Member Avatar for Noodly_doodly

Hi,

Whenever I boot up my Presario it does things in this order:

Starts making the fan noise

Displays the red Compaq logo

The Compaq logo gets weirdly distorted

It reboots and does it all over again!

I can't get into the BIOS or any other preferences, and I can't get to the Control Panel either. When I try to put in a recovery cd, it spits it back out and goes nuts again. Sometimes, if I leave it alone for a while (about 45 minutes- 3 hours) it lasts longer when booting and can actually get to Windows XP. Then, after about 10 minutes it reboots and goes nuts all over again. Here are my system specs:

AMD Athlon XP Processor 2000+ operating at 1.67GHz
2x 60GB Ultra DMA Hard Drive
256MB DDR SDRAM Memory
Integrated ProSavageDDR KM266 graphics with 32MB shared video memory
Windows XP Home Edition

I know that the CMOS battery, the RAM stick, and the hard drive are OK.

What is going on with my Presario???

Edited by Noodly_doodly
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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Kevin_14

Dani AI

Generated

The symptom pattern — POST graphic distortion, immediate reboot loop, and the machine only running briefly after a long cool-down — points to a hardware fault rather than a Windows problem. ’s fan/airflow idea is sensible; the diagnostic focus should be on three areas in this order: thermal/airflow, power delivery, and video/motherboard faults.

  • Cold-to-hot behavior check — boot the laptop after a long cool period and, during the short Windows session, capture core/GPU temperatures with a hardware monitor (for example, HWMonitor/SpeedFan/Core Temp). A rapid rise into the high 70s–90s °C range strongly implicates overheating or a failing heatsink/fan.
  • External-screen test — attach a VGA/CRT/LCD external monitor before power-up. Distortion visible on the external display at POST implicates the GPU/northbridge or motherboard; distortion only on the internal panel points to the LVDS cable, inverter, or LCD.
  • Power isolation — test with AC only (battery removed) and with battery only (AC unplugged) to identify a bad DC jack/adapter or battery. If available, verify adapter output with a multimeter.
  • Minimal-hardware boot & visual inspection — with power removed and static precautions taken, try one RAM module at a time, disconnect the HDD/optical drive, and inspect the motherboard for bulging/leaking capacitors or scorch marks.
  • BIOS/power-drain reset — remove AC and battery, hold power for 15–30 seconds to discharge residual charge, then try a fresh boot. If POST video remains corrupted and BIOS is inaccessible, BIOS corruption is unlikely to be the root cause.

Interpretation: distortion during POST (including on an external monitor) + regained function after cooling usually signals GPU/motherboard hardware failure (aged capacitors or fractured BGA joints). Cleaning the fan, replacing thermal paste, and a heatsink reseat are low-cost first steps; motherboard replacement or professional BGA rework is the likely long-term fix but may not be economical for an older Presario. Exercise standard safety: disconnect power/battery before opening, ground against static, and consider a trained repairer for solder/reflow work.

Member Avatar for Kevin_14

It sounds like your fan may be having problems, even though you hear it. The CPU fan my not be working or it may not be putting out enough airflow. Also try pulling your Memory out, plug it back in. Check your CPU, if it's a slot CPU it may be out slighly. Try reseating it too.

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