HokieJ Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Ok this started 2 days ago out of nowhere. On bootup, we get the Windows logo with the little bar below it on screen for like 3 seconds, bios flashes quickly, then the dell logo with their bar gets on teh scren for about 3 seconds then blank. Then nothing else on the screen. I cannot get it to display anything long enough to boot to safe mode. It's a Dell, all the hardware is 4+ years old. Monitor is an LCD i just got for Xmas. Ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gchwood Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 could be alot of things, Memory, CPU, power supply, just to name a few. Does it stay on or does it cut itself off? Also since it is 4 years old you need to just scrap it and buy a new computer and take your old hard drive and install it into the new one. at least that is what I would do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Monk Fan Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 I've got a similar problem on one of my home computers. It's also about four years old, but a Gateway. It doesn't always happen, but on booting I get the Windows screen, the little status bar fills up once, then the bios flashes and it auto-reboots. When it comes back up again, I get the error screen asking if I'd like to start in safe mode, use last working settings, etc. If I start in safe mode, then tell it shut down, it will often restart fine after a few minutes sitting off. Anyone have a clue what's causing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenaa Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 If you're seeing the Windows logo, you're past the point for Safemode. You need to press F8 as soon as post ends. During the scrolling bar, drivers are initializing. Is it actually rebooting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacky McSlackAss Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 yeah, you need to hit f8 before the windows screen comes up. my guess is your bios may be screwed up and you might have to reformat your harddrive or even replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeJGibbs Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 This most definitely sounds like a system board issue or power supply issue. I work with IBM's and Dell's all day and the symptoms sound the same. a) PC will randomly reboot itself PC boots up and then keeps rebooting over and over c) PC just shutsoff randomly d) PC will not turn on but there are power lights showing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokieJ Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 ok a little clarification. I only get flashes of each screen, not the full screen time. I hit f8 to try to select safe mode but the screen display doesn't say on long enough to select it. I went and bought a new hard drive and video card and probably will just stick those in and start all over and see what that does. Both of those components are pushing 5 years old and need replacing anyways. It's not restarting itself or anythnig like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokieJ Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 Bump...anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Is it shutting off though? Is the system turning itself off after it flashes the screens? That's a very important answer. You should pick up a power supply at the store and try replacing that as well as the harddrive and graphics card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumrunner6900 Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 I need some help too!! (Hope you don't mind me jumping in!) I have a computer that just keeps restarting.....I cannot get it to boot into safe mode. I have since gotten a new computer, but I have a bunch of stuff I want to get off the old one...any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 as i say whenever troubleshooting the boot, disconnect everything not necessary to running the computer (keep in the processor, power supply, one stick of ram, and a video card, disconnect everything else including the hard drive.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 I need some help too!! (Hope you don't mind me jumping in!)I have a computer that just keeps restarting.....I cannot get it to boot into safe mode. I have since gotten a new computer, but I have a bunch of stuff I want to get off the old one...any ideas? install the old hard drive in the new computer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokieJ Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 NO it does not restart itself. It's booting up to the point where I would pick which profile I want for Windows and it stops. The only way I can get it to turn off or reboot is to manually turn the unit on and off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 NO it does not restart itself. It's booting up to the point where I would pick which profile I want for Windows and it stops. The only way I can get it to turn off or reboot is to manually turn the unit on and off. what are the computer's specs, and what version of windows do you run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HokieJ Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 XP. I couldn't tell you the specs off the top of my head. been so long I bought the thing I don't remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 NO it does not restart itself. It's booting up to the point where I would pick which profile I want for Windows and it stops. The only way I can get it to turn off or reboot is to manually turn the unit on and off. Do you have more than one copy of Windows installed (e.g. dual boot machine)? I'm trying to figure out where in the boot sequence you are when it goes south. It sounds like you should be able to get into your boot options. I would boot to your CD, run the recovery console, and do a chkdsk to see if there is anything wrong with your harddisk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted June 29, 2006 Share Posted June 29, 2006 4 years is the life expectancy of a computer. You should replace it if possible. Does it have 4 lights marked ABCD or 1234 on the back? If so are any amber or all green? What model Dell is it? Dimension 4100? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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