computer won't start up

March 24, 2008

Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE it

froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE. From

there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete and

clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode and

tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled NORTON

Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do a

little more work online. Shut down normally.

Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL COMPUTER

SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting noise

and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

| Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

it

| froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

From

| there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

and

| clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

and

| tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

NORTON

| Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

a

| little more work online. Shut down normally.

| Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

| something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

COMPUTER

| SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

noise

| and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

Uninstall Norton completely,,, you can do this from Safe Mode, but make sure

you also download and run the Norton cleanup tool.

Download a Anti-virus program that supports 9X. If you were using the

firewall, download and install one, also install an anti-SpyWare tool.

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until you

get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY. Restart

normally. Did that fix it?

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

> Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

> it

> froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

> From

> there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

> and

> clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

> and

> tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

> NORTON

> Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

> a

> little more work online. Shut down normally.

> Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

> something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

> COMPUTER

> SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

> noise

> and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

I tried this........the computer makes a thumping noise when I press down the

F8 key.....and there is no change on the screen....still just the cursor

blinking..............

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until you

> get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY. Restart

> normally. Did that fix it?

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

> > Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

> > it

> > froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

> > From

> > there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

> > and

> > clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

> > and

> > tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

> > NORTON

> > Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

> > a

> > little more work online. Shut down normally.

> > Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

> > something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

> > COMPUTER

> > SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

> > noise

> > and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

>

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

lutra,

That sounds like your pressing/holding the F8 key down, that's not the proper

way. You need to continually, not over-excessively, start tapping the F8 key

immediately when the Dell logo appears and before the Windows welcome screen

appears.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:53294E3D-CFE4-4668-B7F6-9B2FB4ECB201@microsoft.com...

>I tried this........the computer makes a thumping noise when I press down the

> F8 key.....and there is no change on the screen....still just the cursor

> blinking..............

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>

>> Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until you

>> get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY. Restart

>> normally. Did that fix it?

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

>> > Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

>> > it

>> > froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

>> > From

>> > there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

>> > and

>> > clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

>> > and

>> > tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

>> > NORTON

>> > Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

>> > a

>> > little more work online. Shut down normally.

>> > Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

>> > something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

>> > COMPUTER

>> > SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

>> > noise

>> > and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

>>

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:Ouu1kmdjIHA.5584@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>

> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

> | Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

> it

> | froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

> From

> | there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

> and

> | clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

> and

> | tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

> NORTON

> | Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

> a

> | little more work online. Shut down normally.

> | Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

> | something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

> COMPUTER

> | SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

> noise

> | and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

>

> Uninstall Norton completely,,, you can do this from Safe Mode, but make sure

> you also download and run the Norton cleanup tool.

AFAIK Norton AV/NIS aka Symantec can not be uninstalled in Safe Mode and

safely remove all its hooks for a proper boot on restart. The last Symantec

security app I ran on 98SE was NIS 2005 and it installed over 1700 registry

entries and filles, many buried deep and who knows how many were out of the

users reach. That's the last version that I installed/ran on 98SE succesfully

and didn't want to push my luck with the next. After uninstalling it when the

license expire I used RegCommander to seek and destroy any leftovers it could

find. I spent the better part of the day cleaning the registry and Windows.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

I tried this approach. I just started tapping the F8 key as soon as I saw the

Dell logo, then the screen went to black with the blinking cursor and I could

hear the "tap" each time I pressed the F8 key..... no luck yet with any

WELCOME screen appearing......how I would love to see it, though!

"Brian A." wrote:

> lutra,

>

> That sounds like your pressing/holding the F8 key down, that's not the proper

> way. You need to continually, not over-excessively, start tapping the F8 key

> immediately when the Dell logo appears and before the Windows welcome screen

> appears.

>

> --

>

> Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

> Conflicts start where information lacks.

> http://basconotw.mvps.org/

>

> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

>

> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:53294E3D-CFE4-4668-B7F6-9B2FB4ECB201@microsoft.com...

> >I tried this........the computer makes a thumping noise when I press down the

> > F8 key.....and there is no change on the screen....still just the cursor

> > blinking..............

> >

> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >

> >> Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until you

> >> get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY. Restart

> >> normally. Did that fix it?

> >>

> >> --

> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

> >> http://www.grystmill.com

> >>

> >> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened OE

> >> > it

> >> > froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

> >> > From

> >> > there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

> >> > and

> >> > clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

> >> > and

> >> > tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

> >> > NORTON

> >> > Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to do

> >> > a

> >> > little more work online. Shut down normally.

> >> > Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds or

> >> > something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

> >> > COMPUTER

> >> > SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

> >> > noise

> >> > and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

> >>

>

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Reinstall windows.

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

lutra wrote:

| Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

| opened OE it froze. This happened a number of times and so I

| restarted in SAFE MODE. From there I did a number of things like

| VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete and clean up of files. Scan

| disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode and tried

| again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled NORTON

| Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able

| to do a little more work online. Shut down normally.

| Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

| sounds or something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past

| the DELL COMPUTER SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it

| made its usual starting noise and it stops there. Suggestions are

| welcome.........

I see you are having trouble getting to Safe Mode. Press & hold the F5

key during boot for Safe Mode. Or, press & hold the CTRL key during boot

for the Startup Menu, if continually pressing F8 won't work. If you

can't get to Safe Mode either way...

Can you boot to DOS? Can you boot a Startup Diskette...?...

Get a Startup Diskette from...

http://www.bootdisk.com/ , if you don't already have one from "Control

Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk tab". Take either one that

applies to your system. Test the Startup Diskette. Put the diskette in &

turn on the computer. Put in a CD and "DIR" the CD. That is, "DIR X:",

where "X:" is the CD-ROM letter. The Startup Diskette will say which

letter is the CD during boot. (Note: It may be necessary to enter BIOS

Setup & set it to boot the floppy drive above the hard drive, before the

Startup Diskette will boot.)

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

"Brian A." <gonefish'n@afarawaylake> wrote in message

news:utW0XWfjIHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

| "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

| news:Ouu1kmdjIHA.5584@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

| >

| > "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

| > news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

| > | Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

opened OE

| > it

| > | froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE

MODE.

| > From

| > | there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a

delete

| > and

| > | clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal

mode

| > and

| > | tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

| > NORTON

| > | Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to

do

| > a

| > | little more work online. Shut down normally.

| > | Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

sounds or

| > | something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

| > COMPUTER

| > | SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual

starting

| > noise

| > | and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

| >

| > Uninstall Norton completely,,, you can do this from Safe Mode, but make

sure

| > you also download and run the Norton cleanup tool.

|

| AFAIK Norton AV/NIS aka Symantec can not be uninstalled in Safe Mode and

| safely remove all its hooks for a proper boot on restart. The last

Symantec

| security app I ran on 98SE was NIS 2005 and it installed over 1700

registry

| entries and filles, many buried deep and who knows how many were out of

the

| users reach. That's the last version that I installed/ran on 98SE

succesfully

| and didn't want to push my luck with the next. After uninstalling it when

the

| license expire I used RegCommander to seek and destroy any leftovers it

could

| find. I spent the better part of the day cleaning the registry and

Windows.

|

| --

|

| Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Hence my comment on picking up the cleaner [though that leaves traces the

last time I checked, though non-fatal].

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

March 24, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

I have a zip drive and downloaded a free copy of Norton Zip Rescue. It

makes a small version of windows and stores it on the zip disk. As

badly damaged as my hard drive becomes, I can always boot up on the

zip drive. A few months ago, I had drive C: partition damage and was

able to run Partition Table Doctor from the zip drive and get running

again.

March 25, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Shut down the machine.

Start the machine and immediately start tapping the F8 key, at worst you will

get a stuck key error which will present options to continue by pressing a key

or to enter setup by pressing a key. Press the key shown to continue and then

immediately start tapping the F8 key and keep doing so until you get a Startup

Menu.

If you get to the Start Menu select Safe Mode and follow the suggestions

mention previously by Gary and/or others.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:C5FE623F-4C19-42DF-A394-A3C41BCEC2D4@microsoft.com...

>I tried this approach. I just started tapping the F8 key as soon as I saw the

> Dell logo, then the screen went to black with the blinking cursor and I could

> hear the "tap" each time I pressed the F8 key..... no luck yet with any

> WELCOME screen appearing......how I would love to see it, though!

>

> "Brian A." wrote:

>

>> lutra,

>>

>> That sounds like your pressing/holding the F8 key down, that's not the

>> proper

>> way. You need to continually, not over-excessively, start tapping the F8 key

>> immediately when the Dell logo appears and before the Windows welcome screen

>> appears.

>>

>> --

>>

>> Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

>> Conflicts start where information lacks.

>> http://basconotw.mvps.org/

>>

>> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

>> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

>>

>> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:53294E3D-CFE4-4668-B7F6-9B2FB4ECB201@microsoft.com...

>> >I tried this........the computer makes a thumping noise when I press down

>> >the

>> > F8 key.....and there is no change on the screen....still just the cursor

>> > blinking..............

>> >

>> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until you

>> >> get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY. Restart

>> >> normally. Did that fix it?

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> >> http://www.grystmill.com

>> >>

>> >> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> >> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I opened

>> >> > OE

>> >> > it

>> >> > froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE MODE.

>> >> > From

>> >> > there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete

>> >> > and

>> >> > clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode

>> >> > and

>> >> > tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

>> >> > NORTON

>> >> > Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able to

>> >> > do

>> >> > a

>> >> > little more work online. Shut down normally.

>> >> > Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar sounds

>> >> > or

>> >> > something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

>> >> > COMPUTER

>> >> > SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual starting

>> >> > noise

>> >> > and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

>> >>

>>

March 25, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

All your Norton Tools are ALL your problems. Get rid of them, then see where

you stand.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Fan924" <a924fan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:e47cba29-44df-4c75-9458-cc811c23a7ae@d21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>I have a zip drive and downloaded a free copy of Norton Zip Rescue. It

> makes a small version of windows and stores it on the zip disk. As

> badly damaged as my hard drive becomes, I can always boot up on the

> zip drive. A few months ago, I had drive C: partition damage and was

> able to run Partition Table Doctor from the zip drive and get running

> again.

March 25, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Fan924 wrote:

| I have a zip drive and downloaded a free copy of Norton Zip Rescue. It

| makes a small version of windows and stores it on the zip disk. As

| badly damaged as my hard drive becomes, I can always boot up on the

| zip drive. A few months ago, I had drive C: partition damage and was

| able to run Partition Table Doctor from the zip drive and get running

| again.

Some have said the Norton utilities & tools were good, despite agreeing

with others that its virus checker has become overbearing &

unmanageable. I am in no position to take sides, because my machine came

with McAfee installed (which finally quit working for Win98 & I've

uninstalled for avast!). Therefore, I am content to let you fight it out

with Terhune & Brian A. what to do with your Norton tools-- but don't

get any blood on me! No, seriously, if they seem to work for you, I tend

to think you might continue with them-- but wait for me to put on my

bullet-proof vest!

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

March 25, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

I have a boot disk..............how do I proceed with it. I have never used

it before.

"PCR" wrote:

> lutra wrote:

> | Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

> | opened OE it froze. This happened a number of times and so I

> | restarted in SAFE MODE. From there I did a number of things like

> | VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete and clean up of files. Scan

> | disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode and tried

> | again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled NORTON

> | Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able

> | to do a little more work online. Shut down normally.

> | Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

> | sounds or something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past

> | the DELL COMPUTER SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it

> | made its usual starting noise and it stops there. Suggestions are

> | welcome.........

>

> I see you are having trouble getting to Safe Mode. Press & hold the F5

> key during boot for Safe Mode. Or, press & hold the CTRL key during boot

> for the Startup Menu, if continually pressing F8 won't work. If you

> can't get to Safe Mode either way...

>

> Can you boot to DOS? Can you boot a Startup Diskette...?...

>

> Get a Startup Diskette from...

> http://www.bootdisk.com/ , if you don't already have one from "Control

> Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk tab". Take either one that

> applies to your system. Test the Startup Diskette. Put the diskette in &

> turn on the computer. Put in a CD and "DIR" the CD. That is, "DIR X:",

> where "X:" is the CD-ROM letter. The Startup Diskette will say which

> letter is the CD during boot. (Note: It may be necessary to enter BIOS

> Setup & set it to boot the floppy drive above the hard drive, before the

> Startup Diskette will boot.)

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

> pcrrcp@netzero.net

>

March 25, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

news:O5YUYFhjIHA.3740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Fan924 wrote:

> | I have a zip drive and downloaded a free copy of Norton Zip Rescue. It

> | makes a small version of windows and stores it on the zip disk. As

> | badly damaged as my hard drive becomes, I can always boot up on the

> | zip drive. A few months ago, I had drive C: partition damage and was

> | able to run Partition Table Doctor from the zip drive and get running

> | again.

>

> Some have said the Norton utilities & tools were good, despite agreeing

> with others that its virus checker has become overbearing &

> unmanageable. I am in no position to take sides, because my machine came

> with McAfee installed (which finally quit working for Win98 & I've

> uninstalled for avast!). Therefore, I am content to let you fight it out

> with Terhune & Brian A. what to do with your Norton tools-- but don't

> get any blood on me! No, seriously, if they seem to work for you, I tend

> to think you might continue with them-- but wait for me to put on my

> bullet-proof vest!

Hey!!! AFAIK I don't work for the OP, if I do I want my salary paid up. I'll

take that in (50) 30 packs.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

March 26, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Are there any instructions about how to use a start disk...... ?? I have

never used it before and would appreciate if anyone can give me the

procedure. ??????????????????????

"lutra" wrote:

> I have a boot disk..............how do I proceed with it. I have never used

> it before.

>

> "PCR" wrote:

>

> > lutra wrote:

> > | Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

> > | opened OE it froze. This happened a number of times and so I

> > | restarted in SAFE MODE. From there I did a number of things like

> > | VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete and clean up of files. Scan

> > | disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode and tried

> > | again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled NORTON

> > | Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able

> > | to do a little more work online. Shut down normally.

> > | Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

> > | sounds or something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past

> > | the DELL COMPUTER SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it

> > | made its usual starting noise and it stops there. Suggestions are

> > | welcome.........

> >

> > I see you are having trouble getting to Safe Mode. Press & hold the F5

> > key during boot for Safe Mode. Or, press & hold the CTRL key during boot

> > for the Startup Menu, if continually pressing F8 won't work. If you

> > can't get to Safe Mode either way...

> >

> > Can you boot to DOS? Can you boot a Startup Diskette...?...

> >

> > Get a Startup Diskette from...

> > http://www.bootdisk.com/ , if you don't already have one from "Control

> > Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk tab". Take either one that

> > applies to your system. Test the Startup Diskette. Put the diskette in &

> > turn on the computer. Put in a CD and "DIR" the CD. That is, "DIR X:",

> > where "X:" is the CD-ROM letter. The Startup Diskette will say which

> > letter is the CD during boot. (Note: It may be necessary to enter BIOS

> > Setup & set it to boot the floppy drive above the hard drive, before the

> > Startup Diskette will boot.)

> >

> > --

> > Thanks or Good Luck,

> > There may be humor in this post, and,

> > Naturally, you will not sue,

> > Should things get worse after this,

> > PCR

> > pcrrcp@netzero.net

> >

March 27, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Instead of the F8 key, tap the Ctrl key.

--

Regards

Ron Badour

MS MVP 1997 - 2008

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:C5FE623F-4C19-42DF-A394-A3C41BCEC2D4@microsoft.com...

>I tried this approach. I just started tapping the F8 key as soon as I saw

>the

> Dell logo, then the screen went to black with the blinking cursor and I

> could

> hear the "tap" each time I pressed the F8 key..... no luck yet with any

> WELCOME screen appearing......how I would love to see it, though!

>

> "Brian A." wrote:

>

>> lutra,

>>

>> That sounds like your pressing/holding the F8 key down, that's not the

>> proper

>> way. You need to continually, not over-excessively, start tapping the F8

>> key

>> immediately when the Dell logo appears and before the Windows welcome

>> screen

>> appears.

>>

>> --

>>

>> Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

>> Conflicts start where information lacks.

>> http://basconotw.mvps.org/

>>

>> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

>> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

>>

>> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:53294E3D-CFE4-4668-B7F6-9B2FB4ECB201@microsoft.com...

>> >I tried this........the computer makes a thumping noise when I press

>> >down the

>> > F8 key.....and there is no change on the screen....still just the

>> > cursor

>> > blinking..............

>> >

>> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Restart the system. Repeatedly press the F8 key as it starts up until

>> >> you

>> >> get the Startup menu. Choose Safe Mode. Uninstall Norton ENTIRELY.

>> >> Restart

>> >> normally. Did that fix it?

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> >> http://www.grystmill.com

>> >>

>> >> "lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> >> news:B1A382C6-454B-4F37-87AB-2D256DFB1B68@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

>> >> > opened OE

>> >> > it

>> >> > froze. This happened a number of times and so I restarted in SAFE

>> >> > MODE.

>> >> > From

>> >> > there I did a number of things like VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a

>> >> > delete

>> >> > and

>> >> > clean up of files. Scan disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal

>> >> > mode

>> >> > and

>> >> > tried again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

>> >> > NORTON

>> >> > Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I was able

>> >> > to do

>> >> > a

>> >> > little more work online. Shut down normally.

>> >> > Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

>> >> > sounds or

>> >> > something out of the ordinary....the screen went just past the DELL

>> >> > COMPUTER

>> >> > SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top left, it made its usual

>> >> > starting

>> >> > noise

>> >> > and it stops there. Suggestions are welcome.........

>> >>

>>

March 30, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

Brian A. wrote:

| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

| news:O5YUYFhjIHA.3740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

|> Fan924 wrote:

|> | I have a zip drive and downloaded a free copy of Norton Zip

|> | Rescue. It makes a small version of windows and stores it on the

|> | zip disk. As badly damaged as my hard drive becomes, I can always

|> | boot up on the zip drive. A few months ago, I had drive C:

|> | partition damage and was able to run Partition Table Doctor from

|> | the zip drive and get running again.

|>

|> Some have said the Norton utilities & tools were good, despite

|> agreeing with others that its virus checker has become overbearing &

|> unmanageable. I am in no position to take sides, because my machine

|> came with McAfee installed (which finally quit working for Win98 &

|> I've uninstalled for avast!). Therefore, I am content to let you

|> fight it out with Terhune & Brian A. what to do with your Norton

|> tools-- but don't get any blood on me! No, seriously, if they seem

|> to work for you, I tend to think you might continue with them-- but

|> wait for me to put on my bullet-proof vest!

|

| Hey!!! AFAIK I don't work for the OP, if I do I want my salary

| paid up. I'll take that in (50) 30 packs.

I never said you were a workman. Therefore, you must already have had 17

packs too many!

| --

|

| Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

| Conflicts start where information lacks.

| http://basconotw.mvps.org/

|

| Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

March 30, 2008

Re: computer won't start up

lutra wrote:

| I have a boot disk..............how do I proceed with it. I have

| never used it before.

Did you try to get Safe Mode by holding the CTRL or F5 key during boot?

The CTRL key gives the Startup Menu. It would be best, if you can get

back into Safe Mode. But, if you can't... did you try selecting the

option to boot to a Command Prompt Only (DOS)? Even that is a tad

preferable to the Startup Diskette.

To try the Startup Diskette, I said... put it into the drive & turn on

or reboot the computer. It will boot to DOS running off the floppy. (If

not, you must enter BIOS Setup & set it to boot the floppy before the

hard drive.)

Once the floppy is booted, try a simple command like...

DIR C: /a

Did you get the contents of C: on the screen? Did it show a Windows

folder? Next try...

FDISK /Status

Did it show the state of your partitions? After that, maybe browse

through the Readme on your Startup Diskette...

EDIT Readme.txt

ALT-F-X pressed separately will exit EDIT. TAB will traverse requestor

buttons.

BUT... don't do anything rash. Post back with results & a plan.

| "PCR" wrote:

|

|> lutra wrote:

|> | Hello. Yesterday I started up my computer quite normally. When I

|> | opened OE it froze. This happened a number of times and so I

|> | restarted in SAFE MODE. From there I did a number of things like

|> | VIRUS CHECK, SPYBOT and did a delete and clean up of files. Scan

|> | disk, defrag, etc. Later I went into normal mode and tried

|> | again.......another freeze up. Did a restart and then disabled

|> | NORTON Internet Security and ANTIVIRUS. Then OE opened fine and I

|> | was able to do a little more work online. Shut down normally.

|> | Today I pushed the start button......did NOT notice any peculiar

|> | sounds or something out of the ordinary....the screen went just

|> | past the DELL COMPUTER SCREEN and then to a cursor on the top

|> | left, it made its usual starting noise and it stops there.

|> | Suggestions are welcome.........

|>

|> I see you are having trouble getting to Safe Mode. Press & hold the

|> F5 key during boot for Safe Mode. Or, press & hold the CTRL key

|> during boot for the Startup Menu, if continually pressing F8 won't

|> work. If you can't get to Safe Mode either way...

|>

|> Can you boot to DOS? Can you boot a Startup Diskette...?...

|>

|> Get a Startup Diskette from...

|> http://www.bootdisk.com/ , if you don't already have one from

|> "Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk tab". Take either

|> one that applies to your system. Test the Startup Diskette. Put the

|> diskette in & turn on the computer. Put in a CD and "DIR" the CD.

|> That is, "DIR X:", where "X:" is the CD-ROM letter. The Startup

|> Diskette will say which letter is the CD during boot. (Note: It may

|> be necessary to enter BIOS Setup & set it to boot the floppy drive

|> above the hard drive, before the Startup Diskette will boot.)

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

|> pcrrcp@netzero.net

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

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