Dell, with Vista on-it

[simono]

OK... after a bunch of restarts, Instead of pressing F2 for setup I pressed F1 to continue. After a bit the screen reads: "No boot device detected, Insert system disk and press F1 to continue... Or press F2 to setup menu.

This has Vista premium installed and the only disk I have is the one that came with my unit... Vista home basic. Will this do? or what do you suggest.

 

[Patonb]

Okay, so youre reliably booting to the f1 and f2 screen?

The reason the boot order changed is because you removed the battery, that'll reset that page.

You can use the disk you have, but if you have a usb external, you can first try to save the data from the drive before you reinstall/repair Vista, using the Ubuntu dvd I mentioned before.

If you don't care, you can first try to repair Vista, http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html
And if it doesn't work, you'll need to try a full reinstall.

g/l

 

[simono]

OK... after holding down on the power button for a minute, then unplugging and plugging back in, then re-pushing the start button.... it booted into the os. Now, I would like to know what things I can do while in here. I'm able to navigate everywhere and will not shut it down. I hooked the internet up and AVG wanted to update with a restart... well that was stupid because it took 10 restart tries before I got it to boot into the os again...

Todd
p.s I wasn't able to use my vista disk. It would tell me to push F1 to continue and just return to that same command.

 

[Patonb]

Run a chkdsk via the cmd prompt. It'll check your drive to see if its bad.
How to Run Chkdsk Utility on Vista | eHow.com

I'd also back up all your files to a dvd or usb hard drive!

I think you still have a hardware issue.

Have ever used a digital multimeter? Now that it boots, you can use one to test the exact power of your psu.... I really hate not testing the easy things.

 

[simono]

I'm going to run chkdsk through the cmd and will let you know what it finds. I haven't used a multimeter? Can you tell me what I have to do to obtain one?

Thank you for answering this. It's been a big help to me. I'm looking in the reliability monitor and the dates are a mess. 2/11/09 to 3/10/09... but almost everyday has "RomeTW.exe failures and "disruptive shutdowns".... probably from me..lol

Also, there are 6 users and a guest on here... tons of games and what nots. How would I back that up? Individually?

Todd

 

[niemiro]

Hello,

That is a lot of data on there. The only way to back everything up is to image the hard disk. If you just copy the file, then the registry will not come with it, and things will not work. It sounds as though this computer has not been re-installed in a while, and to reduce errors, and make the whole computer faster, I would strongly recommend just backing up the Documents and School work etc. and leaving the rest. Programs can be re-installed, Settings can be re-set, but there is a way of copying the entire lot, and that is not my decision to make.

Richard

 

[Patonb]

A multimeter is just a probe you use to test Volts and what not. Its the yellow thing in the below link:
Overclockers Hardware - Overclockers Hardware - How To: Test PSU Voltages

You only need to test the molex method in that link.

Now, I also suggest what niemiro said.

 

[simono]

OK I ran the chkdsk and it ran all the way through... Then I fell asleep. I remember it did not boot after the scan so I shut it down. I just tried to start it and the same thing is happening... amber light, no #'s, fans at full speed. Niemiro, I put the vista home basic disk I have into the unit and it works, so are you saying that maybe theres so much junk and whatever on here that maybe it would be a good Idea to just reinstall with my disk? My only question would be.... would this fix the boot problem? I don't really think the mom here would care if I did this but if it didn't work.... Or I could get her over here and we could sit down and go through what she wants to backup. decisions, decisions....

 

[Patonb]

Will it fix it........ not sure, most likely not the power up issue.

Hes suggesting it as reinstalls every so often can help keep windows fast, and fix small issues that could cause problems.

Your best thing is to get it up and running have someone come and get the important stuff off it.. i.e. diocuments, pics, and music.

Then once the important stuffs safe, you can try a reinstall/repair.

 

[niemiro]

OK I ran the chkdsk and it ran all the way through... Then I fell asleep. I remember it did not boot after the scan so I shut it down. I just tried to start it and the same thing is happening... amber light, no #'s, fans at full speed. Niemiro, I put the vista home basic disk I have into the unit and it works, so are you saying that maybe theres so much junk and whatever on here that maybe it would be a good Idea to just reinstall with my disk? My only question would be.... would this fix the boot problem? I don't really think the mom here would care if I did this but if it didn't work.... Or I could get her over here and we could sit down and go through what she wants to backup. decisions, decisions....

Sorry about the late reply. What I meant was this. This looks like a hardware issue, and I don't think a re-install is going to fix it, but you are more than welcome to try, it can do no harm. What I meant to say is that if you ever decided that you needed to back things up, to consider just backing up the documents, and not the programs as well, but that is just to consider, see what the other family need backing up, etc.

Any more updates on what is going on at your end?

Thanks!

Richard

 

[simono]

Niemiro and Patonb,

I want to thank you for all the help with this issue. Your final thoughts are the same as what people on the Dell sites are saying... They have all found it to be a hardware issue which is the MoBo. Those that I followed, have replaced the MoBo and it has fixed the problem. Some, after countless tries of other fixes, ended-up with the same conclusion. Now, that's not to say that this is the only way out to those reading this... In all cases, a process of elimination was utilized and a few found their problem to be something other than the MoBo...

For this issue... I contacted the family and explained it to them... They didn't want to spend anything on the unit at this time and ask if I could just get it running and they wouldn't shut it down. By unplugging and plugging the power cord in, sometimes 10 or more times... would cause the the amber light to change to a green one but I had to allow it to remain amber for a second or two before unplugging again. I couldn't just see an amber light and figure it's not green so unplug it. It would boot after pressing the F1 button that always was the first option given.

I suppose with the economy the way it is, and knowing the families situations, this is probably their best option at this time. I offerd to backup all the important stuff whenever they discide to make a move so agian... thank you guys for caring... and for "Windows Vista Forums" :D

Simono,
Todd

 

[niemiro]

Hello Todd!

I myself would never fix a computer with a broken motherboard except under specific circumstances. Sometimes, motherboards come with bad capacitors from the factory, and break, needing to get fixed under warrantee before the month is out. This I would fix. Unless I know the other components are new, I would not fix a computer that has died, because it is expensive, and what would go wrong next. I would scavenge the components, rebuild another PC, work them to death in my server, or, very occasionally (this only rarely works) supe up another computer.

You are most welcome for our help, and John's server bill for this website! I am sorry it came to this, see you around,

Richard

 

[Patonb]

I'm with them too... I'd never replace a older pre-built mobo. It'll be quite expenasive

Glad you resolved it as bestr you could... Sometimes you just don't win the fight.

Now don't forget they can still easily gewt their stuff from it, by putting the drive in nother sstem, or usb enclosure