Laptop crashing

I ran the memory diagnostics for a while and it said it would keep running untill an "x" was typed. How long should I let it run?

I let it run for a full hour.

I have four choices

Memtest86 v3.4a
Memtest86+ v2.11
Windows Memory diagnostic
Testmem IV

Which one should I be running

Start with Windows and if that passes, then run Memtest 3.4

I have seen to many times where one would find what the other one missed.

I have run the mem test and the hard drive diaognostics and I found no errors. I still can not get windows to boot.

I think you need to do an over-the-top re-install of Windows XP here. Boot up with the XP CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the "C" and "R" repair options by pressing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually get an option to "Repair an existing installation". That's the one you want. If it asks about formatting you've gone wrong, so start over.

You'll get to keep your existing apps & settings, but you need to re-install SP2, Windows Updates & any unsigned drivers afterwards. NOTE: Be aware that you'll lose any protection from Blaster / Sasser type worms. Don't go online without a firewall, whether the built in Windows one or 3rd party.

How to perform a re-install of WinXP

Repair XP

WinXP Non-destructive Total Rebuild

I tried to do the above and Winsows xp professional setup tells me "Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer. "

Remove and reinsert the hard drive a few times (gently), in an attempt to clean the contacts.

Bootup and see if the drive is detected in the BIOS.

If not, try resetting the BIOS to Factory Defaults.

If it is detected by the BIOS, try installing Windows again.

If it isn't detected by the Windows installation routine, try a different hard drive.

If it is still not detected by either the BIOS or Windows, something else is wrong with the laptop. (Flaky/Failing/Dead hardware ... which can't be fixed with software).

The interesting thing here is that I can loaded a ubuntu live disk and copied all the pictures and things off the drive. How do I know if Bios is detecting the drive. I dont think it is because I am not seeing some things that I would expect to see in bios.

You sometimes need to install the SATA drivers during Windows Setup, depending on the motherboard, before Windows can see the hard drive. You'll need to put the drivers on a floppy disk, then almost as soon as Setup starts, at the bottom you should see a message about installing SCSI drivers - press F6 at that point. Setup will then tell you when it wants the floppy, and after that it will see the drive and you can partition and format it.

can I put the drivers on a thumb drive rather that a floppy. I have no floppy drives? Also what is the best site for getting drivers for your specific hard drive. Thanks so much for your help

Unfortunately not, you can do so with Vista and Win7, but with WinXP you have to use a floppy and nothing else :(

You get the drivers from the motherboard maker's website.

are you talking CD or floppy disk. Sorry for my ignorance

XP will only allow you to use a floppy to install the drivers.

forgive my ignorance but there is no floppy drive on this laptop and I have loaded xp before.