Computer won't work/start - help pls

Goodadvice75

Hi,

Just a quick message to thank you for the above replies.

I've managed to make it go into safe mode again.

I tried the F8/F9 and it asked me if I wanted to reboot from a disk etc and I said no to that for now, whilst I try the other options that have been suggested.

Yesterday I copied off all music - there was about 22GB of this and I then deleted it. It told me too much to go into recycle bin so it would be permanently deleted which is fine. So that freed up a lot of space but today it still won't boot.

I'm now running disk defragmenter in safe mode. It's only 1% through so far but will post back later when it's finished.

For the C drive it tellsl me it is an "NTFS File System" with capacity of 74.53GB and free space of 22.10GB (29% free space). I'd have thought that was plenty of free space but will let it finish defragmenting and see what happens then.

Assuming I can then get it to boot and get online I can download the CCleaner thingammy and run that. If it will only come on in safe mode, could I download CCleaner on my laptop, copy that to a USB drive and then copy it to the PC - will it install OK on the PC doing it this way? (Not sure if I have to actually download it to the PC direct from the internet in order for it to install properly?)

I really appreciate all the help and advice and will come back later once it's finished defragmenting to update.

Goodadvice75

Hi,

Just coming back with an update as promised - I couldn't devote more time to this until recently.

The defrag took hours but still made no difference. Also ran CCleaner but the PC still wouldn't turn on properly.

Finally I plucked up the courage and reinstalled Windows XP Prof (having copied/deleted all the data I needed) and fingers firmly crossed this seems to have worked. HUGE THANKS TO "TAKE THIS" - everything worked fine!

I've followed advice and just gone for low memory usage protection like Zone Alarm and Avast and am running the bare minimum of other stuff.

I think the problem may not be helped by memory - I ran Crucial's scanning software and it says I have only 512MB of memory (2 x 256MB). The memory type is "DDR-PC2-5300"

I have an old desktop PC in the loft which hasn't been used for years - got that down and it has 1GB of memory but this is "DDR-PC2700". I'm assuming I can't remove the memory from the old desktop and put it in my current one as it is incompatible - but would be grateful if someone could please confirm?

The old PC from the loft is pretty much redundant so I'll ask for help on a separate thread about safely deleting stuff and disposing of this.

Meanwhile, thanks for everyone's help and advice here.

GunJack

the 2 types of RAM aren't compatible, however, there shouldn't bae anything wrong with the old pc if you clean it up properly

TakeThis

I think the problem may not be helped by memory - I ran Crucial's scanning software and it says I have only 512MB of memory (2 x 256MB). The memory type is "DDR-PC2-5300"

The memory type is likely PC2-4200. The Crucial tool does not tell you what you have, but what they have which may be compatible with your machine.

Anyway, you will need 512MB module. Available for £8.88 from here

Double check by running CPU-Z and looking under 'Memory' and 'SPD'.

In which slot you need to place it depends on your answer to the last question in post #11.

Goodadvice75

Hi TakeThis,

Many thx for your further help.

I ran the CPU-Z thing and it came up with:

"DDR2
Module size: 256MBytes
Max Bandwith: PC2-4300 (266 MHz)
Size: 512 MBytes"

So is the key bit I'm looking for "PC2-4300" and 512 MBytes?

Re Post 11 - the one I have is "Small Form Factor".

Can I run this CPU-Z also on my Laptop as that is very slow also and I may attempt to put some more memory into that also whilst I'm at it....

One last question if I may please(!) - I managed to update the drivers for the audio so I have sound back now which is great. In Device Manager I am left with yellow question marks against only two items:

CIF single chip
Ethernet controller

I've tried updating these but they both refuse saying that the "wizard cannot find the software". So far the fact that whatever these are are not working has not presented me with a problem - should I worry about them/might I need them in the future and if so is there a way I can update them by downloading something online?

Thx in advance.

TakeThis

Goodadvice75 wrote: »

Hi TakeThis,

Many thx for your further help.

I ran the CPU-Z thing and it came up with:

"DDR2
Module size: 256MBytes
Max Bandwith: PC2-4300 (266 MHz)
Size: 512 MBytes"

So is the key bit I'm looking for "PC2-4300" and 512 MBytes?

Re Post 11 - the one I have is "Small Form Factor".

Can I run this CPU-Z also on my Laptop as that is very slow also and I may attempt to put some more memory into that also whilst I'm at it....

One last question if I may please(!) - I managed to update the drivers for the audio so I have sound back now which is great. In Device Manager I am left with yellow question marks against only two items:

CIF single chip
Ethernet controller

I've tried updating these but they both refuse saying that the "wizard cannot find the software". So far the fact that whatever these are are not working has not presented me with a problem - should I worry about them/might I need them in the future and if so is there a way I can update them by downloading something online?

Thx in advance.

Drivers are here under Network for Ethernet. Broadcom is connected to the Motherboard. Intel Pro if a separate card.

The RAM to which I have linked is the one that you need. The 512MB module can go into Slot 3 and the two 256MB modules can go in to Slots 1 & 2 respectively.

Make and full model number of laptop?

Goodadvice75

Wow, thank you TakeThis!

The laptop is Dell Inspiron. I'm pasting the blurb that Crucial gave in case this helps.

Actually, now I look at it, it has 1GB and no available slots - so maybe this is enough memory and I need to do a clean up and remove stuff rather than add memory, although it keeps giving me messages on screen that the memory is low - would be grateful for your thoughts.

As it has no available slots, if I were to upgrade does this mean I'd have to get 1 x 1GB and leave one of the 512s in place or go for 2 x 1GB?
Your Inspiron E1505 System Specs

Memory:DDR2 PC2-5300Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 2GB
Currently Installed Memory: 1GB
Total Memory Slots: 2
Available Memory Slots: 0

512MB
DDR PC2-5200

512MB

Thanks so much for your help.

closed

It will work better without zonealarm

post a hijackthis log

TakeThis

Goodadvice75 wrote: »

Wow, thank you TakeThis!

The laptop is Dell Inspiron. I'm pasting the blurb that Crucial gave in case this helps.

Actually, now I look at it, it has 1GB and no available slots - so maybe this is enough memory and I need to do a clean up and remove stuff rather than add memory, although it keeps giving me messages on screen that the memory is low - would be grateful for your thoughts.

As it has no available slots, if I were to upgrade does this mean I'd have to get 1 x 1GB and leave one of the 512s in place or go for 2 x 1GB?
Your Inspiron E1505 System Specs

Memory:DDR2 PC2-5300Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 2GB
Currently Installed Memory: 1GB
Total Memory Slots: 2
Available Memory Slots: 0

512MB
DDR PC2-5200

512MB

Thanks so much for your help.

Hard drive full?

Clean install or refer to closed for a clean up.

robmar0se

Back to yr RAM question. PC4300 was only made in small quantities and is not readily available any more.

I would go with Crucial's advice (they guarantee the compatibility) and install one 1gb PC5300 stick, and remove both PC4300 sticks, rather than go down to PC4200.

Unless you are doing intensive CAD or photoshop applications anything above 1gb on XP is a waste.

I suggest removing both old sticks as the system runs at the lowest common denominator, hence leaving one of the pc4300 sticks in means you wouldn't get the benefit of the faster pc5300 (not that one can really tell!).

PS both Crucial and Offtek are good specialist suppliers of RAM, both been around for years