Blue Screen Trouble/Tech Support?

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Starscream

Update:

I've found the OS disk and put it in the drive. Blue screen popped up again so I shut the system down. Now when I attempt to restart it, it seems to be stuck in some sort of loop. It attempts to start up, shuts down, reattempts to start up, shuts down, reattempts...etc, etc.

Sounds like it's not booting from the OS cd.

Try accessing the bios to change the boot order.

When you first turn the computer on do you see anything like "XX for BIOS" or "XX for Setup" - typically at the bottom of the screen?
XX could be just about anything, but the following are the common ones (off the top of my head):F2, F8, F10, F12, DEL. Typically, this info can be found on the system or motherboard manufacturer's website.

When you get into the BIOS, change the boot order so that the optical drive (CD, DVD) is first. Some BIOSes are quirky and you need to actually disable booting from the hard disk to get them to boot from the CD/DVD.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by T.G

Sounds like it's not booting from the OS cd.

Try accessing the bios to change the boot order.

When you first turn the computer on do you see anything like "XX for BIOS" or "XX for Setup" - typically at the bottom of the screen?
XX could be just about anything, but the following are the common ones (off the top of my head):F2, F8, F10, F12, DEL. Typically, this info can be found on the system or motherboard manufacturer's website.

When you get into the BIOS, change the boot order so that the optical drive (CD, DVD) is first. Some BIOSes are quirky and you need to actually disable booting from the hard disk to get them to boot from the CD/DVD.

It doesn't even have time to startup the screen, so I can't see anything other than the blinking lights on the CPU.

Sorry if I'm being a pain in the @$$ here.




BTW,the computer is a Dell XPS of some sort. Other than that, I don't really know much more.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Starscream

One more question:
If I use the OS disk, will it erase all the files/documents/pictures on my hard drive? I've got too many family pics to just dump all of them.

Assuming that the drive hasn't failed, only if you reformat the drive.

Originally Posted by Starscream

It doesn't even have time to startup the screen, so I can't see anything other than the blinking lights on the CPU.

Sorry if I'm being a pain in the @$$ here.
BTW,the computer is a Dell XPS of some sort. Other than that, I don't really know much more.

Dell XPS - try the F2 key as soon as you see the Dell logo. Or, alternately, from a cold boot, just start punching the F2 key repeatedly.

If you can find the service tag sticker on the back, PM the code on there and I'll look up what the exact sequence is.

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by T.G

Assuming that the drive hasn't failed, only if you reformat the drive.

He should get a disk failed or not found error if it was that.

Dell XPS - try the F2 key as soon as you see the Dell logo. Or, alternately, from a cold boot, just start punching the F2 key repeatedly.

Yeah - pretty sure it's the F2 key or secondly the DEL key.

Andy - unplug anything you may have attached: printers, scanners, etc - everything but your monitor, keyboard and mouse. Remove the CD from your drive.

Turn the computer off, then turn it back on. As soon as you turn it on immediately start tapping the F2 key (heck, start tapping before you turn it on even). If you hear a series of quick beeps/tones you can stop. Try it several times if need be. (Note: those little beeps/tones you hear at start-up actually mean something and can help identify problems sometimes.)

Every computer with a software problem should be able to at least access the bios. Computers with hardware, i.e. motherboard problems may not be able to.

Ron