Aye DAL reps,
I have been having issues with booting up my PC. When I start, It loads the bios screen with the F12 option at the top right. Then the next screen is black with a blinking white hyphen at the top left and won't go any further. I can't go into safe mode because the option would be on the screen it won't load. So I have to restart until it decides it wants to work.

The only chance I have to getting it to boot is if I unplug all unessiary devices like my second monitor. I have tried a system restore, and a windows repair from th CD. But nothing is constant. sometimes it boots sometimes it doesn't. I had these issues before. in this exact same way. It wasn't such a big deal at first, but eventually it wouldn't boot up at all and I was screwed and lost years of work. I know I should back up but I don't have the means to doing so right now.

It appears to act up even more so often when my second monitor is connected (S-Video Cable). But my second monitor has been connected for about a year now and it just started acting up now. So...idk.

Scan Results:

Computer System

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Model: Dimension XPS

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate ()

Version: 6.1.7600
Build Number: 7600
Install Date: 25/10/2009
Install Directory: C:\Windows
Locale: English (en) - United States (US)
DirectX version: DirectX 11

Motherboard

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Model: 0U7084 (v )

Bios

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Model: A03
Release Date: 11/10/2004

Processors

Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.46GHz (GenuineIntel)
Max clock speed: 3.46 GHz
Socket: Microprocessor
Version: Model 2, Stepping 5

Memory

Total Current Physical Memory: 2.00 GB
Total Current Virtual Memory: 4.93 GB
Maximum Memory Capacity: 4.00 GB
Memory Devices:
Type: SDRAM - Speed: 533 MHz - Capacity: 1.00 GB
Type: SDRAM - Speed: 533 MHz - Capacity: 1.00 GB

Video Devices

NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO
Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Colour Depth: 32 Bits
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz

Sound Devices:

Creative Audigy Audio Processor (WDM)

Physical Disk Drives

WDC WD2500JD-75HBB0 ATA Device
Size: 232.83 GB
Number of Partitions: 3

Volumes

Main Hard Drive - C:\
File System: NTFS
Capacity: 230.03 GB
Free Space: 97.49 GB

Logical Disks

A:
Disk Type: 3 1/2 Inch Floppy Drive
File System:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
Free Space: 0.00 GB
C: Main Hard Drive
Disk Type: Local Fixed Disk
File System: NTFS
Capacity: 230.03 GB
Free Space: 97.49 GB
D:
Disk Type: CD-ROM Disc
File System:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
Free Space: 0.00 GB
E:
Disk Type: CD-ROM Disc
File System:
Capacity: 0.00 GB
Free Space: 0.00 GB

Page Files:

c:\pagefile.sys
Initial Size: 2.93 GB
Current Size: 2.93 GB
Maximum Size: 2.93 GB
File System: NTFS

Optical Drives

HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8163B ATA Device - D:
_NEC DVD+-RW ND-3450A ATA Device - E:

Printers

Security Software

Anti-Virus
ESET Smart Security 3.0 3.0 (ESET, spol. s r. o.)
Firewall
ESET Personal firewall 3.0.669.0 (ESET, spol. s r. o.)

* inferred from RAM speed

Any suggestion without having to reinstall windows?

You said "and lost years of work. I know I should back up but I don't have the means to doing so right now".

I would strongly suggest you find the means or you may end up losing more this time. If this was my computer I would not use it until I had a way to backup my data. Once that was done then I would proceed to try to fix the problem.

Can be caused by many things, including hard drive, memory, power supply, video card, etc.

Can you run from a Linux Live CD like Puppy Linux, or Xubuntu? If they work without problems then I would strongly suspect your hard drive as the cause as that is the only part that is not being used.

Originally Posted by Ztruker

You said "and lost years of work. I know I should back up but I don't have the means to doing so right now".

I would strongly suggest you find the means or you may end up losing more this time. If this was my computer I would not use it until I had a way to backup my data. Once that was done then I would proceed to try to fix the problem.

Can be caused by many things, including hard drive, memory, power supply, video card, etc.

Can you run from a Linux Live CD like .............. If they work without problems then I would strongly suspect your hard drive as the cause as that is the only part that is not being used.

At this point backing up isn't my main concern. It was back then when this issue first occurred. I wouldn't lose anything of value, It would just take alot of effort to get back where I'm at now. Its mostly programs & preferences, I can't back up anything of this sort.

*Deeeeep Breath*
I would prefer to not to use any other OS, or partition. I did this back when this same issue occurred the first time, and I didn't have a clue of how it worked, OS itself and didn't appear to have any compatibility with any programs or anything. I used a partition of my HDD for Ubuntu. But once I was in Ubuntu I couldn't get the internet to work with my Wireless N card, so I couldn't get help. Not only did I hate Ubuntu with a passion and didn't I have any success. It still appears on my bios start up screen after I formatted my HDD. Its still givines me a countdown timer to choose which OS I want to use even though my HDD was whiped clean. I forget the name of the program I used to put Ubuntu on my HDD. But I do remember it stating it would delete Ubuntu upon uninstalling it, which as I described above it didn't. Tuneup utilities tells me I don't have any partitions so I don't know how to go about removing it. I also search the web and I didn't find any answers. So If you don't mind I don't want to bother with this again.

Can be caused by many things, including hard drive, memory, power supply, video card, etc.

I suspect the HDD as well. But how to I going about testing to tell if it is the culprit? Or testing other hardware for that matter?

The reason I suggested a Live Linux CD (Puppy/XUbuntu) was to see if the hard drive was the problem or not. I did not want you to install it, just run it directly from the CD. Doing that bypasses the hard drive but exercises everything else and if it works that's a good indication the HD is the problem.

Do you have a Windows 7 install DVD? Try running Startup Repair, see if that fixes the problem.

If not, you need to run the hard drive manufacturers diagnostic utility to see if the HD has a problem. The scan you posted shows you have a WDC WD2500JD-75HBB0 (Western Digital 250GB SATA) drive. You can get an iso of the CD here: Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD)

Originally Posted by LynchTheGrynch

The only chance I have to getting it to boot is if I unplug all unessiary devices like my second monitor.

That makes me wonder if it is either one of those devices, an insufficient power supply, or the motherboard. Have you tried with those devices connected yet have the hdd disconnected? I know that it won't boot but I'm curious as to whether or not you still have the blinking cursor with the drive disconnected. Another thing that you could do would be to disconnect all of those devices & test them connected one at a time until you find the one that causes it to hang. If after you have disconnected them all and it boots plug one of the devices in and if still boots disconnect that one & try with another one connected. Does that make sense? Testing the hdd is a good idea as is running a live version of linux but I don't think that you should stop there. Also what devices in particular are you referring to other than the secondary monitor? Knowing that might help. Also I would test your memory however it doubt that it is that. Personally I'm kind of against the hard drive idea because it doesn't sound to me that it is making it to the hard drive detection phase but I might be wrong.

It's too soon to know yet but your computer might be aging. Quite frequently my computer hangs at a certain point in the boot process when booting cold until I've reset it several times. I've attributed that to age because nothing else is wrong with it & it is 4.5 years old. My point is that you might have something similar going on & computers don't last forever.

Originally Posted by Ztruker

The reason I suggested a Live Linux CD (Puppy/XUbuntu) ...

Do you have a Windows 7 install DVD? Try running...
If not, you need to run the hard drive manufacturers diagnostic utility to see if the HD has a problem. The scan you posted shows you have a WDC WD2....

I will try the Linux CD as soon as possible, I need to pick up some blank DVDR's first though. As long as I don't have to install, its good with me. I'll go ahead and run the Memory test and get back with you.

the first solution I tried was a Windows repair, but it is still acting up.

Originally Posted by townsbg

That makes me wonder if it is either one of those devices, an insufficient power supply, or the motherboard. ...

It's too soon to know yet but your computer might be aging. Quite frequently my computer hangs at a certain...

I don't understand why it would be hardware, with the exception of the HDD. As long as the PC doet turn on, it should be fine. I play some PC games and I never have full PC crashes or blue screens. Adding, this PSU isn't replaceable (also regards to the age factor) so if it goes everything else goes with it. I don't know the exact symptoms of a bad motherboard so can't really say.

The devices I had plugged into my PC at the first occurrence was:

Wireless N Card
USB Mouse
Old fashioned Keyboard (Like the green s video connector)
UsB Hub>Ipod Nano

I tried testing these devices on boot. The only results I had is it was more likely to happen when the Second monitor/TV was connected to my Gfx card via S video Cable.

Like I stated above I do game sometimes on this PC and I use a PS3 Controller. To do this I use a program called SixAxis (LibUSB Win32) Now if this service is started and I go to plug in my Ipod it won't recognize it, until the LibUSB service is stopped manually (That was fun figuring that out btw). Could this cause any problems with the services trying to start at boot? Because the LibUSB start automatically and with the Ipod plugged in....... I'm just throwing tht out there, it shouldn't cause problems but you never know.

Found this: Phade Jan 7, 2010 12:41am GMT

1. Boot from the Windows 7 install disk
2. After choosing your language, choose the "Repair your computer" option on the "install now" screen
3. Optional step: if you need special drivers to access your hard drives (SCSI, etc), follow the "load drivers" onscreen instructions to read them from an external source.
4. When prompted, choose the "System restore" option
5. Choose one of the previous restore points (I chose the second one down on mine just to be sure)
6. The system will roll back installs to that restore point; reboot only when prompted

I've also read that it sometimes takes running Startup Repair 3 times to resolve a problem like this. No idea why but I've seen it several different places.

1. Boot from the Windows 7 install disk
2. A....

I have already done a Windows reapir as explained twice above

Now I have to post 2 more times before I can show you the results so excuse them please.

1...

2.....