[DELL] Laptop not booting Windows

Hello, my name is Matthew and this is my first posting on here.

Today, everything has been fine. I did nothing that different nor drastic. I didn't open any suspicious emails, shared on P2P networks and certainly made no changes in system files. Only thing I did was what I do periodically. I defragged my hard drive, uninstalled games and went into msconfig and stopped 3 programs from start up (DEAMON tools, PowerISO and SQL service) I was also having problems with the SpyCop package so I uninstalled and reinstalled.

So I restarted (like I should) and the only process it goes through is the DELL start up "splash screen" After that it usually does the Windows XP "splash screen" but it never does the Windows XP screen, it just stays black, nothing. I pressed F2 to see if anything changed and nothing seemed to, as far as I know. I tried F8 to enter safe mode and a couple lines of text show up and stop and hang. I even tried to let it sit there to see if maybe it's just getting used to the defrag job(s) I did, still black. It's still black as I type this.

Oh yeah, and it's Windows XP Media Center by the way.

I have tried 'last known good configuration' and nothing.

Also, when it boots, all num,alpha and scroll lock lights come on, normal. But when it gets to the time the Windows splash screen should appear but goes black, the numlock light stays on and remains. When I push the numlock key it still remains, but while the Dell splash goes on, if I hit the key I'm able to disable it. Like it just freezes up after that point.

Another thing to take into consideration. I search around online and found articles similar to this. Others have said download and create setup boot disks. I have tried this and still nothing. Even when I tell it to boot from CD/DVD it goes to the black screen.

I obtained an image of Recovery Console online and burned it to disk and it booted up in my laptop. YAY! I feel better knowing that I may be able to access my HDD.

BUT... I'm so intimidated and terrified to use the RC.

If anyone has experience with the RC, please help me out.

I hope the RC is useful and we're able to fix this.

I figured it may be safe to run check disk "CHKDSK" I ran it and it says I have errors on my HDD. So I typed in CHKDSK /r and now I sit and wait. Maybe this will work.

And guess what, it did not.

I hope we can fix this soon.

 

Hello Matthew and welcome to the Board,

See if you can access System Restore thru a command prompt: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449&sd=tech

If you can, go back to yesterday.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks for the welcome Charles.

I cannot access safe mode in any options.

I do have a copy of the recovery console burned to disc and can access my HDD with that. But I'm not sure how/if I can access system restore with it.

 

I just keep getting "the command is not recognized "

I even tried this and still nothing:

http://www.myfixes.com/articles/system

and this

http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=313

 

Thank you. I didn't realize the manufacturer/distributer mattered. I assume you know best.

Also I went to Dell support and looked around and presented my issue. I got an email from a rep telling me they are sending the necessary OS disks to resolve my problem. It will take 3-5 business days to get them. I may still need assistance since 1) I do not want to lose anything and 2) this may not resolve it completely.

I'm still open for suggestions.

 

If its the OS disc that Dell is sending you, then with it you can repair the installation http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The boot disc you have now doesn't contain the OS files which you would need to do a repair.

BTW, MCE is on DVD, hope you have a working DVD drive.

Go into the BIOS, on a Dell get into the BIOS by tapping the delete key on boot up. Once in, make sure that the CD/DVD drive is the Primary boot device. Save your settings on exit using the esc key.

Regards - Charles

 

Well, I got the disk, followed the steps and when it came time to restart in step 6 the same thing is happening. It just goes back to the black screen again.

 

Hi HazzMatt,

I think you have a problem with the hard drive.

See if the manufacturer of your HD has a diagnostic tool to run and follow the instruction on running it.

Regards - Charles