I have a really big issue going on right now. It started a little while ago. I have a laptop that’s relatively new, and my dumb self didn’t bother with an anti-virus(mistake I won’t make again). In the time since starting school again, my internet browsing and working has been extremely slow, to the point I have to make entire essays on my iPhone (what I’m currently using) in the past few days I have been unable to really use applications, because they would open and crash or fail to open/download in the first place. I did some research at that point but found nothing to help me too much. It was too late to use preventative measures like an anti virus software, so I just left my computer as is. Last night, I attempted to do a reset because a forum mentioned that as a possible solution to someone else’s similar problem. It took about a minute for settings to even load, as clicking on anything would result in the blue circle on the mouse. I went through the process of resetting, but after three hours it was still only 1% done preparing the reset. It wasn’t one of the complete wipes, either, it was just a usual one the puts the computer back to where it was when I bought it. I shut the computer off, but when it turned back on it was stuck on the same screen it has been on until as I write this. It’s a loading screen that SHOULD have the HP logo on it above a doted circle, but the logo is gone and it just goes forever. It’s completely stuck, I tried restarting multiple times and even removing the battery. If someone knows anything I can do to help myself, I would appreciate it so much as this laptop is not cheap by my standards($550ish)
Critical issue with my HP laptop
- Thread starter jjskowron
- Start date
To be honest that does not sound like a virus. Your computer should already have an antivirus installed. The manufacturer would have put on a trial of McCaffee or something but if they haven't then on a new pc it should have Windows 10 and that OS comes with Windows Defender as part of Windows and in my opinion Windows FDefender is as good as anything else although others on here will, vehemently, disagree. Anyway there isn't a lot you can do other than what you have tried. Doing a factory reset should have done a complete reinstall and overwritten everything and put it all back as it was when you bought it. Personally and I assuming that when you say "relatively new" it should still be in the guarantee period so I would be taking it back to where you got it from. So when you say "it is relatively new" how new is it actually?
It is four months old at this point.
Okay so in that case it should have Windows 10 installed and that comes with an antivirus. Although if HP have put one on, which they usually do, that will have over ridden Windows Defender. No matter you will already have an antivirus installed. As I have said it the fact that your attempt at recovery hasn't worked would suggest to me that something is about to die. Possibly the hard drive although that is a pure guess. The only thing you can do is what you have already tried and if that hasn't worked then you will have to take it to someone who can sort it out. I am assuming that it did come with a warranty and the problem with doing anything else to it other than trying a factory reset will invalidate your warranty.
There are other things that you can try although they are bit on the tecky side but your biggest problem is warranty invalidation so I am reluctant to suggest other alternatives. But the fact that a factory reset didn't work would suggest that alternative stuff wouldn't work either.
There are other things that you can try although they are bit on the tecky side but your biggest problem is warranty invalidation so I am reluctant to suggest other alternatives. But the fact that a factory reset didn't work would suggest that alternative stuff wouldn't work either.
Okay I am in UK so I am not sure how your warranties work over there. Here the seller would want to repair the computer rather than give a refund or a new computer on a 4 month old machine. they could well say that it was a software issue and, again over here, software is not covered by warranty and neither will a problem caused by a virus. BUT a factory reset should have overcome all that so whilst I cannot be certain it does not sound like a virus issue to me. Good luck.
_Kyle_
Well-Known Member
Cannot be better said.
ssal
Active Member
I don't understand why people here like to beat up on HP. I had owned a few HP a few years back and I think they were very good machines. The machines were solidly built and the site's support was fantastic. Never had any problem except that their machine is usually 10% more expensive than Toshiba, which I had switched to for my last two laptops purchases. I had just bought a refurbished HP 8470p and I think it is top of the line quality. Well, food for thought anyway.
To Op's original problem, I hope he learned the importance of anti-virus. Even more so, a solid backup and image. There are lots of craps out there that come thru the internet. Your web browser, your email, etc. With a good backup/image system, you can always go back to the previous working copy without worrying about resetting your OS, reloading all your apps and programs and re-configuring all your preferences. The reset may not take too long. But the other tasks may take forever.
I use Macrium Reflect Free and Syncback free for my image and backup. It had saved me a couple of times in the past year when I had to do total restore.
To Op's original problem, I hope he learned the importance of anti-virus. Even more so, a solid backup and image. There are lots of craps out there that come thru the internet. Your web browser, your email, etc. With a good backup/image system, you can always go back to the previous working copy without worrying about resetting your OS, reloading all your apps and programs and re-configuring all your preferences. The reset may not take too long. But the other tasks may take forever.
I use Macrium Reflect Free and Syncback free for my image and backup. It had saved me a couple of times in the past year when I had to do total restore.
Cause unless you have worked on many of them throughout the years then you don't know much about them. Owning just a couple means nothing. I'll never recommend an HP pc or printer.
_Kyle_
Well-Known Member
ASUS ftw
I'm sorry but this is just hilarious. Toshiba is probably bottom of the barrel. Especially since they stopped making consumer laptops.
http://www.techradar.com/news/mobil...e-re-stopping-making-consumer-laptops-1318014
I've repaired hundreds of laptops from hinge replacement to motherboard swaps. HP sucks (except the ProBook like yours). Toshiba is probably worse.
ssal
Active Member
Maybe it's me. I owned PC since early 80's (IBM PC 8088) and have owned multi PC's and laptops with multiple units all the time. I have the unbroken record of never having one died on me. I also got rid of it by hanging them down, or resold them on eBay.
I have a wide variety of brands. When Hyundai made a knock off, I grapped those from department stores. When 10mb HDD or 300b modem were available on mail orders, I grapped and and stuck them with whatever I used at the time. I travelled with the sewing machine size Compaq checking it in and had it come out of the luggage conveyer belt without breaking it.
I have a foundamental knowledge of hardware and well versed with software. If something is beyond me, I know how to ask questions on forum like this. It was good enough to keep me out of trouble.
I have a wide variety of brands. When Hyundai made a knock off, I grapped those from department stores. When 10mb HDD or 300b modem were available on mail orders, I grapped and and stuck them with whatever I used at the time. I travelled with the sewing machine size Compaq checking it in and had it come out of the luggage conveyer belt without breaking it.
I have a foundamental knowledge of hardware and well versed with software. If something is beyond me, I know how to ask questions on forum like this. It was good enough to keep me out of trouble.
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I wasn't attempting to downplay what you know, but you can't really appreciate patterns in hardware quality until you work in the repair business and see it firsthand with hundreds of machines. I've only been in it about a year and a half but I've already noticed a lot of patterns in certain models and brands with specific issues. For instance I know your Elitebook frequently has heating issues and fans going full tilt a lot of the time. The airflow in them doesn't play nice if they get very dusty. Other than that I don't see many issues with them at all.
My boss is on another level entirely, he's been in the business at least 10 years and he can just glance at an older model and tell me exactly how to take it apart and what certain things are prone to failure and the like. After a while you notice trends with brands and models that lead to me to recommend or advise against certain devices.
ssal
Active Member
BTW, the article about Toshiba stops making PC/Laptop for consumer is more a financial issue rather than a quality issue. Toshiba lost a big chunk on their nuclear reactor business that forces them to unload almost their entire portfolio of business. The consumer PC/Laptop market has been a sinkhole for many many players, including the original creators of PC (IBM, Compaq and then HP). The prevailing companies all have a niche. Lenova has the Chinese market; Dell had the business market sew up from their early entry into the mail order, then web penetration; Apple has the stylistic maniac following (iPhone's profit didn't hurt neither). They are the ones making money. I know very little about Acer or Asus other than seeing some of their gaming machines.
_Kyle_
Well-Known Member
I love Asus for pretty much everything they make, it all bristles with quality.
ssal
Active Member
I do own an Asus X205TA. One of those little one to carry around. It is not bad as far as built quality. The only issue I have was the limited dram/disk gave me a hell of a time with Windows 10 updating. The ram and the disk space was not enough for the task and their website provides no support on this issue at all.