Whilst I'd agree that this doesn't sound too promising, I wouldn't go 'trashing' a laptop without first ensuring that it was, indeed, 'dead' and not simply experiencing some small problem.

I'm afraid that you haven't provided enough clarity of detail about the make and model of your laptop for anyone here to adequately provide detailed instructions. "Shopping network" doesn't tell me much, and whilst Google tells me that "Northgate laptop" seems to be a long persevering brand in the US at least, it's not one I've ever come across elsewhere, nor can I seem to locate a manufacturer website. Perhaps it's a 'rebadged' line which is actually another manufacturers product?

Anyways, it'd be best to pay a service fee for a local PC store technician to have a look at it for you and advise you what may or may not be wrong with it.

Should you be able to give clearer identification about the make and model of your laptop, then more detailed assistance may be possible from here.

well,,,i let it set idle for five days,,,, bought new memory and talked to Geek Squad person there,,,put new memory in and it booted up to january 2002,,,only message i got was it went directly to scan-disk,,,scanned & came on but running slowly..VALUABLE INFORMATION I UNCOVERED,,,,,,,NOTE 1 - Northgate company out of business ,,,,,,,,,( naturally),, phone number i have cannot be located ( recording )
NOTE 2 - Seems that this particular laptop does not have the standard laptop/notebook memory system in it,,,,,,,,,,,,it has a system designed for an upright/tower system that uses a 5 inch memory card {512mb ddr/2100 / 184 pin dimm },,,,,,,,,,,
,, he sold me a { 512mb ddr/2700/2100 pc333/266 184 pin dimm } for $55.00..with a 30 day return policy (hopefully i will not need to use it )
NOTE 3 - Geek Squad dude stated that it could be a motherboard,,processor,,or a bad hard drive,,not likely the memory and they would run a check on it for $ 79.00 and that he would like to see this antique laptop because he really didn't believe that the memory card i had came out of a laptop.
NOTE 4 - No bios errors appeared..all set at defaults

So i do not want to shut it down,, as i do not really know if it was the memory card or the fact i let it sit for 5 days without messing with it,,,anything else anybody can suggest to check before i do shut it down and have the same problem,, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED TO THIS,,YOUR INPUT WAS INSPIRING THAT I AM NOT ALONE!!!

OH,,,by the way,, i was using the laptop to post this & last message,, if that's any help,,and seems to be working (UNTIL I SHUT IT DOWN ) HAHAHA