Computer hangs at Windows start

Hey guys,
I've got a Dell Inspiron 620 with Windows 7 Home Premium that doesn't finish loading Windows. It always hangs at the start screen just after the four orbs converge into Microsoft flag. Trying to start in safe mode it stays on the loading drivers screen. When I try to boot from the Windows installation DVD, it also hangs at the start screen exactly where it did trying to start normally. It will boot from other boot disk, just not windows.
Any thoughts on this?


Mark

EDIT: I forgot to mention I tried using another hard drive with the same results.

 

What do you mean by other boot disk?

My gut reaction is that the HD is wasted.. Can you get a live linux CD such as Ubuntu burned and try booting from that? Then load Gpart and check the HD.

 

I need to edit my post. I forgot to mention it does the same thing with another hard drive installed. By other boot disk, so far any other disk that the computer can boot from.

 

Well, frankly, I'm a network guy, so there's more smarter people than I am. I'm stunned when you say the install disk fails also.. But let's try a couple of things first. When you are booting, go into the bios. On clones, generally speaking, the process is to tap the DEL key while the bios dump is on the screen (i.e. memory count, HD detect, etc.) As for your proprietary machine, try the del key tap, and if that doesnt work find out what key you tap to get into the bios. Once there, you want to see if the bios detects your HD. If it does, maybe a win repair might fix you up. I would also suggest you poke around in the bios and find the area where you change the boot order. You want to change it so the DVD goes first, then the HD, or maybe a USB--but get that dvd up first, then the HD. If you have another computer, go to ubuntu.com and download their ubuntu desktop O/S. It has a good HD utility called Gpart that you could use for diaging HD issues while running the program strictly from the DVD--no install needed--thus the term Live CD

Good luck

 

I had exactly this same problem. I don't know if this helps you but in my case it turned out to be a still mysterious issue with RAM. Has the computer previously worked correctly or is it new to you?

Here is my story: I was given some old PCs. Two are seemingly identical Acers, same model, etc. that were purchased at the same time. I had various problems with one and eventually discovered that it had to do with the speed of the RAM. When DDR2 RAM modules that are faster than the BIOS can handle are used, they are supposed to switch down to the slower speed. This wasn't working correctly on the one computer. It would work fine with any speed of RAM in one slot, but only if it had a slower 512 mb module in the other one. Otherwise it wouldn't boot. I finally worked this out by experimenting with different RAM modules. Eventually I put the computer aside.

Later I wanted to use it for Mint. I had exactly the problem you describe. I then tested it on Windows. Also the same problem. It would boot part way and then just stop, at exactly the point you describe. No error message and the RAM passed all diagnostic tests. I even tested it with Memtest 86. After much trial and error, I eventually discovered that I was having the same problem again. When I put back the original 512 mb module, the computer booted up without problem. Clearly there is something not right with the BIOS but I don't know what it is. I never get any error and the computer works perfectly as long as I let it have that darned 512 mb module. I don't know if your issue is the same, but try putting the slowest, smallest module you can find in it and seeing if it boots. One won't cost much, if anything.