Windows won't boot. Computer keeps restarting.

K

kunimaro15689

Member
Hello, this is my first time using a forum such as this so I apologize in advice if I am not up to par communicating here.

Yesterday I purchased a used Dell Inspiron 1525. I got home with the machine and it ran Vista just fine. However; the user prior to me did not have the default settings and still had material left so I performed a factory restore to return the machine to out-of-box condition. It performed the restore just fine and proceeded in restarting. The Dell splash screen comes up, the loading bar fills and the computer restarts again. It does not get beyond that point. I still have access to the BIOS and Boot Menu. If I press F5 at the splash screen it asks me to choose an OS. I chose Vista and it just starts restarting again. I have even tried booting Vista from a CD but this is not working either. This is starting to become frustrating seeing how my machine worked fine before the factory restore. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

Welcome driver/card, hardware or hard drive problems most likely.
Sounds like hardware since the reinstall did not help.
There is not much more I can say, since you cant boot.
Can you get into safe mode?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Sounds like hardware. The fact that it was running well sounds like a circumstance with the sole purpose of getting us confused. If its a bad Hard Drive the reinstall may have been written on bad sectors that prior were written with less important information.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Apparently the factory reset did not go completely correct. I take it that you have a valid serial number for this Vista installation? I would try running a repair on this installation; that may correct the problem, fixing whatever wasn't done quite right. If you don't have the disks handy, you can download the ISO file on a working computer. Check out the Vista ISO download topic.

If it is indeed an issue with your HDD (hard disk drive), you might have to do a complete low level format. Actually, considering the fact that you got this computer used and have no idea how it has been used or what stresses it has been put under, that might be a good thing to do. You can create a bootable USB drive to help you accomplish this task.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion dv5t
    CPU
    Intel Core Duo 2.53GHz
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512Mb
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 32bit
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb
    Hitachi Travelstar HTS543225L9A300 250Gb
    Mouse
    Microsoft 4000
Cant boot from the CD is an additional clue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
How do you run a repair. F8 is for advanced boot options but I haven't been able to get to that since the factory restore. I have the ISO on a disk already and that simply doesn't work either. I have the product key but it wont boot from my disk. It just keeps restarting after the loading bar on the dell screen fills. It was working fine before the factory reset.
 

My Computer

System One

Sounds like hardware. If thats the case the computer must be repaired. ISOs, etc will not work. If Im wrong I do not understand why the CD and ISO are a no go.
You need the Vista Install DVD for a repair install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Here is the catch 22. If Vista came with your computer, you have to borrow one. The CD that they may have included with your computer is an image and will not work for this purpose.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Heh, sorry -- I'd overlooked that little but important sentence that you can't boot from the CD. Well, if you can't boot from a CD, it's unlikely you'll be able to boot from the USB drive. However, it's worth a shot.

It does seem like a very unlikely coincidence that you'd suffer a hardware failure right after doing a factory reset. Also, if there was an issue with the HDD, then you should be able to boot from CD or USB. I'm pretty sure the HDD isn't needed.

There is another thing you might try, but it'll take some time to do it. Remove the HDD from the computer and connect it to your working computer as an external drive. You'd have to buy a cable that will allow you to connect it via USB. But once you do this, you can then run checks on the drive to see if it's OK. If it is, then you know you've got a more pressing hardware issue with the computer, unfortunately.

Finally, you might want to try this as a last resort: Open up the memory bay and take out the memory cards, then install them back. I've seen it happen sometimes when a memory card is not completely seated properly, erratic things can happen upon boot up. It's a long shot, but worth checking.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion dv5t
    CPU
    Intel Core Duo 2.53GHz
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512Mb
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 32bit
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb
    Hitachi Travelstar HTS543225L9A300 250Gb
    Mouse
    Microsoft 4000
Try to run the computer after you are done.
Take each ram stick, make sure its clean and reseat firmly.
Memory is hardware and this is a good start.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Please do
I dont think its memory, but its possible.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
With regard to installed components, memory is the only one I know of that can have connection problems that causes boot up issues. It's just a good idea to rule it out, especially since it's rather easy to open up the door, pop out the memory, and then put it back in.

The memory sticks are usually locked in place with one or two plastic tabs. You press on the tab to release the memory stick from being locked in place, then pull it out. Installation is easier, as it usually snaps right back into place, and the fitting is asymmetrical to help prevent you from putting it back in the wrong way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion dv5t
    CPU
    Intel Core Duo 2.53GHz
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512Mb
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 32bit
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb
    Hitachi Travelstar HTS543225L9A300 250Gb
    Mouse
    Microsoft 4000
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