Is my laptop bricked?

jmk909er · Jul 29, 2015

I have a compaq presario CQ60 laptop running Vista that is basically a spare and my son has gamed on it to death. I can't do anything with it. F11 for system recovery and F8 do not do anything. Can't get into safe mode. All it does is says loading windows and then the loading bar and then blue screen and that's it!

I got to a screen that is saying could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

I do not have the discs (I don't think it came with any) Is there something I can download onto a thumbdrive to get it up again? I would like to do a factory reset.

Or is it a brick?

townsbg · Jul 30, 2015

What application is missing or corrupt? You can request an ISO download from here: http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/296167-vista-iso-download.html

jmk909er · Jul 31, 2015

Its in pretty bad shape, it won't even boot up. Last night I kept tapping F11 as it started up and then I just let it sit for a while and came back to it and it actually had a window open to do a factory reset so I tried to do that but it failed saying there were missing or corrupt files and it couldn't boot up.

Then I tried starting it again and tapping F9 I think it was and it had an option to boot from network adapter so I selected that and plugged in a cable to it. It started to boot up and it looked like something was going to happen but then it eventually failed also because it could not boot up.

Not sure exactly what the Vista ISO download is? Can I use this to get it up again?

Don't really know what to do at this point??

Thanks for the reply

townsbg · Jul 31, 2015

A vista ISO download will allow you to repair or if necessary reinstall Vista. You will lose installed programs and any files not backed up. It might help if you would tell me which file is listed as corrupt.

jmk909er · Jul 31, 2015

I don't know what file is corrupt. As far as I can tell the whole thing is corrupt. I don't care about losing any programs or files because it's just a kind of backup laptop that my son plays a lot of games on (that's how it got all screwed up) I can try to fire it up again this afternoon when I get home and look for the file.

With the vista ISO download can I just install a new system and be done with it?

jmk909er · Jul 31, 2015

Hey when I got home I tried booting it up again to see what the error is but it doesn't really say but here is a screenshot of it.

I Clicked on your link to find out more about the ISO download and I see that I would need the installation key and it should be on a COA sticker. I see a spot on the laptop by the serial number that says COA but there is no sticker with an installation key number on it. I guess without that it's pretty pointless right?

townsbg · Aug 1, 2015

I haven't seen that exact message before but that sounds to me like hard drive failure. With the Vista ISO you can try and reinstall Vista however if you are having hard drive problems Vista will probably corrupt again.

jmk909er · Aug 1, 2015

Ok townsbg, I think you are probably right. I think this laptop is ready for the scrap heap! But thanks for your help I appreciate it.

townsbg · Aug 1, 2015

Just a note hard drives can be replaced however it is harder to do so in laptops.

jmk909er · Aug 1, 2015

But if I replaced the hard drive the ISO would be no good unless I have the installation key right? Or am I wrong about this?

townsbg · Aug 2, 2015

You should be able to use the installation key.

jmk909er · Aug 2, 2015

Sorry but I am confused, does the ISO download come with the installation key? Because I don't have one for mine, there is no sticker on it with the key. I would probably buy a new hard drive because they are only about $30 but not if I can't get an operating system for it

wither 3 · Aug 2, 2015

Are you able to get into the BIOS during the POST? If you can, you could change the boot disc and possibly use the ISO. Townsbg is more familiar with that than I am.

jmk909er · Aug 2, 2015

I can get into it enough to select where to boot from but we are pretty sure the hard drive is shot an needs to be replaced

townsbg · Aug 2, 2015

You can try the manufacturer's diagnostic program.

ilikefree · Aug 3, 2015

This program ABR can find your key for you
ISO you need to burn to a disc, set bios to boot from it and that is the installation disc the error message asked for
It can also be used to reinstall Vista from
Replacing a drive in a laptop is easy, one sometimes two screws
It powers on, has a screen that works, it's not a brick yet.

ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us

Is my laptop bricked?

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