StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I am having a huge problem with my laptop. I was using my laptop today and as usual left it be for a while to do something else. Naturally the screen saver came on after a few minutes and about 10 minutes later the screen goes black. No big deal, this should be hibernation (I think because it has happened before). I moved the mouse, tapped the keys and nothing 'woke' it back up. Historically, this 'wakes' up the computer.

Since I was in a hurry I simply held down the power button to turn it off. A few hours later when I started up my laptop, nothing happens and I mean nothing. Normally it brings up a Gateway splash screen loading whatever it loads with options of pressing F10 and F12 then it goes to a blank screen with text "Press F11 for setup" and counts down from 5. Afterwards to goes to the familiar Windows splash screen loads some more and then you get to the sign in (owner, guest etc).

Now, I press the power button and you can hear the CPU fan come on, the power button is lit, but the screen does not do anything. The hard drive light does not even flicker. Twice in the last 8 hours has the first splash screen come up then just hangs.

I tried taking out the hard drive, booting, same thing...nothing. Put the hard drive back in...nothing.

Hard drive, or something else more sinister?

Have you tried to enter BIOS and look for the hard drive settings? A sign is usually that it's not recognized in BIOS.

It's difficult because I cannot get that far most of the time. If I let it sit for hours and then come back turn it on I may get the splash screen and I can get into set up.

I just tried that this morning and managed to get into BIOS. I was looking around and the damn thing went black again after a minute. I dont' know what is going on.

I think it is the hard drive but if I pop it out, I should be able to enter set up with no problem. I dont'w want to spend the money if it is not the hard drive (found one on NewEgg for a good price).

I can turn the power off, turn it back on and immediately try to get into BIOS. It simply will not let me.

It's very probably not the hard drive.