When using the computer a few days ago, it "locked up" but I was able to restart it using a start-up disk. While using it again it locked up, but the start-up disk no longer starts windows. When I turn the machine on, the manufacturer's logo appears on the monitor, but nothing else does and I cannot enter any commands or get the start-up disk to work. Is this a hardware problem or did Windows just die on me? All help appreciated!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Curtis, What exactly is happening? What system is this on? Can you boot into safe mode? Boot disks do not normally start Windows, they go into command mode, or DOS mode, if you prefer. You just get the A:\ prompt. Often you can see *behind* the Windows splash screen if you hit escape while it is first coming up. This might help you see what is going on. Did you add any software lately? Did you let Windows update itself, perhaps with DirectX 9.0a? This will sometimes cause this exact thing to happen. Write back with more info... Marty


On Monday, June 9, 2003 at 11:34 am, Curtis wrote:
>When using the computer a few days ago, it "locked up" but I was able to restart
>it using a start-up disk. While using it again it locked up, but the start-up disk
>no longer starts windows. When I turn the machine on, the manufacturer's logo appears
>on the monitor, but nothing else does and I cannot enter any commands or get the
>start-up disk to work. Is this a hardware problem or did Windows just die on me?
> All help appreciated!
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

It's not doing anything. It is making no attempt to start up that I can see. The logo just appears on the monitor and nothing else happens. I haven't loaded any new software and have not had any upgrades or other stuff. I can't get to any kind of DOS prompt or anything. It happened once before several months ago, but then it started working properly again without me doing anything to it. Someone told me back then it might be the fan having gone out and the machine overheating. I can't tell if the fan runs now when I turn it on or not. Thanks for the reply!


On Monday, June 9, 2003 at 12:35 pm, Marty Chafkin wrote:
>Curtis,
>What exactly is happening? What system is this on? Can you boot into safe mode?
> Boot disks do not normally start Windows, they go into command mode, or DOS mode,
>if you prefer. You just get the A:\ prompt.
>Often you can see *behind* the Windows splash screen if you hit escape while it is
>first coming up. This might help you see what is going on. Did you add any software
>lately? Did you let Windows update itself, perhaps with DirectX 9.0a? This will
>sometimes cause this exact thing to happen.
>Write back with more info...
>Marty
>
> Marty, Its not doing anything. I don't get a dos prompt, and it does not appear to be trying to start up or anything. Its just dead. I haven't installed any new software and I haven't updated it with anything. Its a Dell machine that's a few years old and has been running fine until this. This thing happened once before several months ago, but for reasons known only to God it quit having the problems and worked until this latest deal. Someone told me it might be the fan quit working and the thing overheated. I can't tell if the fan's running now or not. Thanks for replying!!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Curtis, Can you get into the BIOS Setup? If you can you can surmise that the machine is at least getting to POST. Check that the settings in BIOS are the way that you remember them, especially your hard disk. It seems unlikely that there is a problem here since apparently Windows can read the .bmp of the splash screen, but sometimes the settings are very close and you can read some parts of the disk but not others. Do you have the Dell diagnostics disk that came with the machine? If not, get onto the Dell web site on someone else's machine and down load the diags for your PC. If you do, boot from that disk and run the tests. That will tell you if you have a dead fan or some other hardware issue. By the way, the best way to tell if the fan is running is to turn the PC around and look at the fan before you start the PC. Then push the power button and see if the fan spins. Next, go to www.bootdisk.com and get a new boot disk file for Win98 and one for DOS as well. Try those boot disks to see if you can get to a prompt. You did not say if you were able to get the machine into safe mode. Do you get to the safe/normal/step-by-step/logged menu? What happens next? Last suggestion is this: You have a Dell. You can call them on the phone forever, even if you bought the PC used or inherited from your Grandma. Run the diags first, though, since they will tell you to do that. Let me know what results. Marty


On Monday, June 9, 2003 at 2:01 pm, Curtis wrote:
>It's not doing anything. It is making no attempt to start up that I can see. The
>logo just appears on the monitor and nothing else happens. I haven't loaded any
>new software and have not had any upgrades or other stuff. I can't get to any kind
>of DOS prompt or anything. It happened once before several months ago, but then
>it started working properly again without me doing anything to it. Someone told
>me back then it might be the fan having gone out and the machine overheating. I
>can't tell if the fan runs now when I turn it on or not.
>
>Thanks for the reply!
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks for the info, Marty! No, I can't get to the BIOS and even if I could I don't know what the settings were so I wouldn't be able to tell if they were right or wrong. Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a "splash screen"? I bought the machine used so didn't get a diagnostics disk, but will get one from the site you name. Will do the same for the boot disk. Will also check the fan next time I try starting it up. Thanks again for your time and help!!


On Monday, June 9, 2003 at 2:29 pm, Marty Chafkin wrote:
>Curtis,
>Can you get into the BIOS Setup? If you can you can surmise that the machine is
>at least getting to POST. Check that the settings in BIOS are the way that you remember
>them, especially your hard disk. It seems unlikely that there is a problem here
>since apparently Windows can read the .bmp of the splash screen, but sometimes the
>settings are very close and you can read some parts of the disk but not others.
>Do you have the Dell diagnostics disk that came with the machine? If not, get onto
>the Dell web site on someone else's machine and down load the diags for your PC.
> If you do, boot from that disk and run the tests. That will tell you if you have
>a dead fan or some other hardware issue. By the way, the best way to tell if the
>fan is running is to turn the PC around and look at the fan before you start the
>PC. Then push the power button and see if the fan spins.
>Next, go to www.bootdisk.com and get a new boot disk file for Win98 and one for DOS
>as well. Try those boot disks to see if you can get to a prompt.
>You did not say if you were able to get the machine into safe mode. Do you get to
>the safe/normal/step-by-step/logged menu? What happens next?
>Last suggestion is this: You have a Dell. You can call them on the phone forever,
>even if you bought the PC used or inherited from your Grandma. Run the diags first,
>though, since they will tell you to do that.
>Let me know what results.
>Marty
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

A "Splash screen" is a screen that displays only a logo, making a big "splash", I guess. Get the disks! Call Dell - they don't care that you bought the machine used. They will need the Service Tag number which is either on the back or the side of the case on a sticker, 5 or 6 digits. You will also find an Express Service Code, which is loner and has (usually) 2 hyphens in it. Marty


On Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at 6:12 am, Curtis wrote:
>Thanks for the info, Marty! No, I can't get to the BIOS and even if I could I don't
>know what the settings were so I wouldn't be able to tell if they were right or wrong.
> Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a "splash screen"? I bought the machine
>used so didn't get a diagnostics disk, but will get one from the site you name.
>Will do the same for the boot disk. Will also check the fan next time I try starting
>it up. Thanks again for your time and help!!
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I noticed that this thread is only 2 yrs old and I have just aquired the same problem. I can get as far as the splash screen but it locks up immediately. Can not get any booting disc to operate. Using windows 98se and have never encountered this problem in 3 or 4 yrs. Hopefully this group is still alive and well. thanx for your help


On Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at 9:28 am, Marty C wrote:
>A "Splash screen" is a screen that displays only a logo, making a big "splash", I
>guess. Get the disks! Call Dell - they don't care that you bought the machine used.
> They will need the Service Tag number which is either on the back or the side of
>the case on a sticker, 5 or 6 digits. You will also find an Express Service Code,
>which is loner and has (usually) 2 hyphens in it.
>Marty
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Have you tried to boot into Safe Mode? I wonder if your floppy drive is working? What happens when you try a boot disk? Do you have an old DOS boot disk that you could try? It is unusual that you get to the splash screen but cannot boot from a floppy. Can you get to the BIOS setup screen? Perhaps your computer is set to boot from the hard disk first. If that is the case, change that setting so that the floppy is the first item in the boot list. By the way, when you say that you can get to the splash screen, I am assuming that you mean the large color Windows logo; am I correct?


On Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:57 pm, Jackson wrote:
>I noticed that this thread is only 2 yrs old and I have just aquired the same problem.
> I can get as far as the splash screen but it locks up immediately. Can not get
>any booting disc to operate. Using windows 98se and have never encountered this problem
>in 3 or 4 yrs. Hopefully this group is still alive and well. thanx for your help
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I need help in getting to bios to change which drive boots up first. Can anyone help. Thanks


On Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 5:14 am, Marty C wrote:
>Have you tried to boot into Safe Mode? I wonder if your floppy drive is working?
> What happens when you try a boot disk? Do you have an old DOS boot disk that you
>could try? It is unusual that you get to the splash screen but cannot boot from
>a floppy. Can you get to the BIOS setup screen? Perhaps your computer is set to
>boot from the hard disk first. If that is the case, change that setting so that
>the floppy is the first item in the boot list.
>By the way, when you say that you can get to the splash screen, I am assuming that
>you mean the large color Windows logo; am I correct?
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

|I need help in getting [into CMOS Setup] to change which drive boots up first.
| Calvin

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1115919141

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Generally, Dell uses function key F2 to get into the BIOS setup. This is usually displayed during the boot message. If you see a Dell logo when you first start your computer, hit escape to clear the logo and see the setup prompt. You need to do this before the computer starts to boot, so hit escape as soon as you see the logo. Sometimes, the LCD screen does not come up fast enough when you are starting the PC cold, so you might have to reboot. I hate to bang away at the same issue, but this is all available at the Dell website. Unless you stole this computer, they will be happy to help you via web or phone support. Even if you bought the computer used, they will assist you.


On Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 11:07 am, gewg_ wrote:
>|I need help in getting [into CMOS Setup] to change which drive boots up first.
>| Calvin
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1115919141

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

calvin, the answer is all in the motherboard located very near the CMOS battery(with code CR2032).it has 3 jumpers. 1-2 is keep BIOS : 2-3 enter BIOS. any question?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

• Search this forum
• Start a new thread on a different subject

• Report abuse of the forum