When I start my computer up, it shows the black windows screen and then the blue dell start up screen and then it starts all over again with the black windows screen and back to the lbue dell start up screen, when it gets to the blue dell start up screen, i press ctrl+F11 and it does not do anything, just keeps restarting again. Any suggestions? I would like to just restore it back to factory settings or get it to work somehow but it did not come with a factory disk.
This is sounding sort of like a registry failure. But first, when it first starts, press the key that puts it into setup. Gotta drag up the memory of which key that is on a Dell. I believe it's F2.
Anyway, when you get into the BIOS setup screen (if it does, in fact, work) look for a menu item that lets you set the BIOS to default and try the bootup. Also, there is probably one screen that tells the machine to halt on errors. Set that to not halt on errors.
Can't be more specific, as the manufacturers are always changing the BIOS options and I don't have access to a Dell 3000.
If you can't get into the BIOS, let me know and we'll do more stuff.
It's a new day here--lemmee take a look at this and we'll figure something out. The good thing is that you were able to get into this setup mode without the computer rebooting. This tells us that the problem lies in Windows.
I'm not sure if you see an option to restore system defaults. I don't think Dell has that option.
As I said, though, I believe we've ruled out hardware as an issue. You can get a Dell restore CD or, alternatively, find a Windows XP disk (any one will do). You can boot from that CD (Dell gives you an option on startup to select your boot device) and then do this:
First boot from the CD
Next, tell it to repair the installation.
You'll have to press #1 to get into your Windows installation and then press enter at the request for a password--hopefully you don't have the administrator account password protected--and when you get the DOS prompt, run chkdsk /r
This should repair any bad files and perhaps this will solve the problem. If not, we can do a Windows repair.
Yell at us again if you need to do that.
×
-you might try to hit F8 and get to safe mode
-From there, you can try to restore your PC from start<-all programs<-accessories<-system tolls<restore
-Choose the earliest date that your want your PC to restore back to.
Hope it helped
2,306 views
Usually answered in minutes!
Thank you for your responses! Byteguy - the system is Windows XP. Also to clarify, when I either try ctrl+F11 or F8 or even F12 to get into set up, I just get a black screen with some writing on it, and it says "Keyboard failure" then it goes back to re-starting itself :(
Ok I hit the F2 key and I get to a screen that shows the following:
System Time
ystem Date
Drive Configuration
Hard-Disk Drive Sequence
Boot Sequence
Memory Info
CPU Info
Integrated Devices (Legacy select options)
Power Management
System Security
Keyboard Num Lock - On
Report Keyboard Errors - Report
Auto Power On - Disabled
Fastboot - On
OS Install Mode - Off
Limit CPUID Value - Disabled
IDE Hard Drivive
Acoustics Mode - bypass
Now, I'm not sure which one of these options would get me to do the stuff you said to do? Sorry, I'm not very computer savvy :)
hmm I don't have either of those CD's.. I'll see about obtaining them and then I can get back to you. Thank you for your time again :)
You can request a startup disk from Dell. They usually don't provide one unless you ask.
Try that.
What operating system is on the machine?
×