Laptop troubleshooting: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try
Laptop Won't Boot on First Try
by SANBROWN - 6/27/09 6:25 AMLately, when I turn on my Dell XPS M140 laptop, it does not boot up properly. After I press the Power button, the lights come on and the screen will show a flashing cursor in the upper-left corner of the screen. Nothing else happens. I must shut it down and turn it on again in order to get it to complete the boot process and go to the desktop. Can you help?
Sorry no but I can guess.
by R. Proffitt
- 6/27/09 7:24 AM
In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWN
The details of the machine, what's plugged in, the history is missing so I'm going to tell you one thing and then see if you can tell more.
1. Unplug all USB devices and retry.
Bob
Agree and
by deniceels - 6/27/09 1:28 PM In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWNmore so any disc in the optical drive. Usually main possible cause can be an external harddisk or thumbdrive, or any possible storage device.
Laptop Won't Boot on First Try
by SANBROWN - 6/27/09 6:48 PM In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWNThe operating system is Windows XP Home Edition. There is no disc in the DVD-RW drive. The only USB connections are for the mouse and the printer. I tried rebooting without them being connected and the result was the same. After powering on, the Dell screen comes up and the screen goes blank with a flashing cursor in the corner.
Sounds like it needs repair.
by R. Proffitt - 6/27/09 6:58 PM
In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWN
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=XP+Dell+flashing+cursor+in+the+corner. finds many stories like this. Fixes include new hard disks, ram and motherboards. Nothing in your post narrows it down. If it works on the second try the good news is that you have been given many chances before it stops working altogether to SAVE YOUR FILES.
Bob
LAPTOP WON'T BOOT ON FIRST TRY
by SANBROWN - 6/27/09 8:46 PM In reply to: Sounds like it needs repair. by R. Proffitt
My daughter and I bought these Dells in 12/05. Is there a decent machine out there that does not require a mortgage to purchase? No more Dells for us. Thank you for your assistance.
If it
by deniceels - 6/27/09 11:32 PM In reply to: Sounds like it needs repair. by R. Proffitt
had been a desktop, it would be a loose connection between the graphic port and display/monitor, but for a laptop, my concern would be the harddisk itself with a failing boot sector. If you have a spare harddisk to test it out, it would be my first point of testing.
That's an odd statement.
by R. Proffitt - 6/28/09 5:54 AM
In reply to: LAPTOP WON'T BOOT ON FIRST TRY by SANBROWN
ALL machines I know of have just a few years of life designed in. Your issue can occur on any machine. Repair seems inevitable no matter what PC you get.
Bob
Intermittent boot function
by Phil Crase - 6/28/09 1:21 PM In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWNIt could be several tings but it sounds more like a software issue than hardware. You didn't mention what you may have been using for security software. A missing/corrupted file can create the kind of issue that you are having. Error messages, if any have been shown, can tell the tale such as an executable file/DLL, etc can be an indicator and usually are created by a bug of some kind getting through the system.Many and most of these types of issues can be resolved though it can take a bit of doing. If you aren't good with systems, take it to a competent geek and get an opinion, again I suspect a software issue.
Laptop Won't Boot on First Try
by SANBROWN - 6/28/09 3:00 PM In reply to: Intermittent boot function by Phil CraseThank you, Bob and Phil, for your responses. They are greatly appreciated.
Laptop Won't Boot on First Try
by Barrister2009 - 8/18/09 7:30 AM In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by SANBROWNI too have a Dell Inspiron Laptop purchased around 2005. About two months ago, I turned it on and the screen went blank with a blinking cursor in the upper left corner. I took it three times to a computer repair facility. They ran diagnostic tests and indicated the hardware was fine. They were baffled at what is causing the problem. There are no external drives or devices attached. It will not boot up at all. Any suggestions?
In this forum.
by R. Proffitt - 8/18/09 7:36 AM
In reply to: Laptop Won't Boot on First Try by Barrister2009
We have a post at the top of the forum called a Sticky. There we describe the parts and such of a laptop so we know what parts we can swap out.
However I'm fixing a few blinking cursors with a simple thing. I'm unplugging USB connected devices and the boot works again. Its a simple fix which saves some from repairing the machine.
--> Again, since it does boot you are being given the gift of a second chance to backup your files. The forums are full of stories about lost files.
Bob
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