[Zwnkkvle]

it is her dell inspiron laptop. when it is turned on it bring up the screen asking us if we want to go into safe mode, safe mode with networking, regular boot, etc.

If i choose any of the safe mode options (safe, safe with command prompt, safe with networking) it starts to run command scripts (the directory looks like it is running the drivers). Then it freezes.

If we run it normally, or try to run the previous configuration, it freezes. the screen is black and the hard drive doesn't do anything.

we cannot currently find the boot disk for it or the dimension.

thoughts? I am not much of a computer guy, honestly, other than what can be done using common sense.

[MedicineForUs]

i am at her house right now (logged off her login on her desktop system). we are gonna go get some food (i think i am getting skinny...haven't eaten yet today ). i will check back to see if any of our guru's have any tips before i head home and leave her to the wolves.

[Qdkczrdi]

If you do not have a windows Xp cd then you are limited with what you can do at this point.

Windows creates logs during every boot up but with out a system cd it is impossible to look at them.

Most likely this is corrupted registry or a hardware failure of the disk drive itself.

Many Dells have a diagnostic partition on the hard drive. Pressing F10 or F12 at the Dell splash screen will take you into that were you can run a hard drive diagnostic.

The system may also be BSOD on you and not showing it. During boot up if you press f8 you get a longer diagnostic boot menu for windows. One of the options is to disable automatic restart on system failure. That will force it to display the BSOD if it doing that which is a big help to diagnose this. Why Microshaft blocks so useful an error message is beyond me.

[Obebtetibre]

Bfft
Just use restore. First, store the current configuration as a restore point. Then choose one of the previous restore points before the problem occured. If that does not correct the problem, choose another restore point. Don't rush, take your time before choosing the next restore point. Remember, you don't have so many restore points.

[Relsenlilky]

Bfft
Just use restore. First, store the current configuration as a restore point. Then choose one of the previous restore points before the problem occured. If that does not correct the problem, choose another restore point. Don't rush, take your time before choosing the next restore point. Remember, you don't have so many restore points.

Eury he can't restore if he can't boot up.

[id2008]

Nline:
How about first choosing "last configuration that worked". And if that doesn't start it, then maybe try safe mode.

[Eromereorybig]

Nline:
How about first choosing "last configuration that worked". And if that doesn't start it, then maybe try safe mode.

Reread the first post. He's already covered that.

[freflellalafe]

A new cd can be bought. I asked that one time and they said it cost something like $60. A new cd can certainly put it back like factory new. But with a new serial number of the cd different fron the serial nu,mber in the old cd, can it still save the files that are stored in the machine's hard drive?

[Cerilopasei]

A new cd can be bought. I asked that one time and they said it cost something like $60. A new cd can certainly put it back like factory new. But with a new serial number of the cd different fron the serial nu,mber in the old cd, can it still save the files that are stored in the machine's hard drive?

i have a cd. one is mine for my desktop at home. the other is, umm...mine too.

i am sure if she looks long enough she can find one.

do you think a reinstall will work? it is a dell...i am sure it came with Ghost. if we get it to boot, do you think that Ghost could do it?

i get the feeling that there is a driver in there screwing something up, honestly. the only reason is because the driver commands are what freeze it when it goes into the safe mode boot.

if she doesn't find that cd by tomorrow, i will fish out one of mine.

or i could put her back on windows 98, which i actually have the product key for.

[AssinHT]

A new cd can be bought. I asked that one time and they said it cost something like $60. A new cd can certainly put it back like factory new. But with a new serial number of the cd different fron the serial nu,mber in the old cd, can it still save the files that are stored in the machine's hard drive?

with only 1 or 2 exceptions, the software she has originated from me, and we can reinstall it without issue.

there is a lot of music on there...but nothing that cannot be replaced (i likely have copies, too, of most of the music. what i don't have, the christian music, my sister does).

[OShellszz]

Actually, when you do that reinstall, the hard drive has 2 partitions:

One partition is where the windows programs etc from the factory are. ( This is the partition that you want to erase and replace with a new one from the factory cd)

The other partition are where your files are stored --- files that did not come from the factory---- like those religious songs that you are saying. ( THESE ARE THE FILES THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOSE. SO DO NOT ERASE THIS PARTITION WHEN ASKED " DO YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS PARTITION?)

[drexigordiche]

I hear taps playing in the back ground. I tried what you suggested NLine and it does not do anything. Cousin said it may be the mother board....and I think that sounds expensive.

I have looked everywhere I know to look, but cousin says he has a cd and will back in town tomorrow and will check with me.

Thanks NLine for your advice so far and thanks Eury for trying to help. BFFT I will keep you posted.

[id2008]

Bfft/rPatterson
Do not forget nlinecomputers. He got tricks and processes that only the professionals know.

Like for example: Here is a question I'd like to ask nline: If my computer is missing or deleted some of the factory installed programs, how do I put them back without having to do a complete reinstall?

[RokeIdeadioke]

i have a cd. one is mine for my desktop at home. the other is, umm...mine too.

i am sure if she looks long enough she can find one.

do you think a reinstall will work? it is a dell...i am sure it came with Ghost. if we get it to boot, do you think that Ghost could do it?

i get the feeling that there is a driver in there screwing something up, honestly. the only reason is because the driver commands are what freeze it when it goes into the safe mode boot.

if she doesn't find that cd by tomorrow, i will fish out one of mine.

or i could put her back on windows 98, which i actually have the product key for.

Dell does not use Ghost.

Dell doesn't normal use recovery partitions on most systems.

I doubt it is a driver issue. For a driver to cause a problem something would have to have changed on the system. A new driver installed or some other change such as a virus. It is very possible that you have a failing hard drive that is locking up because it can't read a file. It is also possible that a windows screw up has corrupted the file system and or the registry.

I would strongly advise checking the hard disk for errors. If you can get an Xp disk then you can boot into the recovery console and use it to run CHKDSK. If that comes up clean then you can try to restore a back up of the registry from your system restore files. That is a complex procedure but doable if you can follow EXACT instructions.

Falling that you can perform a repair install of windows.

Failing that a full install but that risks loosing files.

Note you can contact me via PM and let me service your system.

[BritneySpearsFun@@@]

So....as taps plays softly in the back ground, I bid farewell to my laptop. Thanks for looking at it NLine.

[Gadarett]

If you have access to another computer with a cd burner you could use something like a live linux CD, knoppix is a good one. You put the cd in the drive, go to the boot menu (F12 on my dells) or set it in the bios settings to boot from cd, though most will at least check it and ask if you want to boot from cd. If your pc can't boot the live cd, you likely have a hardware failure. If you can boot to the live cd, you should then be able to poke around the hard drive, retrieve files you want to keep by saving them to online storage or on a network, or portable hard drive. Now linux can get pretty hairy pretty quickly, but you can at least see what's on there.

You could also pull the drive, install it into another computer and copy the contents.

If you have an older Dell install CD for XP, it might not work. It might appear to work and then get you right back to the same point. Dell includes updated drivers on their reinstall cd's which may be necessary, but if it is a newer cd this shouldn't be a problem.

when you boot do you get a choice to boot with "Last Known Good Configuration"? That might help.

[duawLauff]

If you have access to another computer with a cd burner you could use something like a live linux CD, knoppix is a good one. You put the cd in the drive, go to the boot menu (F12 on my dells) or set it in the bios settings to boot from cd, though most will at least check it and ask if you want to boot from cd. If your pc can't boot the live cd, you likely have a hardware failure. If you can boot to the live cd, you should then be able to poke around the hard drive, retrieve files you want to keep by saving them to online storage or on a network, or portable hard drive. Now linux can get pretty hairy pretty quickly, but you can at least see what's on there.

You could also pull the drive, install it into another computer and copy the contents.

If you have an older Dell install CD for XP, it might not work. It might appear to work and then get you right back to the same point. Dell includes updated drivers on their reinstall cd's which may be necessary, but if it is a newer cd this shouldn't be a problem.

when you boot do you get a choice to boot with "Last Known Good Configuration"? That might help.

it won't boot no matter which option is selected.

Nline diagnosed it with a dead motherboard. If you know anyone with an Inspiron with a bad LCD or HD, let me know. I would like to "revive" it by doing the old Frankenstein.

I found a motherboard for 149 that is used, and one for 225 that is new. both are guaranteed. Not sure if i will try that...but mom has ordered a new and MUCH improved laptop.

in the interim, she will have to suffer with her desktop system. No TV in the office room.

[Maphpseurse]

Can you get a little more specific on what model of Inspiron?

[worldofwarcraft]

i believe 6400/e1505

[Karpattaisp]

i believe 6400/e1505

Yes