[sherrikeo]

Everytime I turn my computer on it will start goes through the first couple of screens and then right before it gets to the screen where you type your password to log onto your computer its a blank black screen. I realized after doing this many times that if I leave it on this black screen after a good 10 to 15 min it goes onto the logon screen and I type in my password and it logs into the computer. Takes a while to start up so I try to run a virus scan and then it will restart the computer and nothing happens. Also I am able to log onto safe mode just fine but if I have to many things going on it freezes and I have to restart the computer and I am then back to square one.

PLEASE HELP new Dell Inspiron 1420 computer only had for 6 months and I don't want to lose any data!

[rainforest123]

Your concern about data loss is understandable. Although the problem you describe is unlikely to be related to your hard disk drive [ HDD ], be sure to backup your data. I prefer to copy my important data to CDs or DVDs. There are many data backup methods.

Which version of Vista is on your computer? Was Vista on your computer when it shipped from Dell?
RIGHT click "computer"
Left click "properties".

How much memory is on your computer?

Which processor is in your computer?

When did the problem begin?

For how what length of time is your warranty?

FYI
Your laptop's product information site, at Dell.
http://www.dell.com/content/products...=19&l=en&s=dhs
I am NOT referring you to Dell.

"Takes a while to start up so I try to run a virus scan and then it will restart the computer and nothing happens." Try to let your computer finish its startup process before running your AntiVirus scan.

"Also I am able to log onto safe mode just fine". That tells me that the problem is caused by 1 or more programs that load onto your computer during the startup process. Do you mean that if you choose to startup your computer in safe mode, the black screen problem does NOT occur?

RF123

[sherrikeo]

Yes I bought my computer with Home Premium Vista already installed.

I have 2 gb of memory and I have Intel Core 2 Duo Processor.

The problem started yesterday afternoon but worked completely fine that morning.

I think my warranty is for 2 or 3 years?

Yes if I choose to start my computer in safe mode the black screen does not happen.

[Rollin' Rog]

There are two things I would recommend you do:

First just try a System Restore, since the problem is recent. Enter "system restore" in the "search" field in Vista and you will get there.

Do this from Safe Mode.

The second would be to try "clean booting" > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

By the way Vista has an enormous set of Event Logs -- one of which can log startup delays. You may find some of these in the Control Panel > Performance Information and Tools > Advanced, but more specifically you can view them by running eventvwr.msc and looking at Applications and Service Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Diagnostics-Performance.

You will see "errors" some labeled "critical". Unfortunately about the only ones that prove useful for analysis are those which indicate a degradation time (not "false") and a driver mentioned.

I've included a screenshot example.

[rainforest123]

Yes, what RR said.

When a problem does not occur in safe mode, it means that a program or service [ Microsoft or 3rd party ] or device driver is the cause of your problem.

Be prepared to study this article. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/


RF123

[sherrikeo]

So I found out that it has error code 0146 when I ran the diagnostics test. That means that no matter what my hard drive is done and I have to replace it? Or is there some kind of test I can run to fix the problem?

[Rollin' Rog]

Is this a Dell diagnostics error code? I would contact Dell's warranty support for definitive interpretation. While running chkdsk on it would likely lock out the bad sectors -- there is no reason why you should be stuck with what looks like a possibly failing drive.

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...at=sup&x=5&y=4

In any case you should be backing up your personal data ASAP.

[rainforest123]

"So I found out that it has error code 0146 when I ran the diagnostics test."

To which diagnostic test do you refer?

RF123

[sherrikeo]

how can i run a chkdsk? and how do i find out if they locked out the bad sectors? i called dell and they said that its because i have a bad hard drive and they were going to send out a new one. i think they are only saying that because they don't want to help fix the exact problem and figure its the easy way out. or they could be right and i really have a bad hard drive. i dont know.

[sherrikeo]

The diagnostics test that I performed was when I turn the computer on and hold down the function key. It then goes to a blue screen and runs tests. Thats when it started beeping stating the error code 2000-0146

[rainforest123]

1. Do you have a real Windows operating system disk, or disk from dell with "operating system" imprinted?
A "system recovery" disk will NOT work.
If so, using the DVD, boot to the recovery console, select "repair", run chkdsk /r .

RR knows where the results are stored.

OR
open "my computer"
RIGHT click your C: drive
Left click "properties"
Left click "tools"
Under error checking, left click "check now"
Put a check in each box by clicking on each box
Click "ok".
Windows will advise you that it needs exclusive access the the HDD and ask you if you want to schedule check disk for the next re-start.
Accept.

Backup your important data.

Restart.

2. Which HDD is in your computer?
You may have to ask Dell.
Brand and model are needed.
Does your computer have a floppy disk drive from which you can boot?
If not, which DVD burning software have you?

Go to the manufacturer's web site, download the diag.
If the diag is for an optical disk, you will need do some fancy maneurvering.

3. What explanation did Dell provide you for the error code? Feel free to ask them to send you the information by email, then copy & paste the nuts & bolts in this thread.

4. The problem MAY BE a failing hard drive. If that is the case, your ONLY solution is to replace your HDD.

5. What is your computer skill level? You don't have that posted in the area by your user name & "junior member" area.

RF123

[rainforest123]

Silly me.

You can install the recovery console, so that you don't need a Win Vista operating system DVD.

Information about the RC.
http://www.petri.co.il/what's_the_recovery_console.htm

RR will have to tell you how to install it.

RF123

[rainforest123]

My face is sure red!

Vista does not have a recovery console.
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/windows...ir_options.htm
"Windows Vista does not contain a Recovery Console"

In place of the Recovery Console, which is available in 2000 & XP, Vista has the Recovery Environment
[ RE ].
Per this article, when you boot a Vista PC
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true

Manual Diagnosis and Repair

When starting from a Windows RE CD/DVD or using the F8 advanced boot option menu to launch the on-disk Windows RE, the user can manually launch various system recovery tools:

Startup Repair (when not launched automatically)

System Restore (on rollback, by using existing restore points)

Windows Backup Disaster Recovery (to restore from a volume backup image)

Command prompt, from which all standard Windows PE console tools, such as Regedit and ChkDsk, are available

Custom OEM support/recovery tool


Running Check Disk from within Windows
http://searchwincomputing.techtarget...276030,00.html
Also, "After running, Chkdsk adds the results to the Application Event Log with a source of Chkdsk,"


RF123

[Rollin' Rog]

Just a possible heads up here. You should backup any important data before running chkdsk. While it is unusual for it to happen -- you can't rule out that chkdsk may cause loss of data or even leave the system unbootable if the drive is badly corrupted.

[rainforest123]

EXACTLY, RR!

That's why I noted, in #11, "Backup your important data."



RF123