Windows not loading

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I get the Dell screen, then a black screen with a flashing cursor in the left hand corner. Cursor goes away and then nothing. I'm assuming that windows is not loading. I called the repair guy but I'm still waiting for him to come over. Is there a way to fix it myself? I have the original disk but will I lose everything if I reinstall windows? I would like to just got out and buy a new computer but then again I want some of the things from my present computer. Then comes the dilemma of what to buy - desktop, laptop, IPad and which brand, etc. Any advice?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I get the Dell screen, then a black screen with a flashing cursor in the left hand corner. Cursor goes away and then nothing. I'm assuming that windows is not loading. I called the repair guy but I'm still waiting for him to come over. Is there a way to fix it myself? I have the original disk but will I lose everything if I reinstall windows? I would like to just got out and buy a new computer but then again I want some of the things from my present computer. Then comes the dilemma of what to buy - desktop, laptop, IPad and which brand, etc. Any advice?

Which operating system do you have? It sounds like maybe your boot record has been corrupted. I wouldn't rush out and spend a bunch of money yet. These things are usually repairable. Have you tried booting up in "Safe Mode"?

For XP you can insert your XP OS CD and boot up from there. It will ask you if you want to repair. You can rewrite the Master Boot record. There are many things you can try.

I would only reinstall windows if everything else fails as you will lose everything. If you can boot up in safe mode then I would save everything you want to a flash drive or dvd/cd. That way you can copy them back if you do reinstall the OS.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I have Vista. How do I boot up in safe mode?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I am not familiar with Vista. For XP, you depress the F8 key when you first startup and it should take you to a menu where you can select Safe Mode. However if your boot record is corrupted then this will not work. I assume that this part should be the same for Vista and XP.

Give it a try. If it doesn't work then you probably need to repair the boot record. Do you have rescue disk(s)? I have done this many times for XP but never for Vista. Hopefully somebody familiar with Vista will reply.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Thanks, John. F8 did nothing. My puter is now in the hands of a repairman. 4 days without a computer - torture. Computer repairman - priceless!

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Thanks, John. F8 did nothing. My puter is now in the hands of a repairman. 4 days without a computer - torture. Computer repairman - priceless!

Good luck.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I am not familiar with Vista. For XP, you depress the F8 key when you first startup and it should take you to a menu where you can select Safe Mode. However if your boot record is corrupted then this will not work. I assume that this part should be the same for Vista and XP.

Give it a try. If it doesn't work then you probably need to repair the boot record. Do you have rescue disk(s)? I have done this many times for XP but never for Vista. Hopefully somebody familiar with Vista will reply.

Pat, I am sorry that I missed this post yesterday as we have Vista Ultimate on our Dell.

John, it is the same for windows Vista as for XP.

Start your computer in safe mode

If your computer doesn't work do a search on your cellphone and you will find the information there.

Pat, it may be cheaper to buy a new computer than have the old one fixed and I hope that everything important was backed up. We learned our lesson but had a Mac with most of the same information there.

Cellphones need backing up too which I will do right now with my iPhone. Pat gave us a good reminder again that computers crash without any warning.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Pat, I am sorry that I missed this post yesterday as we have Vista Ultimate on our Dell.

John, it is the same for windows Vista as for XP.

Start your computer in safe mode

If your computer doesn't work do a search on your cellphone and you will find the information there.

Pat, it may be cheaper to buy a new computer than have the old one fixed and I hope that everything important was backed up. We learned our lesson but had a Mac with most of the same information there.

Cellphones need backing up too which I will do right now with my iPhone. Pat gave us a good reminder again that computers crash without any warning.

I only have a regular old phone so no internet. Just got the news that I should put in a new hard drive. Old one has been repaired for now but it could fail tomorrow or last 5 yrs. Decided to go with the new HD for $45. Maybe tomorrow I'll have it back???

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I only have a regular old phone so no internet. Just got the news that I should put in a new hard drive. Old one has been repaired for now but it could fail tomorrow or last 5 yrs. Decided to go with the new HD for $45. Maybe tomorrow I'll have it back???

Was wondering where you were going to get a new HD computer for $45 till I figured out that you meant hard drive.


My ipod concked out today while I was on my treadmill. Won't turn off, play music or change function. Tried charging it but nothing happened. I guess I have to make a visist to AC for the computer store.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I'm back up and running or at least my computer is. Have a new HD with double the capacity. It's running a lot faster too.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Good for you but make sure that your important stuff is backed up so that you will not lose it.