Don't destroy it, after I fix it, a kid could use it for school.

Check HP or Nvidia if there is a recall. My mom's Mac had that GPU and they replaced the motherboard even though it was out of warranty. Looking at HP's site, it looks like it has that GPU.

Yes, it does!
Speaking of the system board, it was replaced a while back because the power connector wasn't working. It wouldn't take a charge.
the only recall thing I've found was for the battery... which apparently isn't listed for the recall.

(edit) ahha, I did find some gpu recall information that I vaguely remember, and vaguely remember that this laptop wasn't one of the affected)

I hope you could fix yours, but if not,this time, Get a Sony Vaio,
I bought mine back in end of 2006 used(10 days old practically brand new in the box) from a guy for $900 cash, who had bought it brand new from Best Buy for $1500 with the receipt,that I could return and cash it for $1500:D.This laptop has been with me since that day,everyday from 8:00 Am-5:00 Pm,six days a week and gone through windows vista to latest windows 7 and god knows how many different software installation and configuration,and amazingly never ever had any crashes or one of those black and blue screens that everybody is talking about.
I always took good care of it, and made sure that the fan and the heath sink is free and clean.Only thing I changed was the keyboard ,which was $25 from eBay.I know its outdated for today's technologies ,but it does the job for me and I've been really satisfied.

Wolfe, are you and RWebb related?

funny

Apple has the right idea - they control the hardware AND the OS software.

They also often upgrade both at the same time.

try a new hard drive cheap at Fry's

Will it boot in safe mode off a OS DVD?
If it then runs without problem, the AV software might be a prime suspect.

My friend and I graduate from engineering school together and we both HATED math. He invited me to his graduation party and insisted that I bring my calculus textbook and my 20 gauge. The party involved a lot of beer and a bonfire and in a special moment that will remain in my heart forever, we ran over our calc. books with our trucks, set them on fire, shot their flaming carcasses, and pissed on the ashes. Then we ran over them some more, which might have been a bit excessive.

It is confirmed that the problem does not lie with the HDD. Brand new HDD just installed, and it won't boot from the disk (to answer John70t's question)

Neither the 64bit nor the 32 bit vesion will load fromt the disk

However...upon booting into "safe' mode from the disk, with a clean HDD, this time it froze at a file caleld disk.sys instead of the aforementioned file.

I've been on with MS Tech suport for quite a while, they can't figure it out either.
Tech at repair counter suggested a bad HDD.

Yeah? Nope...

At this point... Probably something wrong with the controller - i.e. bad MB.

Shoot it.

Still waiting Wolfe.

thank you.

had a shotgun and a can of gasoline lined up. but was happy with the grouping, so i let it be. think it works as an effective warning to all the other machines in the house.

Wolfe,
My offer to fix it (free) still stands...

I shoot every electronic piece of gear that I can when they fail...TV's are a hoot to shoot.

My BB died last week (replaced by an iPhone...and I am becoming a fan boy): It gets blasted in a few hours.

Aerosol cans are the best.

Old school cathode tv+ 12ga=oh yeah.