Computer : HELP !!!!!!

F

Frenchy Faith

WMMWM *poke* :)
Joined
Sep 27, 2003
Messages
2,541
Location
Edinburgh
I need help coz I got a big prob with my laptop.
There is written Error 174. I can't enter the puter, there is just written that & ok or cancel, & if I try one or the other it's the same, it restart the puter, & let a black screen with 174 written.
The odd thing was that it worked perfectly 2 days ago, & it's only yesterday, when I started it that there was a prob.
First, it made an odd sound, like in video game in a fight you know. The sound was off but it still made this noise.
The 2 first times, I could start it with default & then, when I tried to run the anti virus (which was out of date btw) it crashed again.
Now, each time I try to start it it make noise for about 15 seconds & this black screen with Error 174 written.
The laptop is kinda old, more than 10 years I think, it's a IMB ThinkPad (donno if it helps to know). I used it only to write text so there wasn't any dangerous program in it I think, & I wonder if it comes from my diskette, maybe a virus?
Anyone has an idea of what I must do?
 
Frenchy,
Am I right in thinking you are getting this error code when you first turn on the PC - it doesn't even go through the BIOS screens? Do you know the BIOS make on your laptop? (E.g. Award BIOS version ?, Phoenix BIOS v?)
 
I have no idea what is BIOS??
& yep, the error appear when I first turn the PC. The screen is black & I can't access the normal page.
 
I could ask Mike, (if noone else can help) but I don't think he will be able to do much over the internet. I think you might have to take it to a professional.
 
Frenchy Faith said:
I have no idea what is BIOS??
& yep, the error appear when I first turn the PC. The screen is black & I can't access the normal page.
Click to expand...
From sysopt.com -
Q: What is BIOS?
A: BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System.

All computer hardware has to work with software through an interface. The BIOS gives the computer a little built-in starter kit to run the rest of softwares from floppy disks (FDD) and hard disks (HDD). The BIOS is responsible for booting the computer by providing a basic set of instructions. It performs all the tasks that need to be done at start-up time: POST (Power-On Self Test, booting an operating system from FDD or HDD). Furthermore, it provides an interface to the underlying hardware for the operating system in the form of a library of interrupt handlers. For instance, each time a key is pressed, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) perform an interrupt to read that key. This is similar for other input/output devices (Serial and parallel ports, video cards, sound cards, hard disk controllers, etc...). Some older PC's cannot co-operate with all the modern hardware because their BIOS doesn't support that hardware. The operating system cannot call a BIOS routine to use it; this problem can be solved by replacing your BIOS with an newer one, that does support your new hardware, or by installing a device driver for the hardware.

Or more simply, your PC's BIOS is reponsible for the black and white screens that flash up when you switch it on and it sets up everything for your Operating System (e.g. Windows) to enable it to work on your PC.

I will try to find out some more for you - do you have the model number for your Thinkpad?

I had another thought - Have you tried starting it up with a "rescue" disk or Windows startup disk for your Windows version in the floppy drive?
 
I'll look at the model number but I haven't the laptop here right now. Thanky very much Mr Pointy for the info, I'll write down everything I got about it & post it in here ASAP.
 
Ok, here is everything I could find written on the puter

Copyright 1981 - 1996 IBM Copr

Type 2625-2X9 S/N 559Z42V
Type 2625 16V 2.2A 35W

Made in UK

Also, I don't have the diskette which would enable me to start the puter from it instead of starting it from :C
Still not working, I'm looking for this 174 error right now but I can't find anything.
 
Frenchy Faith said:
Ok, here is everything I could find written on the puter

Copyright 1981 - 1996 IBM Copr

Type 2625-2X9 S/N 559Z42V
Type 2625 16V 2.2A 35W

Made in UK

Also, I don't have the diskette which would enable me to start the puter from it instead of starting it from :C
Still not working, I'm looking for this 174 error right now but I can't find anything.
Click to expand...

OK Frenchy - I'll see if I can find anything out for you. I can't promise anything and I may take a few days so if any of the other more techy Board members can help please feel free to dive in - the more the merrier 🙂

BTW - you can download a boot disk from -

http://www.bootdisk.com/

for whichever version of Windows your laptop uses. I'm assuming you can do downloads on whichever PC you're using to post.
 
I'll put the bootdisk thing on a diskette & try to start the puter with it to see what it's doing.
Thanky very much again Mr Pointy, I really appreciate your trying to help even tho you can't find anything 😀
 
Frenchy Faith said:
It didn't work with the diskette. I guess I'll take it to a specialist
Click to expand...
That sounds like the best idea. I didn't find anything helpful - sorry.
 
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