My Dell Studio Laptop will not boot

sounds like possible the harddrive has failed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_of_death
as the PC starts keep tapping F8 a menu appears - choose safemode
see if that starts

otherwise you could try creating a UBUNTU boot CD and see if that boots up as a virtual CD - that will at least test the hardware - it may also be possible to see if the hardrive can be seen and even copy the data off to a USB attached harddrive


UBUNTU
It may be possible to boot from another Operating System
This will at least test the Hardware and also see if you can see the Harddrive and possibly get data off.

If you have another PC with a cdwriter and spare CD
goto http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download the ISO http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

YOu can also run from a USB device now - if the Machine supports booting off a USB Stick
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

full details are here (Note this is for version 9 - so the start up options are slightly different )
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

click on the image "download ubuntu"
Select a location
then begin download
Save the file onto your PC – remember where you saved it – so you can find it again to create the image bootable CD.

You do NOT copy the ISO file onto a CD - you have to use the ISO to create a bootable CD
The CD creator software you have on the PC may have an option to create an image from an ISO
If not - use this free program http://www.imgburn.com/

When the UBUNTU CD boots - you will A screen - with Language on the left panel and two option images


== > Try ubuntu
== > Install ubuntu

You can try Ubuntu without making any changes to your computer, directly from this CD

Use OPTION 1 "Try ubunto without any change to your computer" ONLY this option this will run from the CD and not install onto your harddrive - be careful, if you do install onto the PC - you will wipe the data and software OFF your hard drive.., so repeat only use option 1

Now you should see a UBUNTU desktop
This at least proves the main parts of the PC are working

You may see your Harddrive on the desktop - if not have in look in the places on the tool bar at the top of the screen.

If you can see your harddrive – see if you can find the your datafiles –
XP look in “documents and settings” under the user name you had on the PC
Vista/Windows 7 look in “user” under the user name you had on the PC

Now if you have a USB flash drive or external harddrive – you should be able to copy your data from the harddrive onto the USB device

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in the bios do you have an option to boot from USB ?
if so

 

whats the status here

Unable to boot from:-

1) CD
2) USB
3) Harddrive

is that the case

 

sounds like the harddrive is faulty - whats the exact model of the machine

Why can you not put a CD on - does it have a CD Player on the Machine ?

Can you enter the bios / setup and see if the harddrive is recognised

 

open the CD door - if it will not open - theres a HOLE in the door/tray panel that an untwisted paperclip should be able to open - just push it in the hole and it unlocks the door/tray mechanism

with the CD open see if it will start without noise

 

whats the service TAG number on the machine ?
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/en/identifyyoursystem?c=us&l=en&s=bsd

 

the documentation for that TAG number is here
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/1536/en/index.htm

looking through the documentation - I cannot see how to remove a stuck DVD from a slot drive

Have a read here on how to remove a DVD from a Slot Drive
http://tech-tweak.com/2009/11/how-to-eject-stuk-dvd-from-slot-load-dvd-drive.html
some videos here
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ho...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=7&ved=0CGIQqwQwBg