I have a major problem with my computer, it will only work in safe mode. I've tried system restore, last known configuration, and debugging mode, all with no luck. I have a Dell just over a year old and running Vista Home Premium 32bit. Please help! Thank you. I don't know what else to try.
Solved Can only operate in safe mode
- Thread starter sterling
- Start date
sterling, welcome to the forums, you have come to one if not the best forum on the net.
What, exactly, happens when you try to boot into normal Windows Destop?
Perhaps I am not the one to help here but, giving us the blow by blow of the problem will help others help you better, otherwise, speculations will be the only thing we can give you.
What, exactly, happens when you try to boot into normal Windows Destop?
Perhaps I am not the one to help here but, giving us the blow by blow of the problem will help others help you better, otherwise, speculations will be the only thing we can give you.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Custom Built
- CPU
- Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
- Motherboard
- EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
- Memory
- Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
- Graphics Card(s)
- EVGA GTX260
- Sound Card
- Realtek High Def Onboard
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- 1680 x 1050
- Hard Drives
- WD Velociraptor 160GB
Samsung Sata 750GB
Maxtor External 160GB
- PSU
- PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
- Case
- Thermaltake Speedo Advance
- Cooling
- Air Cooled... See CPU
- Keyboard
- Logitech G15
- Mouse
- Logitech G7
- Internet Speed
- Comcast 6MB Broadband
- Other Info
- Linksys WRT54G router
Thank you, when I start it up in normal mode it goes past the screen with Dell on it, and get's up to the moving green bar, not sure what to call that, and then it goes to a black screen and nothing happens then. After awhile it will try to fix itself but it's not able to.
My Computer
Sterling,
try this, boot up into Safe-Mode, On the 'Start Search' line type MSCONFIG, go to the Start up tab, uncheck all components listed including Security Programs i.e. Norton, McAfee. Reboot to normal.
If it reboots to windows, you may have a driver/ application corupting the boot sector...I've seen this occur often, Curious to know your results. good luck!
AMDkid
try this, boot up into Safe-Mode, On the 'Start Search' line type MSCONFIG, go to the Start up tab, uncheck all components listed including Security Programs i.e. Norton, McAfee. Reboot to normal.
If it reboots to windows, you may have a driver/ application corupting the boot sector...I've seen this occur often, Curious to know your results. good luck!
AMDkid
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Custom...I have 3 rigs...
- CPU
- AMD Phenom 9850BE Agena, clocked 3.0GHZ
- Motherboard
- ASUS M3A78-T
- Memory
- 8GB GSkill PC8500
- Graphics Card(s)
- Sapphire 4850 1GB DDR3
- Sound Card
- Creative X-Fi Fatality Gamers Pro
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 32' Samsung LCD TV HDMI
- Screen Resolution
- 1280x720
- Hard Drives
- 2 Seagates 160GB/320GB
- PSU
- Antec 850WTS
- Case
- ThermalTake Armor LCS Liquid cooled
- Cooling
- Liquid cooled, by Thermal Take
- Keyboard
- Logitech G15 smaller version
- Mouse
- Creative Fatality Laser
- Internet Speed
- Satellite
- Other Info
- This is my primary rig. My other two rigs are running 790FX's one Gigabyte (Phenom9600),Gigabyte Mercury Case , other ASUS (AthlonX2-6400BE), XClio A380 Case.
Ok, I tried the msconfig and unchecked all the items. Restarted normally with the same result as before. Green bar for awhile and then black screen.
My Computer
Hi sterling,
What is the model number of your computer? Have you tried the Dell forums (DELL COMMUNITY) to see if anyone else with the same model as you has the same problem, and, if so, what did they do to resolve it?
What is the model number of your computer? Have you tried the Dell forums (DELL COMMUNITY) to see if anyone else with the same model as you has the same problem, and, if so, what did they do to resolve it?
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
- CPU
- Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
- Motherboard
- ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
- Memory
- 4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
- Graphics Card(s)
- MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
- Sound Card
- Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- 1440x900
- Hard Drives
- OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0)
Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2
Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II
Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0
WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
- PSU
- XFX Pro Series 850W Semi-Modular
- Case
- Gigabyte IF233
- Cooling
- 1 x 120mm Front Inlet 1 x 120mm Rear Exhaust
- Keyboard
- Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 (USB)
- Mouse
- Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 for Business (USB)
- Internet Speed
- NetGear DG834Gv3 ADSL Modem/Router (Ethernet) ~4.0 Mb/s (O2)
- Other Info
- Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 SATA Bluray
Lexmark S305 Printer/Scanner/Copier (USB)
WEI Score: 8.1/8.1/8.5/8.5/8.25
Asus Eee PC 1011PX Netbook (Windows 7 x86 Starter)
Have you install a new video driver? perhaps a vista update that brought it a new driver w/o you knowingly? have you changed your monitor as well?
I would uninstall my video driver in safe mode and try to start it again, no damage to your pc just a little extra wasted time installing a new fresh copy of the driver.
I would uninstall my video driver in safe mode and try to start it again, no damage to your pc just a little extra wasted time installing a new fresh copy of the driver.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Custom Built
- CPU
- Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
- Motherboard
- EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
- Memory
- Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
- Graphics Card(s)
- EVGA GTX260
- Sound Card
- Realtek High Def Onboard
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- 1680 x 1050
- Hard Drives
- WD Velociraptor 160GB
Samsung Sata 750GB
Maxtor External 160GB
- PSU
- PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
- Case
- Thermaltake Speedo Advance
- Cooling
- Air Cooled... See CPU
- Keyboard
- Logitech G15
- Mouse
- Logitech G7
- Internet Speed
- Comcast 6MB Broadband
- Other Info
- Linksys WRT54G router
coolnewyorker
Banned
OK, system restore once more...but use a restore point as far away from today...the one at the bottom. If that does not solve it, make sure you undo last restoration. Do Disk Cleanup then defrag. You might be running out of memory space from all the tweakings you have been doing of late.
Worse comes to worst, system restore to factory setting. I hope you have the disc. If not, call DELL and insist they send you your OS DVD. Really insist. I did that two years ago with two different reps and I ended up getting two discs. Idiots!
Worse comes to worst, system restore to factory setting. I hope you have the disc. If not, call DELL and insist they send you your OS DVD. Really insist. I did that two years ago with two different reps and I ended up getting two discs. Idiots!
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- HP Pavilion dv7-1170us
- CPU
- Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 @ 2.00GHz
- Motherboard
- Compal
- Memory
- 4.096
- Graphics Card(s)
- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
- Screen Resolution
- 1440 x 900
- Hard Drives
- 289.09 GB
- Keyboard
- IBM enhanced (101-or 102) keyboard
- Mouse
- Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
- Internet Speed
- cable Wireless
Hi sterling,
Here is a link to the main Dell support page for your computer, together with other useful links: Dell Technical Support Home Page / Dell Troubleshooting Search
Here is a link to the main Dell support page for your computer, together with other useful links: Dell Technical Support Home Page / Dell Troubleshooting Search
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
- CPU
- Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
- Motherboard
- ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
- Memory
- 4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
- Graphics Card(s)
- MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
- Sound Card
- Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- 1440x900
- Hard Drives
- OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0)
Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2
Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II
Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0
WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
- PSU
- XFX Pro Series 850W Semi-Modular
- Case
- Gigabyte IF233
- Cooling
- 1 x 120mm Front Inlet 1 x 120mm Rear Exhaust
- Keyboard
- Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 (USB)
- Mouse
- Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 for Business (USB)
- Internet Speed
- NetGear DG834Gv3 ADSL Modem/Router (Ethernet) ~4.0 Mb/s (O2)
- Other Info
- Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 SATA Bluray
Lexmark S305 Printer/Scanner/Copier (USB)
WEI Score: 8.1/8.1/8.5/8.5/8.25
Asus Eee PC 1011PX Netbook (Windows 7 x86 Starter)
Would that be something like and Nvidia driver? Is that the video driver?
My Computer
When in safe mode have a look at your error logs.
Check the update history.
Click on run and type cmd. Then type in sfc "This will run system file checker".
What you are explaining is a common error on some computers and is usually down to the video driver. "This has been mentioned of sorts".
Go to device driver and see if there are any devices with exlamation marks or a red cross.
Check the Dell website as has been mentioned.
What is the error that the computer can not repair- this will be in your error logs.
Check the update history.
Click on run and type cmd. Then type in sfc "This will run system file checker".
What you are explaining is a common error on some computers and is usually down to the video driver. "This has been mentioned of sorts".
Go to device driver and see if there are any devices with exlamation marks or a red cross.
Check the Dell website as has been mentioned.
What is the error that the computer can not repair- this will be in your error logs.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Self Built
- CPU
- I5 3570K
- Motherboard
- Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
- Memory
- 4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
- Graphics Card(s)
- Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
- Sound Card
- creative x-fi
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- Both 1680 x 1050
- Hard Drives
- 2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
- PSU
- Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
- Case
- Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
- Cooling
- 3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
- Keyboard
- Logik
- Mouse
- Technika TKOPTM2
- Internet Speed
- 288 / 4000
- Other Info
- Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers
Trust Graphics Tablet
I was able to do the disk cleanup, but it won't let me do a defrag. Nothing happens when I click on it.
I did a file check and it says that there are no integrity violations.
I did a file check and it says that there are no integrity violations.
My Computer
z3r010
Staff member
Try uninstalling the nvidia video driver.
My Computers
System One System Two
-
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Workstation
- Manufacturer/Model
- doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
- CPU
- Ryzen 9 5950X
- Motherboard
- Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
- Memory
- Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB) 3600MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4
- Graphics Card(s)
- ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
- Sound Card
- Creative
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3 x27" Dell U2724D & 1 x 34" Dell U3415W
- Hard Drives
- Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State
Drive
- PSU
- 1500W ThermalTake Toughpower
- Case
- ThermalTake Level 10 GT
- Cooling
- Enermax Liqtech 240
- Keyboard
- Surface Ergonomic.
- Mouse
- Logitech Performance MX
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s
- Other Info
- WinTV NovaTD
HP CP1515n Color Laser
Sony BD-5300S-0B Blu-ray Writer
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
APC 750i Smart UPS
-
- Operating System
- windows 10
- Manufacturer/Model
- Surface Pro 3
- CPU
- 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Memory
- 4GB
- Graphics card(s)
- Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 12" Multi Touch
- Screen Resolution
- 2160 x 144
- Hard Drives
- 128GB
- Mouse
- Logitech
- Keyboard
- yes
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s
I uninstalled the nvidia driver and when I rebooted it went all the way to the Vista welcome screen then it downloaded the driver and when it rebooted after that it started doing the same thing. Ended up with a black screen.
My Computer
z3r010
Staff member
Try running msconfig and on the "boot tab" tick base video then Ok and reboot
My Computers
System One System Two
-
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Workstation
- Manufacturer/Model
- doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
- CPU
- Ryzen 9 5950X
- Motherboard
- Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
- Memory
- Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB) 3600MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4
- Graphics Card(s)
- ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
- Sound Card
- Creative
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3 x27" Dell U2724D & 1 x 34" Dell U3415W
- Hard Drives
- Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State
Drive
- PSU
- 1500W ThermalTake Toughpower
- Case
- ThermalTake Level 10 GT
- Cooling
- Enermax Liqtech 240
- Keyboard
- Surface Ergonomic.
- Mouse
- Logitech Performance MX
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s
- Other Info
- WinTV NovaTD
HP CP1515n Color Laser
Sony BD-5300S-0B Blu-ray Writer
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
APC 750i Smart UPS
-
- Operating System
- windows 10
- Manufacturer/Model
- Surface Pro 3
- CPU
- 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Memory
- 4GB
- Graphics card(s)
- Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 12" Multi Touch
- Screen Resolution
- 2160 x 144
- Hard Drives
- 128GB
- Mouse
- Logitech
- Keyboard
- yes
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s
I tried combining two things you said to try. I switched to base video, and uninstalled the Nvidia driver. It was able to boot in normal mode. After it loaded the video driver it asked if I wanted to finish installing some of the software, I clicked no this time. Everything is big now. When I deleted the Nvidia there was also a box that asked if I wanted to delete the driver software for that device. I didn't check it, should I? It needs to restart to finish the Nvidia. I'll let you know how that goes. Thank you for getting me this far.
My Computer
Sterling,
Was just checking on you, I see you got some results. I apologize, I wasn't able to help more. Video Drivers can cause the issue your having. I was looking from a different possibility. Good luck.
Was just checking on you, I see you got some results. I apologize, I wasn't able to help more. Video Drivers can cause the issue your having. I was looking from a different possibility. Good luck.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Custom...I have 3 rigs...
- CPU
- AMD Phenom 9850BE Agena, clocked 3.0GHZ
- Motherboard
- ASUS M3A78-T
- Memory
- 8GB GSkill PC8500
- Graphics Card(s)
- Sapphire 4850 1GB DDR3
- Sound Card
- Creative X-Fi Fatality Gamers Pro
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 32' Samsung LCD TV HDMI
- Screen Resolution
- 1280x720
- Hard Drives
- 2 Seagates 160GB/320GB
- PSU
- Antec 850WTS
- Case
- ThermalTake Armor LCS Liquid cooled
- Cooling
- Liquid cooled, by Thermal Take
- Keyboard
- Logitech G15 smaller version
- Mouse
- Creative Fatality Laser
- Internet Speed
- Satellite
- Other Info
- This is my primary rig. My other two rigs are running 790FX's one Gigabyte (Phenom9600),Gigabyte Mercury Case , other ASUS (AthlonX2-6400BE), XClio A380 Case.
z3r010
Staff member
My Computers
System One System Two
-
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Workstation
- Manufacturer/Model
- doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
- CPU
- Ryzen 9 5950X
- Motherboard
- Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
- Memory
- Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB) 3600MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4
- Graphics Card(s)
- ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
- Sound Card
- Creative
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3 x27" Dell U2724D & 1 x 34" Dell U3415W
- Hard Drives
- Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State
Drive
- PSU
- 1500W ThermalTake Toughpower
- Case
- ThermalTake Level 10 GT
- Cooling
- Enermax Liqtech 240
- Keyboard
- Surface Ergonomic.
- Mouse
- Logitech Performance MX
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s
- Other Info
- WinTV NovaTD
HP CP1515n Color Laser
Sony BD-5300S-0B Blu-ray Writer
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
APC 750i Smart UPS
-
- Operating System
- windows 10
- Manufacturer/Model
- Surface Pro 3
- CPU
- 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Memory
- 4GB
- Graphics card(s)
- Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 12" Multi Touch
- Screen Resolution
- 2160 x 144
- Hard Drives
- 128GB
- Mouse
- Logitech
- Keyboard
- yes
- Internet Speed
- 350 Mb/s