Computer won't start

[Narnia]

For months now my computer has been acting slow. I've run scans for virus, rootkits, trojans, etc and nothing has come up. I've installed and uninstalled a large number of programs over the years so I'm guessing that what happened was that one or more of the uninstallers didn't remove the program correctly. I tried to start my computer the other day and it wouldn't respond. The screen lit up (but remained blank, the back light came on). For a while it made a bunch of noise like it was going to start up but it never did. After a while of it doing nothing, I hit the power button to turn it off. I pressed the on button again and after a while it booted up, however it gave me a notice that it hadn't started up correctly and that it was looking for errors. It spent a half an hour looking for errors before claiming that it had none and then it started up. I was going to leave it on until I could take a closer look at it (it is a laptop and I was spending a few days at my Grandma's so no internet) however at one point it was accidentally shut down (it was shut down correctly, using the shut down menu). After this it would not turn on regardless of what I did. I tried shutting it down and restarting it but to no avail. Finally, I left it on for about two hours before it finally died due to no power (we were in the car on the way home so I didn't have a power source).

Things that work: screen backlight, cd drive, sound card (it made a windows noise at one point), usb ports
Things that are not working: The computer won't start

1. What does this sound like? Does it sound like a registry error (my guess) or is it more likely to be due to malware or a bios problem?

2. Is there a way to boot up my computer? I absolutely NEED to get the information on it (It contains vital school stuff and I don't have backups, yes I know that was stupid, I was planning to back up this semester's school files next week). I need it working before school starts up later this week.

3. Is there a way to get a copy of the information off of my computer period, even if my computer is too far gone?

4. Is there any more information you guys need? Thanks

 

[Souron]

If it made the windows startup music then it's a monitor problem. If it just made a few beeps it could me more serious.

If it's a monitor problem there's probably a loose connection. You can probably get it to work by hooking up a monitor to a port in the back. You may also be able to simply strike or shake the computer to get the connection to connect, temporarily. You can later take it to a shop to fix it (or do it yourself if you think you can put it back together again).

 

[IglooDame]

I agree with Sauron. That aside, you can always pull out the hard drive, get a USB enclosure for it, and plug it into another computer as a secondary drive and pull all your data off it that way.

 

[Narnia]

I was puzzled that the windows start up music was made yet nothing was displayed so I hooked up an external monitor and the screen suddenly came on so yes, it is a monitor problem.
Any ideas why it quit recognizing the main monitor? thanks

 

[Souron]

I'd guess the laptop was struck or jostled roughly and the internal connector cable came loose.

 

[Narnia]

I'd guess the laptop was struck or jostled roughly and the internal connector cable came loose.

This is strange, I restarted my computer this afternoon and the main screen started working again. I haven't done anything to the computer, just restarted it. Any idea why it is working again? Thanks

 

[KMRblue1027]

This is strange, I restarted my computer this afternoon and the main screen started working again. I haven't done anything to the computer, just restarted it. Any idea why it is working again? Thanks

Did you move the laptop at all between restarts? If so I could be that the connection between the screen and computer is VERY loose and a little jiggle could connect or disconnect it.

 

[Souron]

This is strange, I restarted my computer this afternoon and the main screen started working again. I haven't done anything to the computer, just restarted it. Any idea why it is working again? Thanks

This is why I suggested striking or shaking it. The wire's loose now, so jostling it the right way can move it in and out of proper contact. But you'll need to get it fixed properly or your monitor may disconnect at the lightest shake.

 

[Narnia]

This is why I suggested striking or shaking it. The wire's loose now, so jostling it the right way can move it in and out of proper contact. But you'll need to get it fixed properly or your monitor may disconnect at the lightest shake.

But I can open and close and otherwise move my computer around as much as I like without any screen problems. If it was a loose wire, wouldn't the screen sometimes turn off while the computer is still running?
If there is going to be a problem, the screen just won't turn on at all. Otherwise, everything works perfectly.

 

[Souron]

But I can open and close and otherwise move my computer around as much as I like without any screen problems. If it was a loose wire, wouldn't the screen sometimes turn off while the computer is still running?
If there is going to be a problem, the screen just won't turn on at all. Otherwise, everything works perfectly.

Exactly how much movement it'll take to disconnect it may vary, but it'll be less than before it came loose. The fact that you haven't managed to get it to disconnect while it's on yet says nothing.

 

[Narnia]

Exactly how much movement it'll take to disconnect it may vary, but it'll be less than before it came loose. The fact that you haven't managed to get it to disconnect while it's on yet says nothing.

It appears that you guys were right, my cousin was passing through town and was kind enough to stop by and fix my computer. He took it apart and the wire that connects the monitor to the motherboard was loose. He unplugged it, dusted it off with canned air, and plugged it back in and I haven't had a problem sense then.