boot disk

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

news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get

> my

> computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

> goes

> to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the

> F8,

> the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone asked

> if I

> had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I should

> respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation extended

> to

> those who are in the know!!

>

March 28, 2008

Re: boot disk

Hello again,

1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of files, I

presume.

3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the diagnostic

tools were loaded to D.

Is this what you were looking for?

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

>

> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll have to

> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get to the

> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

> DIR C:

> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

>

> What do you get back?

>

> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what letter

> the CD drive is. What is it?

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

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

> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get

> > my

> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

> > goes

> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the

> > F8,

> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone asked

> > if I

> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I should

> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation extended

> > to

> > those who are in the know!!

> >

>

March 28, 2008

Re: boot disk

Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention a CD

drive, which was probably E:\.

Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl key

during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a floppy

boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

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

news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

> Hello again,

> 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

>

> 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of files, I

> presume.

>

> 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the diagnostic

> tools were loaded to D.

>

> Is this what you were looking for?

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>

>> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

>>

>> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll have

>> to

>> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get to the

>> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

>> DIR C:

>> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

>>

>> What do you get back?

>>

>> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what letter

>> the CD drive is. What is it?

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>

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

>> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to

>> > get

>> > my

>> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

>> > goes

>> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the

>> > F8,

>> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

>> > asked

>> > if I

>> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

>> > should

>> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

>> > extended

>> > to

>> > those who are in the know!!

>> >

>>

March 28, 2008

Re: boot disk

Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during startup.

It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a cursor

blinking.

As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that enable

one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom of the

first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5, etc.

But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention a CD

> drive, which was probably E:\.

>

> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl key

> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a floppy

> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

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

> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

> > Hello again,

> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

> >

> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of files, I

> > presume.

> >

> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the diagnostic

> > tools were loaded to D.

> >

> > Is this what you were looking for?

> >

> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >

> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

> >>

> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll have

> >> to

> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get to the

> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

> >> DIR C:

> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

> >>

> >> What do you get back?

> >>

> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what letter

> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

> >>

> >> --

> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

> >>

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

> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to

> >> > get

> >> > my

> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

> >> > goes

> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the

> >> > F8,

> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

> >> > asked

> >> > if I

> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

> >> > should

> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

> >> > extended

> >> > to

> >> > those who are in the know!!

> >> >

> >>

>

March 28, 2008

Re: boot disk

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

news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

> Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

startup.

> It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

cursor

> blinking.

>

> As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that

enable

> one to do? It does not start up one's computer??

(Intervening since I am currently trying to sort out a friend's Dell . . . )

"Boot disk" is whatever disk starts the computer.

This can be a floppy or a hard drive or a (booting) CD.

Your BIOS governs this.

BIOS = Basic Input/Output Services, governed by a

Read-Only chip inside every PC, with a CMOS battery

to power a special memory holding custom settings

via BIOS Menu. You get to the BIOS menu by interrupting

the boot process early, usually with the DELete key:

messages on screen should tell you which.

Among BIOS menus, either "Boot" or "Start-up" is

probably one of the main headings, including under

it "Boot Drive" or something similar. Usual settings

are that the PC should seek startup instructions from

(in order):

1 = Floppy Drive A:

2 = CD Drive

3 = Hard Drive C:

This means that in everyday operation (with no disk in

the floppy or CD drives) you boot from the hard drive.

For special purpuses, if you put a bootable disk into

A: or the CD drive, the computer goes there first. This

is convenient for special purposes (e.g. to run Dell

Diagnostics) which differ in anyway from everyday

operation. (If you wanted to run the Linux operating system,

you can have the whole thing on a CD, thus load Linux at

boot, without altering the hard drive which boots Windows.)

> I see at the bottom of the

> first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5,

etc.

> But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

1. Try again and verify the menu really calls for F5 (function key F5)

not the ordinary number key (5 or percent sign).

2. Whichever the menu calls for, if you key correctly and the

behavior is not what the menu says, this indicates there is

something wrong either with the booting drive or with the PC

as a whole.

Your main alternatives on this startup menu are

-- regular Windows

-- Safe Mode Windows (omitting several extras e.g.

high-definition screen, useful for making repairs)

-- DOS = old-fashioned MS Disk Operating System,

useful only if you know DOS and its commands --

which include all the basics, e.g. CHKDSK, EDIT and so on.

> > > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of

files, I

> > > presume.

1. For help for any DOS command, add /? e.g. for

directory help key DIR /?

and you will see a short list of subcommands e.g. /P

which means "display page by page" -- so if you

key DIR /P

you will get one screen of directory listings which

then stop on screen, until you hit any key, which

gets you another "page" and so on. The subcommand

/P works for several DOS commands.

The DOS prompt looks like

A>

i.e. one drive letter and a > or similar symbol.

If you see anything less, e.g. "a cursor blinking"

but no A> this means you did not boot correctly

into DOS, i.e. your boot disk is probably faulty.

You can download a new boot floppy free from

http://www.bootdisk.com

You download one big EXE file, then run it on a

PC with a new floppy in the floppy drive, and it

writes onto the floppy all the small DOS files

needed to boot DOS. There are 6 or 8 varieties

so be sure you choose the correct master file.

> > >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then

it

> > >> > goes to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I

tried the

> > >> > F8, the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX!

Dell users who must repair their installation may

choose between:

-- Microsoft tools, which may or may not effect a

good repair (or 3d party tools e.g. SpinRite) and:

-- The Dell Restore routine, which wipes the hard

drive and reloads it the way it came from the factory.

This means data will be lost (unless you have a

Drive D: on the hard drive and Dell Procedures reformats

only Drive C:)

For this reason it is usual to attempt repairs using MS

tools, and to use Dell Restore only as a last resort.

Post results back here for more help.

--

Don Phillipson

Carlsbad Springs

(Ottawa, Canada)

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

That F5 isn't the one we want.

Boot to the floppy disk, run the following command:

SYS C:

Remove the floppy and restart. Any luck?

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

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

news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

> Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

> startup.

> It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

> cursor

> blinking.

>

> As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that

> enable

> one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom of

> the

> first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5,

> etc.

> But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>

>> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention a

>> CD

>> drive, which was probably E:\.

>>

>> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl key

>> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a

>> floppy

>> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>

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

>> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

>> > Hello again,

>> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

>> >

>> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of files,

>> > I

>> > presume.

>> >

>> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the diagnostic

>> > tools were loaded to D.

>> >

>> > Is this what you were looking for?

>> >

>> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >

>> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

>> >>

>> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll

>> >> have

>> >> to

>> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get to

>> >> the

>> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

>> >> DIR C:

>> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

>> >>

>> >> What do you get back?

>> >>

>> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what

>> >> letter

>> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >>

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

>> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to

>> >> > get

>> >> > my

>> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then

>> >> > it

>> >> > goes

>> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried

>> >> > the

>> >> > F8,

>> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

>> >> > asked

>> >> > if I

>> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

>> >> > should

>> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

>> >> > extended

>> >> > to

>> >> > those who are in the know!!

>> >> >

>> >>

>>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

May I ask before I try this.......what does the SYS C: do? Forgive my lack of

knowledge, just worried what this does to the computer??

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> That F5 isn't the one we want.

>

> Boot to the floppy disk, run the following command:

> SYS C:

>

> Remove the floppy and restart. Any luck?

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

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

> news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

> > Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

> > startup.

> > It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

> > cursor

> > blinking.

> >

> > As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that

> > enable

> > one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom of

> > the

> > first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5,

> > etc.

> > But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

> >

> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >

> >> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention a

> >> CD

> >> drive, which was probably E:\.

> >>

> >> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl key

> >> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a

> >> floppy

> >> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

> >>

> >> --

> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/msdos/07_refer.mspx?mfr=true

> >>

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

> >> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hello again,

> >> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

> >> >

> >> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of files,

> >> > I

> >> > presume.

> >> >

> >> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the diagnostic

> >> > tools were loaded to D.

> >> >

> >> > Is this what you were looking for?

> >> >

> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

> >> >>

> >> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll

> >> >> have

> >> >> to

> >> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get to

> >> >> the

> >> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

> >> >> DIR C:

> >> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

> >> >>

> >> >> What do you get back?

> >> >>

> >> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what

> >> >> letter

> >> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

> >> >>

> >> >> --

> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to

> >> >> > get

> >> >> > my

> >> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then

> >> >> > it

> >> >> > goes

> >> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried

> >> >> > the

> >> >> > F8,

> >> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

> >> >> > asked

> >> >> > if I

> >> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> >> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

> >> >> > should

> >> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

> >> >> > extended

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > those who are in the know!!

> >> >> >

> >> >>

> >>

>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

"lutra" <lutra@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get my

> computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it goes

> to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the F8,

> the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone asked if I

> had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I should

> respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation extended to

> those who are in the know!!

Please repost with more information, including the method you used to start

the computer in Safe mode and what happens now when you attempt a Safe

mode start.

Ben

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

Transfers the system files to the disk (in this case, the C drive) to make

the disk a startup disk.

http://www.easydos.com/sys.html

--

Jeff Richards

MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

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

news:5A974D6A-B40D-4F16-A5A0-DD3B512F6DE3@microsoft.com...

> May I ask before I try this.......what does the SYS C: do? Forgive my lack

> of

> knowledge, just worried what this does to the computer??

>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

SYS C: transfers certain "SYStem" files to the C:\ drive that make it

bootable. We're trying to see if those files got messed up.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

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

news:5A974D6A-B40D-4F16-A5A0-DD3B512F6DE3@microsoft.com...

> May I ask before I try this.......what does the SYS C: do? Forgive my lack

> of

> knowledge, just worried what this does to the computer??

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>

>> That F5 isn't the one we want.

>>

>> Boot to the floppy disk, run the following command:

>> SYS C:

>>

>> Remove the floppy and restart. Any luck?

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>

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

>> news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

>> > Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

>> > startup.

>> > It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

>> > cursor

>> > blinking.

>> >

>> > As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that

>> > enable

>> > one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom of

>> > the

>> > first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5,

>> > etc.

>> > But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

>> >

>> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention

>> >> a

>> >> CD

>> >> drive, which was probably E:\.

>> >>

>> >> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl

>> >> key

>> >> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a

>> >> floppy

>> >> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >>

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

>> >> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hello again,

>> >> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

>> >> >

>> >> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of

>> >> > files,

>> >> > I

>> >> > presume.

>> >> >

>> >> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the

>> >> > diagnostic

>> >> > tools were loaded to D.

>> >> >

>> >> > Is this what you were looking for?

>> >> >

>> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >> >

>> >> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll

>> >> >> have

>> >> >> to

>> >> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get

>> >> >> to

>> >> >> the

>> >> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

>> >> >> DIR C:

>> >> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

>> >> >>

>> >> >> What do you get back?

>> >> >>

>> >> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what

>> >> >> letter

>> >> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

>> >> >>

>> >> >> --

>> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >> >>

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

>> >> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>> >> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > get

>> >> >> > my

>> >> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and

>> >> >> > then

>> >> >> > it

>> >> >> > goes

>> >> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I

>> >> >> > tried

>> >> >> > the

>> >> >> > F8,

>> >> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so

>> >> >> > someone

>> >> >> > asked

>> >> >> > if I

>> >> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>> >> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > should

>> >> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

>> >> >> > extended

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > those who are in the know!!

>> >> >> >

>> >> >>

>> >>

>>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

JESUS Ben! Can't you even read? The machine never made it to Safe Mode.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in message

news:uEMqVXdkIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

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

news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get

> my

> computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

> goes

> to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried the

> F8,

> the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone asked

> if I

> had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I should

> respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation extended

> to

> those who are in the know!!

Please repost with more information, including the method you used to start

the computer in Safe mode and what happens now when you attempt a Safe

mode start.

Ben

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

I suspect it's a BIOS problem.

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> JESUS Ben! Can't you even read? The machine never made it to Safe Mode.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in message

> news:uEMqVXdkIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

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

> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>> Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get

>> my

>> computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

>> goes to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried

>> the

>> F8, the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

>> asked

>> if I had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>> trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

>> should

>> respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

>> extended

>> to those who are in the know!!

>

> Please repost with more information, including the method you used to

> start

> the computer in Safe mode and what happens now when you attempt a Safe

> mode start.

>

> Ben

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

BINGO!!!!!!!!! I did exactly as you said, restarted and it has started. My

mouth is still hanging open. THANK YOU THANK YOU...............now the only

thing I had done previously to all this occuring was:

Computer started to freeze last Sunday. Over and over again. I disabled

NORTON and then it seemed to function for what I was trying to do. I decided

to shut down and the next day I went to start it up and VOILA --- I was on

this discussion group. What do you think was wrong?

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> SYS C: transfers certain "SYStem" files to the C:\ drive that make it

> bootable. We're trying to see if those files got messed up.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

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

> news:5A974D6A-B40D-4F16-A5A0-DD3B512F6DE3@microsoft.com...

> > May I ask before I try this.......what does the SYS C: do? Forgive my lack

> > of

> > knowledge, just worried what this does to the computer??

> >

> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >

> >> That F5 isn't the one we want.

> >>

> >> Boot to the floppy disk, run the following command:

> >> SYS C:

> >>

> >> Remove the floppy and restart. Any luck?

> >>

> >> --

> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

> >>

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

> >> news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

> >> > Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

> >> > startup.

> >> > It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

> >> > cursor

> >> > blinking.

> >> >

> >> > As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should that

> >> > enable

> >> > one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom of

> >> > the

> >> > first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with F5,

> >> > etc.

> >> > But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

> >> >

> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't mention

> >> >> a

> >> >> CD

> >> >> drive, which was probably E:\.

> >> >>

> >> >> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the Ctrl

> >> >> key

> >> >> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use a

> >> >> floppy

> >> >> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the floppy.

> >> >>

> >> >> --

> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hello again,

> >> >> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of

> >> >> > files,

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > presume.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the

> >> >> > diagnostic

> >> >> > tools were loaded to D.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > Is this what you were looking for?

> >> >> >

> >> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >> >> >

> >> >> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

> >> >> >>

> >> >> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not, you'll

> >> >> >> have

> >> >> >> to

> >> >> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you get

> >> >> >> to

> >> >> >> the

> >> >> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

> >> >> >> DIR C:

> >> >> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

> >> >> >>

> >> >> >> What do you get back?

> >> >> >>

> >> >> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you what

> >> >> >> letter

> >> >> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

> >> >> >>

> >> >> >> --

> >> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

> >> >> >>

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

> >> >> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

> >> >> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable

> >> >> >> > to

> >> >> >> > get

> >> >> >> > my

> >> >> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and

> >> >> >> > then

> >> >> >> > it

> >> >> >> > goes

> >> >> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I

> >> >> >> > tried

> >> >> >> > the

> >> >> >> > F8,

> >> >> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so

> >> >> >> > someone

> >> >> >> > asked

> >> >> >> > if I

> >> >> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

> >> >> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how

> >> >> >> > I

> >> >> >> > should

> >> >> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

> >> >> >> > extended

> >> >> >> > to

> >> >> >> > those who are in the know!!

> >> >> >> >

> >> >> >>

> >> >>

> >>

>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

We need to rid that system of Norton. Can you uninstall it in Normal Mode?

Be sure to get the Removal Tool *before* you uninstall Norton, as was

already explained to you in the other thread ("computer won't start up").

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

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

news:AA8D7135-1D65-4E9F-8F22-49A33BEE55AB@microsoft.com...

> BINGO!!!!!!!!! I did exactly as you said, restarted and it has started. My

> mouth is still hanging open. THANK YOU THANK YOU...............now the

> only

> thing I had done previously to all this occuring was:

> Computer started to freeze last Sunday. Over and over again. I disabled

> NORTON and then it seemed to function for what I was trying to do. I

> decided

> to shut down and the next day I went to start it up and VOILA --- I was on

> this discussion group. What do you think was wrong?

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>

>> SYS C: transfers certain "SYStem" files to the C:\ drive that make it

>> bootable. We're trying to see if those files got messed up.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>

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

>> news:5A974D6A-B40D-4F16-A5A0-DD3B512F6DE3@microsoft.com...

>> > May I ask before I try this.......what does the SYS C: do? Forgive my

>> > lack

>> > of

>> > knowledge, just worried what this does to the computer??

>> >

>> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >

>> >> That F5 isn't the one we want.

>> >>

>> >> Boot to the floppy disk, run the following command:

>> >> SYS C:

>> >>

>> >> Remove the floppy and restart. Any luck?

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >>

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

>> >> news:D929152A-55DF-48BD-9CA9-9CE681320356@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Yes, previously I tried tapping the ctrl key, F8, F5 ....... during

>> >> > startup.

>> >> > It always just goes to a black screen after the DELL logo page and a

>> >> > cursor

>> >> > blinking.

>> >> >

>> >> > As for the boot disk. I was in the dark on that one. What should

>> >> > that

>> >> > enable

>> >> > one to do? It does not start up one's computer?? I see at the bottom

>> >> > of

>> >> > the

>> >> > first page when I use the boot disk options to go to safe mode with

>> >> > F5,

>> >> > etc.

>> >> > But when I did press F5 I just got the A>prompt.

>> >> >

>> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >> >

>> >> >> Yes, that's what I was looking for, sort of. You still didn't

>> >> >> mention

>> >> >> a

>> >> >> CD

>> >> >> drive, which was probably E:\.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> Anyway, I'm not sure what to suggest. Have you tried tapping the

>> >> >> Ctrl

>> >> >> key

>> >> >> during startup? I don't know why the other person wanted you to use

>> >> >> a

>> >> >> floppy

>> >> >> boot disk. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run a SYS C: from the

>> >> >> floppy.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> --

>> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >> >>

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

>> >> >> news:61EEEA99-CFAC-417E-914E-76E736CEA1AF@microsoft.com...

>> >> >> > Hello again,

>> >> >> > 1.It seems to boot with the floppy disk.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > 2. When I type in DIR C: it gives me a listing (very quickly) of

>> >> >> > files,

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > presume.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > 3. And the "RAM" drive mentioned is "D" or it also says the

>> >> >> > diagnostic

>> >> >> > tools were loaded to D.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > Is this what you were looking for?

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> >> 1. Insert the bootable floppy disk.

>> >> >> >>

>> >> >> >> 2. Start the computer. Does it boot from the floppy? If not,

>> >> >> >> you'll

>> >> >> >> have

>> >> >> >> to

>> >> >> >> get into BIOS and change the boot order. If it boots, when you

>> >> >> >> get

>> >> >> >> to

>> >> >> >> the

>> >> >> >> A:\> prompt (it will take a while), type in the following:

>> >> >> >> DIR C:

>> >> >> >> then press <Enter>. Note the space after DIR and before C:

>> >> >> >>

>> >> >> >> What do you get back?

>> >> >> >>

>> >> >> >> Also, when you first boot up, toward the end it will tell you

>> >> >> >> what

>> >> >> >> letter

>> >> >> >> the CD drive is. What is it?

>> >> >> >>

>> >> >> >> --

>> >> >> >> Gary S. Terhune

>> >> >> >> MS-MVP Shell/User

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

>> >> >> >>

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

>> >> >> >> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>> >> >> >> > Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being

>> >> >> >> > unable

>> >> >> >> > to

>> >> >> >> > get

>> >> >> >> > my

>> >> >> >> > computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and

>> >> >> >> > then

>> >> >> >> > it

>> >> >> >> > goes

>> >> >> >> > to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I

>> >> >> >> > tried

>> >> >> >> > the

>> >> >> >> > F8,

>> >> >> >> > the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so

>> >> >> >> > someone

>> >> >> >> > asked

>> >> >> >> > if I

>> >> >> >> > had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>> >> >> >> > trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and

>> >> >> >> > how

>> >> >> >> > I

>> >> >> >> > should

>> >> >> >> > respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running.

>> >> >> >> > Appreciation

>> >> >> >> > extended

>> >> >> >> > to

>> >> >> >> > those who are in the know!!

>> >> >> >> >

>> >> >> >>

>> >> >>

>> >>

>>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

No, it's a Norton problem. Which means it can be almost any kind of mess you

can imagine.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:ePA5cRekIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>I suspect it's a BIOS problem.

>

> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

>> JESUS Ben! Can't you even read? The machine never made it to Safe Mode.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>

>> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in message

>> news:uEMqVXdkIHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

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

>> news:A6F438A9-B62D-48FC-9301-7BCE7F7B6E71@microsoft.com...

>>> Hello again....... I wrote on Sunday with regards to being unable to get

>>> my

>>> computer started up. I can't get past the DELL LOGO screen and then it

>>> goes to a black screen with the cursor blinking on the left top. I tried

>>> the

>>> F8, the control key, F5 key............... so far, NIX! And so someone

>>> asked

>>> if I had a boot disk. YES, I do....but before I put it in and start

>>> trying........could someone tell me what the procedure is and how I

>>> should

>>> respond to hopefully get my old girl up and running. Appreciation

>>> extended

>>> to those who are in the know!!

>>

>> Please repost with more information, including the method you used to

>> start

>> the computer in Safe mode and what happens now when you attempt a Safe

>> mode start.

>>

>> Ben

>

March 29, 2008

Re: boot disk

Okay will go to Syamantec and look for the removal tool and get the culprit

off of my computer..

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> We need to rid that system of Norton. Can you uninstall it in Normal Mode?

> Be sure to get the Removal Tool *before* you uninstall Norton, as was

> already explained to you in the other thread ("computer won't start up").

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

>

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

> news:AA8D7135-1D65-4E9F-8F22-49A33BEE55AB@microsoft.com...

> > BINGO!!!!!!!!! I did exactly as you said, restarted and it has started. My

> > mouth is still hanging open. THANK YOU THANK YOU...............now the

> > only

> > thing I had done previously to all this occuring was:

> > Computer started to freeze last Sunday. Over and over again. I disabled

> > NORTON and then it seemed to function for what I was trying to do. I

> > decided

> > to shut down and the next day I went to start it up and VOILA --- I was on

> > this discussion group. What do you think was wrong?

> >

> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> >

> >> SYS C: transfers certain "SYStem" files to the C:\ drive that make it

> >> bootable. We're trying to see if those files got messed up.

> >>

> >> --

> >> Gary S. Terhune

> >> MS-MVP Shell/User