COMPUTER HELP!

03-13-07 | rirepublican

[rirepublican]

I need some suggestions before I reinstall the operating system.

When I boot my computer I get a black screen. I can operate in safe mode.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Dell laptop. Never again!

I've never owned anything but Dell laptops and I love them.

However, the one thing I do before using them is to wipe the drive and install Windows using my own copy and my own license.
Gotta get rid of whatever Dell installed on it before going anywhere.
After doing that, they run like a dream.

[rirepublican]

I starting to reinstall windows, it stopped in the middle and gave me a blue error screen. Now I can't even get it to boot in safe mode. Any suggestions as to what it could be? If the repair is going to be costly, I'm going to have to go out and buy a new one. My business depends on my computer use. Thanks!

[rirepublican]

Should I just go to Office Depot and buy Windows? I was able to get to the screen to boot in safe mode and received an error message and it wouldn't allow me to and now I'm back to the blue screen error message.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

If there is no data that you need on this PC then boot from the XP disk and select the options that will allow you to delete the partition on which XP sits and then format it.
This is an absolute clean install.

If it succeeds and XP comes up and runs, activation should not be required (a crapshoot) and all you need do is to re-install your applications and move your data back.

If it fails then it can be presumed that your hard drive has other problems that may or may not be correctable.

A new HDD can be purchased and XP installed on it and data moved back. A simple (ish) process if you've done it before. If not, you certainly might want to get a new PC.

[rirepublican]

Since I now cannot reboot in any mode, I assume it's a HD problem, all I get now is a blue error screen.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sorry. I thought you said you could get to safe mode.

Do you have data on the drive that has not been backed up that you must have? If not, try booting from the CD and doing the format/install procedure. If the XP install hangs or fails...there it is...dead HDD.

If there is data there that you must have....that's bad news.
You may be able to take that drive and install it in another machine (a friend's perhaps?) as a slave drive so you can see if it is accessible to get that data.

[TLI]

You pick 'Install Windows'. It will detect a current installation and ask you if you want to repair or fresh install. Pick repair.

Yep!

[perfect stranger]

I am curious about your computer problem. Have you made any progress?

[JockoManning]

Please tell me why you said:

"Dell laptop. Never again!"

I might be shopping for a laptop and according to consumerreports dot org, Dell Inspiron E1705 is a "quick pick".

Thanks

[JockoManning]

I might be shopping for a laptop and according to consumerreports dot org, Dell Inspiron E1705 is a "quick pick".

Thanks

[Note to self, Bloody Sam Roberts said: I've never owned anything but Dell laptops and I love them.

However, the one thing I do before using them is to wipe the drive and install Windows using my own copy and my own license. Gotta get rid of whatever Dell installed on it before going anywhere. After doing that, they run like a dream.]

[rirepublican]

If you read the thread, I was having problems with the hard drive. Crashed! I purchased the computer in early 2005. I thought it was too soon for something like that to happen. I had a friend install a new one and I'm up and running. I have to tell you the customer service is awful. If you know computers -- can diagnose and fix the problems, then I would say to get one. I purchased a hard drive, was sent the wrong one and trying to return it was the worst experience. I am still waiting for a credit for the part that was returned 3 weeks ago. Take the advice from the poster who said not to get all the stuff Dell loads. McAfee products are a problems too. I renewed by subscription and then was not able to download it because it was not reading my Dell Service Tag. When I called Dell, they wanted me to pay for them to tell me what the problem was. Sorry for the long post, hope it helps with your decision.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

In addition to the Freepmail I sent you....,p> I have just looked over the Dell Inspiron E1705. Looks very nice and reviews are good.
I've only ever owned Dell C series off lease recons. I wipe them clean and install my own XP copy on to it...starting from scratch.
Though I wouldn't kick a Dell Inspiron E1705 out of my lap.
If you are in a position to get one without an OS loaded...do it. Many of the issues people have with Dells is the extra crud that get bundled with the OS.
Eschew MS Vista.

[JockoManning]

OIC, that's the one you had a problem with. Thanks for clarifying.

jm

[JockoManning]

Gracias.