminent HD failure. The Laptop seems pretty stable and usable though.

I have created a restore point. re-run both the on-board Maintenance Create a System Repair Disk and Created a Backup to an external HD. Also ran up Clonezilla and tried to create an image but that reported a failure in both partition mode and disk to disk mode. I replaced the existing HD with a Toshiba 500GB disk specifically listed by the supplier for the Laptop. The Laptop has a OEM Windows 7 Home version installed but with a Windows 7 Pro disk I was able to try to repair and all attempts to do it failed. It looked like it was doing a repair but then went away to check the HD which it reported could take an hour or more – after 5 I gave up.

I have checked the new HD in an external caddy and it looks like it’s identically partitioned to the current disk.

The old disk is now back in the Laptop and is running fine but still reporting imminent HD failure.

Suggestions on a way forward would be most welcome.

 

Install the new hard drive, install Windows, install Windows Updates and Microsoft Securoty Essentials, then either restore 'your stuff' from your backup or temporarily attach your old hard and copy 'your stuff" across to the new hard drive.

 

Many thanks Doc. Problem is my friend bought this laptop about 14 months ago so it's out of warranty.

It's a Dell with an OEM OS and no supplied OS on DVD.

I have now spent £45 on the new Hard Drive and many hours working on it. I started off clueless about taking apart a Dell Inspiron. I can now strip it in about 10 minutes!

What I don't want to do is to have to buy a clean OEM OS to put back onto it which I think would cost about another £70?

That said mindful that a new replacement with warranty and up to date OS isn't going to cost a a shed load more money.

 

Borrow a Windows 7 Home DVD.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Doc.

Sadly I don't know anyone with one but anyhow that would run me into licensing issues so, not something I'd do anyhow. Pity my friend hadn't made a rescue set when the laptop was new of course but flipping annoying that new kit is shipped without a disk copy of the OS nowadays anyhow.

 

It won't if you use the Windows Product Key on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

 

Thanks for all the help and suggestions fellow Windows BBS folk.

From another forum I was provided with this useful link http://arstechnica.com/information-...-a-guide-to-reinstalling-windows-on-a-new-pc/

Within the article there were details of attaining a legal download of Windows 7. Having done that I was able to install a fresh copy of the OS enter the licence key and set up. A few issues with drivers and updates - like the Realtek Ethernet Controller update brought power management with it that not only switched the Ethernet Controller off but also made it invisible! Switching off, removing the cables and battery and holding the power button down for 3 minutes then recalling and restarting made it visible again and allowed me to knock the power saving settings off for the device.

Now have a happy laptop - but what a heap of work it turned out to be. I learnt a lot in doing it though. Thanks you folk for your most invaluable help.

 

Good to hear the problem's finally been resolved. Thanks for letting us know.