when loading my operating disk,dell screen comes up,says it's loading all files ,gets to windows startup screen,three
choices,hit enter to start windows setup,r to repair,q to quit .

everything freezes neither enter key will work.
after long hours with dell support they told me i needed new harddrive ,tried not the problem,then said it was my motherboard of which is on order..plus the said it might also be my processor.. any ideas ??? new member hope this is not to long winded!

Why were you loading your OS disk?

What was the original problem?

How old is the computer? History?

If Dell is doing all this via your warranty I'd just let them do their thing.

Following their train of thought you might get a new computer.

first,thank you for responding
1-computer started to jsut reboot after xp loaded
and would only go into safe mode
2-for two afternoons talking to dell supportaaprox 6hrs and many attempts at approach.including checking all connections to removing memory cards and replacing in different slots,going through entire system setup,changing jumper pin on motherboard they came to the conclusion i needed a hard drive.as they got me to a point where when loading operating cd it would load bioas and load up to a screen that said windows setup ,press enter to cont setup ,or r to repair ,q to quit..enter keys would not work computer froze.
3- order and paid for new hard drive ( computer was at this time 24 days over warranty) called dell again and followed all their instructions of setup with new hard drive

4-same problem freezing at windows setup
5-was then told i needed mother board of wich is not here yet?
6 also told i could also need a processor..

so in the meantime went and bought a HP:-))
but am not giving up yet on the dell as to much money
invested into it..

thank you again !

Did they ever advise any diagnostic tools or did they just go to flipping parts?

First off if you could get Safe Mode your graphics card would be the first suspect and not the hard drive.

Next there are hard drive diagnostics for every brand that would have tested your hard drive.

If your graphics card was OK the next suspect would be heat. Freezing is quite often the result of over-heating.

After what you have gone through with Dell it is difficult to start and go where I would have gone but I just add my thoughts here.

I will refrain from giving opinions of Dell's technical support. (Especially if it is not free).

At least you have two good hard drives and probably two good motherboards.