Arch Linux

les_paul1369

Member

Registered: 2011-03-09

Posts: 9

[SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

I had no idea where to post this. No matter what I try to load, be it Linux, Windows, or even a livecd, it hangs. For Arch it hangs after "loading initrd", for Linux Mint it hangs randomly in the init sequence, usually about halfway through. Windows gets stuck at the splash, and livecds get caught up after the initrd line. I tried manually booting them with grub (using grub2) with the same results. I hadn't been messing with anything boot related prior, and the fact that it's anything i try to boot, including livecds, sort of says to me it isn't boot loader related anyway. But I honestly have no idea. Is it the hardware? It's an HP Pavillion dv6 laptop if that helps at all.

Last edited by les_paul1369 (2011-10-19 12:09:03)

davidgurvich

Member

Registered: 2010-02-11

Posts: 118

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

Not sure if it matters but does the dv6 use efi?  Some laptops have a setting that prevents booting from external media.  Does the laptop boot from the hard drive?  You might try installing to the hard drive from another machine.

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

I would start by trying to boot Ultimate Boot CD and check you memory chips with "memtest". Sometimes memtest is also found on many Linux Live CD's also...

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

les_paul1369

Member

Registered: 2011-03-09

Posts: 9

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

Yea, i might have been slightly misleading, it *does* load the livecd but it can't boot it. I'll try the Ultimate Boot cd when i can..... Actually now that i think of it the Mint livecd had memtest. I was thinking memory would make sense when i stepped back for a second to look at it. No it does not use efi, but I'm not trying to installl anything. I only tried the livecd quickly to see the extent of the problem, I had to take off right when I found out. I appreciate the help, I'll update this once i get out of work

les_paul1369

Member

Registered: 2011-03-09

Posts: 9

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

Ran some tests, everything was clean.... fortunately it automagically fixed itself, but I'm most likely going to double check everything. Solved I suppose. I'm quite baffled.

kilgoretrout

Member

Registered: 2010-06-28

Posts: 25

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

Have you had any overheating issues? Those HP dv6 laptops are  notorious for that problem. Idle temperatures in the 80 to 90 degrees Celsius range are not uncommon. That type of heating can damage components on the motherboard over time. You can try blowing out your vents and running with the screen edge elevated by a small book or magazine so as to increase air circulation underneath the laptop. You may want to run memtest overnight which should give you several passes. That should pick up any problems with your ram. If any are revealed, it's usually only one ram stick that's gone bad so you can isolate it by removing one of your ram sticks and testing them one at a time with memtest.

Last edited by kilgoretrout (2011-10-19 12:36:06)

les_paul1369

Member

Registered: 2011-03-09

Posts: 9

Re: [SOLVED] Computer hangs at boot for any operating system

Thanks, will do. I could definetly see heat playing a factor. It still gets hot even with cpu scaling to keep it from freaking out. I greatly appreciate the help.