Problem with dell Inspiron 660s

[UKGirl71]

hello! Firstly, please let me apologise if I'm in in the wrong forum. The truth is, I don't exactly know what my PC problem is. I have a July 2012 model dell Inspiron 660s, and I'm not that techie. It's been working fine til now, but today I went to turn it on and the blue onscreen light bar would only go to about three quarters of the way. The hard drive is turning on, the screen is turning on, the keyboard is not working, and all wires appear to be where they should be. I'd be really grateful if someone could help old techno thickie here and tell me what could be wrong and how it might hopefully be fixed. Thanks.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi UK Girl71, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

OK lets first try the simplest thing.

Make sure the computer is fully off, then press the start button, and then start tapping the F8 key on the top line of keys.

 

You should then see a black page with white text and hopefully a highlite on "Repair Your Computer." Don't as yet use that one.

 

Use the keyboard up and down keys to move that highlight to "Last known Good Configuration", then press the enter key.

It will take a few minutes but hopefully will get you back to a working computer.

 

If not and nothing happens after say ten minutes, please let us know.

Don't worry, there are quite a few other things we can try if that doesn't work.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi UKGirl71 and welcome to ExTS

 

Just a minor point ...

You say

old techno thickie

yet you have "Very Experienced" as your PC Experience.

You may wish to alter this as it could result, at some stage, in a reply that assumes greater knowledge.

 

I am hoping that your keyboard is actually functioning so that you can follow Nev's advice.

 

If there are problems at this stage could you let us know which connection your keyboard uses ( USB / PS2 ) ?

The PS2 is a round plug and the USB is the usual rectangular one that plugs into a USB port.