Help please - Dell Inspiron not starting

maccaz

Hi
My boss give me his laptop to see if I can get it going.
When I first started it everything started to load and then an error came up about 'Delldock.exe' (sorry I didn't write it down) and the computer shutdown.

I can get into safe mode without any problems, I did a system restore back to 1st May, long before his problems started.
I run msconfig and unticked some of his start up programs, including dell deck.
When it starts now it gets so far and seems to sit there, I just get a black screen.

I don't have an internet connection, is there anything else I could be doing?

Thanks

mj12_2

Sounds like you've somehow managed to disable one of the necessary startup processes - a peril of safe mode i'm afraid; usually you arent able to in normal mode.

System restore isn't really all that comprehensive in my experience and unfortunately sometimes using it can result in conflicts ie if it restores an OS file version to one which in incompatible with a newly installed app or something along those lines

1. What version of windows is it?
2. Do you remember which other processes/services you disabled?

CoolHotCold

if you just get a black screen and a cursor
try Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time
check if theres a Process called explorer.exe under Processes and if there is right click and end task/process
then click File, New Task and type explorer.exe

maccaz

Thanks for you replies
It's windows vista, I removed only dell dock initially and then removed some I thought would cause no problems eg googletoolbar notifier, McAfee security scanner, printers etc, this was no good either so disable them all :eek:

everything came to this black screen, tried Ctrl, Alt & delete but task manager wouldn't open.

I disable anything in 'services' is there anything I can try?

Ps can I uninstall Delldock.exe anywhere?

Thanks again

mj12_2

If you have a windows cd you could maybe uninstall delldock via the ASR console - if that means nothing to you then don't even try :-)

If you can get into safe mode then re-enable everything and then disable one at a time until you find the problem or better yet use the boot-logging mode which elts you confirm each load as it happens.

If you can't get into safemode then you will need a windows cd i think as you wont be able to manipulate the OS without access to it.