Very strange laptop booting problem

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Hey, all.
First of all, the system specs: eMachines eSlate 450K notebook computer K6-2 450 MHz (I think it's the mobile version with an integrated L2 cache) Windows 98SE

And here's the problem: The notebook doesn't boot properly. Usually, it doesn't boot at all! It always powers on, loads the keyboard and mouse/touchpad, and tests the CPU, RAM, hard disk and CD-ROM. After it tests the CD-ROM, it stops the boot cycle. It doesn't freeze, exactly, because when I press F2 to enter the BIOS it pops up a message, "Entering the BIOS...", but it never actually does so.

If I just reboot over and over again, the machine will never make it past that point. However, if I leave it running for a few minutes, then reboot, it will sometimes (though not usually) boot to Windows.

First I thought I might have a corrupted BIOS, but if that were true, how would I be able to boot at all? Then I thought it might be the BIOS settings, but I've restored them all to default and the problem remains. I tried repartitioning and formatting the hard disk, still with no luck. Someone at another forum suggested it was the registry, but I the scanreg tool reports no errors. Another fellow thinks it's the hard disk motor, but scandisk passed with flying colors, and the system doesn't always boot even after warming up.

I'm stumped. Can anyone help?

 

[imported_Phil]

Sounds like the hard disk is taking too long to spin up and initialise, so it's not ready when it's "time to boot".
Have a look in the BIOS for "Hard disk pre-delay" or something similar.

 

[imported_Phil]

Looking at the screenshot, I'd say that the hard disk is definitely your problem. The "save to disk" stuff is the Hibernate feature of older laptops, and it's saying it can't create a hibernation file on the hard disk, ergo it's either not ready or it's dying.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

UPDATE: I fixed the Save to Disk error, but the system still hangs on boot.

I'm further investigating the hard disk possibility.

 

[BadThad]

Run the hard drive mfg's diagnostic program on that hard drive....scan disk doesn't do a very good job at all, it doesn't look at the drive's mechanics.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: BadThad
Run the hard drive mfg's diagnostic program on that hard drive....scan disk doesn't do a very good job at all, it doesn't look at the drive's mechanics.

Top advice. :thumbsup:

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I don't think the hard disk has any special diagnostic tool. It's just some random SMART-incapable Toshiba number, 4.3GB. I don't remember the model number.