Computer won't start up!

[All that is man]

Ok i have windows vista and every time i start it up it gets stuck on the [loading sign] Welcome, but i think 20 minutes is more than enough time. So I hold the power button and then it shuts off. Right now i'm in safe mode and it sucks cause i can't really do anything.... Does anyone know what to do!?!? Please help.
Right now i'm going to the movies with some friends but when I get back i'll check the forums. All help will be very appreacaited.

[Hobbit]

Does it give you any messages at all or just stay at the welcome screen?
Since you are in safemode anyways run the system diagnostics that are in Windows Vista Safe mode, see what they say. You'll probably need to end up formatting...

Also try this...

Open command prompt and type this

CHKDSK C: /F

That will check to see if you have any bad sectors on your hard drive and try to repair them if it can be repaired. See if that helps at all. Oh and change the "C:" to whatever the drive letter your windows is installed on.

[ShowerThoughts]

You work in computer repairing business right?

[Mr.Klean]

You work in computer repairing business right?

Yeah he works for Staples as a computer tech. I am pretty sure.

[Hobbit]

Yeah but there is not much i can do without being there.

I could do other things to fix it but I don't have the time nor energy to go through explaining the steps.

[Naum]

I could suggest going into recovery console and doing chkdsk /r or /p.
Otherwise delete the previous partitions or over re-install it using the windows CD :)

[Smarter Child]

hobbit, you work in staples?

Just get another OS. lol like ubuntu linux or something.

[All that is man]

what are the system diagnostics that you said? and whats formatting?

[Hobbit]

Okay in Windows Vista, in the safe mode there are some diagnostic tools.
Some versions will have an icon on the desktop, if not look in the start menu and it will be in there. Run that and see if it brings anything up.

Formatting is basically wiping the hard drive clean and starting over... back up your data before doing this....

[krisg05]

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2246
might be able to help with your problem and go into in detail

[All that is man]

ok so i'll try the dianostic tool and then get back to you... I know you probally don't want to spend your Friday night helping some 14 year old kid, but you don't know how much i appreaciate this.

EDIT: i have a like 3 year MaCafee subscription if I Format my harddrive(how do i do that) Will i still have my subscription?

[krisg05]

well have u got the serial wrote down from when u bought it ? well if u insert ur vista disc a boot up and follow the on screen commands ull be able to do it that way sorry im being very vague it 6:35am by the way is it a pc from dell or something like that as they usly come with recovery discs.


With extended subscriptions like that usually there is a feature where you can transfer the subscription to another computer. So check for that or go to the MaCafee website and ask. Because if it was a one PC key for 3 years... once its activated then its done. But check you may be able to transfer.
if i remember correctly with mac fee auth system if u remove it from ur pc and still have time and ur serial when u reinstall it still works (as the serial is only being used by one computer to connect to there database ) hard to explain

[Hobbit]

With extended subscriptions like that usually there is a feature where you can transfer the subscription to another computer. So check for that or go to the MaCafee website and ask. Because if it was a one PC key for 3 years... once its activated then its done. But check you may be able to transfer.

[All that is man]

Ok well it diagnosed no problem and if worst comes to worst how do I format my harddrive? Right now i'm transfering all of my important crap over to my flashdrive. So, also if its not to hard to explain. I'm all into computers and stuff so how can my computer go from working perfectly to formating my harddrive...

[Hobbit]

Do the CHKDSK in command prompt and see if that brings up anything...

Well it could be many things that could have caused it...

Corrupt hard drive sectors or partitions
Viruses
You messed with a system file now it doesnt complete a boot properly
etc

[All that is man]

I did the CHKDSK and it said it'll do it next time windows is restarted i restarted it and it came up with nothing and then got stuck on the loading screen again....Sometimes it gets past the loading screen and i let it sit there for a while probally a half an hour and it didn't do anything so i forcefully shut it down and again i'm in safe mode, anything else to try?

[Hobbit]

You could always boot up with a Linux live cd and check the hard disk from there or try to repair anything you can find. Try downloading Knoppix STD (No not sexually transmitted disease... its Security Tools Distribution) It has TONS of diagnostic things you can check out...

But other than that... easiest would be backup and format

[All that is man]

Ok i'm COMPLETEY cool with backingup and formating its my laptop all of my stuff will fit on my 8g flashdrive except the MaCafee, is there anyway of knowing if I can transfer MaCafee? Or no way of telling? Also how do i format my harddrive?

[Hobbit]

Well go to the MaCafee website and see what their support says. I know some anti-virus can do that... especially the longer subscription versions...
Also how many PC's was the key good the be registered on? If it was more than one and you've only used up one activation then its fine...

What year/version of MaCafee do you have?

Format... well did you get recovery discs with your computer and/or did you make them when you set up the computer?

If that's no and you don't have the recovery disks then tell me what Brank of computer you have.

[All that is man]

Ok well I have an Dell Inspiron 1525 and it came with a bunch of disks:

Applecation - Already Installed On Your Computer

Drivers And Utilites - Already Installed On Your Computer

Operating System - Already Installed On Your Computer

Roxio - Already Installed On Your Computer

Some disk that hasn't been opened and i can't read it cause it has a big label on it - Already Installed On Your Computer

Drivers and Utilites - Already Installed On Your Computer

And i'll check Mcafee's website.

Dude I really really thank you for going to all of the trouble to help me.



EDIT: Ok I logged into McAfee and theres a download button, so i'm guessing that means that I can download it if i format my harddrive, what do you think?

[Hobbit]

Okay... What does the one you cant read say....

And you have 2 Drivers & Utilities?
Are you sure they both came with your computer...?

Should only be 1.

But anyways... what you would do is...

Put the "Operating System" disk into the disk drive and restart your computer.
When it restarts start hitting F12 repeatedly until it comes to the Boot Menu. Usually F12 but may be different so look to see what options it displays at the bottom of the screen.
When you get to the boot menu, select the disk drive as the source to boot from. Then just follow the steps in the install Wizzard. It will ask you a few things then do its thing. And when it asks tell it no you do not want to create a back up folder.

So it will go through installing windows then it will ask you to insert the Drivers and Utilities disk. So take out the first disk and put in drivers and Utilities. Then it will go through and install them.

Then you can set up windows and install the Roxio and other applications that came with the Dell

But before you do this please tell me the label of the other CD and Verify which of the Driver and Utilities CDs belong with your computer.

And its no trouble... I'm here to help.
But some in depth stuff isn't really explainable without being there or else something could go very wrong very fast.

[All that is man]

Ok so one of the Drivers and utilites says "For reinstalling dell webcam manager" probally should have read that... So that questions out of the way. The one that I couldn't read is Microsoft Works 9, so that questions out of the way.


BackingUp
Ok i backed up my doucments by putting them in my flashdrive but should
I go about backingup my whole harddrive, i also have some Dell DateSafe Online
Cause I didn't back up my whole harddrive.

[Hobbit]

Okay Perfect... So just do as i said above...

Operating System
Then it will ask for Drivers and Utilities
Then it will start up
Set up windows
Install Works
Install Roxio
Install Webcam Drivers
Install Applications

Then your done :)

Well your whole hard drive might not... just take all your document and pictures and movies and stuff. But stuff like programs and games etc you cant really back up... you just have to reinstall.

If you have another computer of something with MSN and need more help while doing it you can add me if you like.

[All that is man]

I have my familys desktop upstairs but it doesn't have MSN is that free to download?

[Hobbit]

Yes it is.
Or you can go on msn web messenger if you dont want to download. Or if you have an IRC client installed that would work also to communicate.

[n3ss3s]

Yes it is.
Or you can go on msn web messenger if you dont want to download. Or if you have an IRC client installed that would work also to communicate.

You guys can just use mibbit/stuff aswell...

[infested999]

Or if you want you could install a distro of linux since your already reinstalling. But that would just make things even more complicated.

[Harry]

Download "SpinRite" program.

Extract and burn ISO to a CD.

Put in CD slot.

Reboot PC.

When asked to hit a key, hit it.

Choose the default option.

Wait a few hours.

Once it is finished, take out disk, then boot PC.

System will be fixed, I am 99% sure ;)

The same thing has happened to me before, I did this, and it fixed it.

[All that is man]

Guess what! I'm on the formus with my laptop not in Safe Mode! Thank you sooooo much Hobbit! Rep++

[Hobbit]

Hahaha did you get it done? :p

No problem.. thats why im here