dell computer wont boot

jonno_2

I bought a new dell 2400 dimension (256 mb,- 40 gig harddrive,) 2 months ago and it now wont load up.
I was on the intenet and it suddenly froze. Now, each time i attempt a boot up it gets a few seconds in to the desk top then suddenly the cursor freezes and the only way i can turn it off is to press in the power switch.
i, ve tried disconnecting the mouse and using another one and making sure all cables are secure, to no avail.
i also booted in safe mode (the mouse works ok in this)to do a system restore and a virus scan but they both wont work.
i rang dell a couple of times and got a message saying the tecnical support is currently unavailable.
i, am at a loss now and if anyone could come up with any advice i would be much grateful
cheers and thanks
jonno

Malestrom

So what happens when you boot in safe mode? Does the PC load up ok? Do some programs run fine? If so then its likely a software issue, rather than a hardware issue. Have you recently updated any drivers, installed SP2, updated any programs? Do you run a firewall and was your anti-virus uptodate?

jonno_2

thanks for your reply malestrom. it loads ok in safe mode but when i try to do a system restore it takes me to the part which says restore to earlier restore date then when i click continue, nothing happens, same with anti virus scan.
funnily enough on the morning it decided to pack in, i updated adaware, spybot. mcafee firewall and anti virus, did aol computer check up, ran c cleaner, and defragged before entering a fresh restore point. i was on the computer for quite some time before it went wrong late last night.
service pack 2 came pre installed and i have updated all available updates.
i hav,nt updated any drivers or installed anything.I hope it is,nt a hardware problem.

Browntoa

try unistalling the broadband modem and boting up..I've had those symtoms in the past and it was always the modem, had to reinstall each time !!

there was another thread on here recently where the guy was having probloems with AOL and modems.....

drlight_2

IN the first few seconds of the desktop, windows has succesfully loaded and begins loading third party startup programs, I'm sure it's one of these which is causing a system halt. You can see some of them loading because they appear on the small taskbar you may be able to see which one dosn't appear when is freezes.

You can disable these by unticking them in "msconfig.exe" I guess windows will then load normally, you can then re-tick them one at a time until you find the dodgy one.

Start=> run, type "msconfig" enter
Select "startup" tab
Click on disable all
reboot

jonno_2

did as you suggested drlight and unfortunatelly it does,nt work
the desk top screen comes on only a matter of seconds ontil the cursor completely freezes, i am currently on aol dial up and i,ve never had this problem before.
thanks for your help

bbb_uk

If the computer boots fine and doesn't freeze or anything from safe mode then it is a driver problem or software problem.

Can you create a restore point now then see if it will let you go back into it and restore to what you've just created? If you can do both of these no problems then we know that system restore is working fine.

Try the following additional thing within msconfig as well as what drlight mentioned:

Start=> run, type "msconfig" enter
Select "Services" tab
Click on Hide All Microsoft services (bottom centre)
Remembering what is clicked then unclick (disable) them all
Reboot

The above along with what drlight mentioned will stop most third-party software from loading but microsoft services will be left to run as normal.

jonno_2

did as you said but no joy.
system restore does,nt work at all and i am unable to get connected to aol (i am using my old computer to get online.
thanks for your help
cheers

onzey

jonno

would a read through this page help?

http://www.rlrouse.com/windows-startup-modes.html

Perhaps try the mode to create bootlog.txt or something to try and get a clue to the cause

jonno_2

i contacted dell who needed me to do a diagnostic test, i did this and give them the results. they said it was a software problem and i would have to pay a fee to use this part of their service, contacted that department and was told prices started at £22 (plus of course time on phone).
i think i will do a reinstall but being inexperienced at this i, am a little put off having to reinstall drivers etc, could anyone advise me on this ?.
i attempted a repair from the installation disk and it asked me for administrators password. (i cant remember putting any passwords in place )and the passwords i tried were rejected.
will i need to put in a administrator password to complete a reinstall.
if anyone can please help i would be most appreciated.
thanks
jonno

Browntoa

if you can boot into safe mode then try going to add/remove programs and removing items in the order you put them on and then seeing if it boots up ok...if it is a software problem yyou may remove the offending item . you can then boot up like normal and reinstall the offending item (after doing a restore point)