Unable to boot up in windows properly

Question

I wasn't doing anything unusual on my computer, simply on the internet when I recieved a 'blue screen of death'. Didn't recieve a chance to read it because the screen turned blank seconds after. A reboot revealed an inability to boot into windows properly. I recieve the usual login screen (booting normally or in safe mode) but after that the following happens :   1) Internet Explorer automatically begins running and connects to three websites in different tabs -www3.sympatico.ca/pbradshaw6/id11_m.htm -www3.sympatico.ca/pbradshaw6/index_1.htm -www3.sympatico.ca/pbradshaw6/index.htm   2) Run-time error generated -Error title (in message box) is 'iexpore'....strange that it's mispelled but that's what it is -Message body is as follows:   ' Runtime error '2147467259 (80004005)' :   -Automation Error -Unspecified Error   '   3) Windows has not been started properly, there is a blank black background and only the mouse cursor is visible and can move around. The only thing I can do is use the key combination 'ctrl + alt + del' to trriger the menu that lets me open task manager. I can open task manager and look at all the usual information found there. I cannot do anything else, no other key combinations work, like loading explorer for example 'window-key + e'.   To sum up, I virtually can't do anything and have no idea how to begin troubleshooting the problem. I can't even put a system CD (windows OS DVD) in and boot off of it. I tried putting the CD in and rebooting, hitting F12 for the boot menu and choosing to boot off the CD/DVD-ROM drive, but it just brought me to the usual login screen and seemed to have booted off the hard drive.   Any suggestions or ideas? Help would be greatly appreciated! Message Edited by circuz_phreak on 04-14-2008 04:15 PM

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

circuz_phreak,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

Instead of trying to hit the F12 key while booting up try hitting F2 and enter system setup. Once in the system setup set the system to boot to the cd/dvd drive as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit while the disk is in the drive.

The_Snowman · Answer

C_P, that sounds pretty much like my story and the reason that I found this forum. Not sure which laptop you have or where you are from, but I found the HELP files on DELL.com.au to be exceptionally good. I was able to run a hardware check by pressing the 'Fn' and Power ON.

However, my problem seems to be Vista related (corrupted file) as described here - Microsoft Article ID 946532 - read that and see what you think.

And before you rush in and re-install Vista, consider replacing the drive, then connect to it to save your data - of course you still have to install all programs, but at least you save the data and end up with a fresh, FAST drive, hope that helps, and let us know how it works out, John

PS - we can find a link that shows how to change HDD for you, it is easy to do!

Windows General

Was this post helpful?