OS wont boot

Not sure is this the group for this.

I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.

Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
blank.

Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.

I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)

Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
this from windows.support webpage.)

Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.

During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
hours), they all passed.

It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
Windows.

My next 2 things I'm going to try is:

Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
BootDisk-ENU.exe
It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
that is my problem)
It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
computer.

I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
would try slipstreaming
the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).

Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
waste my time, If someone has a better idea.

TIA

On 14 Apr 2007 20:35:32 -0700, "UPNDOWN" <>
wrote:

>Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
>in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
>starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
>configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
>the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.

The above is what I would have done and what has been successful for
me in the past.

Were you doing anything notable prior to your OS not booting?

can you start the computer in safe mode? press f8 during post and a menu
should appear offering to start in safe mode among other things. also, if
you have added a video card since your purchased this system the problem
could be that you have the monitor plugged into the integrated video port
instead of the add on card (so you see the power on self test via the
integrated video but then video output it switched to the add-on agp video
card port).

"UPNDOWN" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Not sure is this the group for this.
>
> I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
> had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>
> Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
> blank.
>
> Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
> in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
> starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
> configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
> the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.
>
> I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
> ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
> a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)
>
> Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
> and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
> this from windows.support webpage.)
>
> Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
> professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.
>
> During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
> diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
> hours), they all passed.
>
> It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
> Windows.
>
> My next 2 things I'm going to try is:
>
> Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
> BootDisk-ENU.exe
> It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
> that is my problem)
> It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
> computer.
>
> I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
> would try slipstreaming
> the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
> original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).
>
> Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
> waste my time, If someone has a better idea.
>
> TIA
>

"UPNDOWN" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Not sure is this the group for this.
>
> I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
> had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>
> Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
> blank.
>
> Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
> in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
> starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
> configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
> the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.
>
> I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
> ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
> a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)
>
> Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
> and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
> this from windows.support webpage.)
>
> Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
> professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.
>
> During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
> diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
> hours), they all passed.
>
> It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
> Windows.
>
> My next 2 things I'm going to try is:
>
> Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
> BootDisk-ENU.exe
> It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
> that is my problem)
> It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
> computer.
>
> I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
> would try slipstreaming
> the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
> original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).
>
> Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
> waste my time, If someone has a better idea.
>
> TIA


Dont know if this applies to you but I went through a similar situation with
my 8400. Before I could reinstall XP from the Dell restore CD I had to
install drivers for the hard drive and then XP would recognize the C drive
and continue the installation. Although I eventually found the drivers in
the original stuff from Dell I had to download the new ones from their web
site to get it to work. Of course I did all this from my working laptop.

If that works here is another tip. The Dell restore XP CD is SP1( for me)
and I could not just install SP2 for some reason. It kept failing and BSODs

I had to go back and do all the manual updates from the MS web site until
the SP2 offer came up. That was time consuming and a ton of reboots.
Bill

On Apr 15, 5:06 am, "Bill" <b...@home.com> wrote:
> "UPNDOWN" <ftw5shopp...@fastmail.us> wrote in message
>
> news: oups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Not sure is this the group for this.
>
> > I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
> > had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>
> > Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
> > blank.
>
> > Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
> > in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
> > starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
> > configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
> > the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.
>
> > I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
> > ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
> > a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)
>
> > Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
> > and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
> > this from windows.support webpage.)
>
> > Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
> > professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.
>
> > During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
> > diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
> > hours), they all passed.
>
> > It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
> > Windows.
>
> > My next 2 things I'm going to try is:
>
> > Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
> > BootDisk-ENU.exe
> > It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
> > that is my problem)
> > It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
> > computer.
>
> > I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
> > would try slipstreaming
> > the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
> > original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).
>
> > Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
> > waste my time, If someone has a better idea.
>
> > TIA
>
> Dont know if this applies to you but I went through a similar situation with
> my 8400. Before I could reinstall XP from the Dell restore CD I had to
> install drivers for the hard drive and then XP would recognize the C drive
> and continue the installation. Although I eventually found the drivers in
> the original stuff from Dell I had to download the new ones from their web
> site to get it to work. Of course I did all this from my working laptop.
>
> If that works here is another tip. The Dell restore XP CD is SP1( for me)
> and I could not just install SP2 for some reason. It kept failing and BSODs
>
> I had to go back and do all the manual updates from the MS web site until
> the SP2 offer came up. That was time consuming and a ton of reboots.
> Bill- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Replying to all.

The F8 key does nothing.
No new video card. PC is original, though I added 512mb of memory
about 8 months ago, and I updated some video drivers from Dell about 5
months ago(This was to allow games like SIMS 2 to view properly).
This computer is on our family network of 4 computers, it is used by
my daughter, even with firewalls, virus programs, she uses AIM and
other programs that might have let a virus in.

I did find a setting in the bios setup that toggles: Allow OS to
Install. I set that to yes(thought I was on to something). I get a
message that the computer is limited to the original 256mb of memory
and to press F1 to continue. Unfortunately, it didn't get any farther
than before.

I own a usb external harddrive case that I can use to recover data
before reformatting. I gonna try to do that. Then continue on trying
to install the OS.

Thanks for the input

On 14 Apr 2007 20:35:32 -0700, "UPNDOWN" <>
wrote:

>Not sure is this the group for this.
>
>I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
>had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>
>Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
>blank.
>

Exactly when did you first notice this happening. Do you recall just
before this what you were doing on the pc? Did the original symptom
happen as you described or slightly different when you first noticed
something going wrong? Do you have any rescue disks from backups?
Can you boot up from anything else and inspect the primary hard
drive's contents?

I wonder if the partition table or such is messed up tho I'd think the
screen would advance a bit more before stopping but at this point I'm
just trying to come up with some ideas for starters.

RnR wrote:
> On 14 Apr 2007 20:35:32 -0700, "UPNDOWN" <>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Not sure is this the group for this.
>>
>>I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
>>had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>>
>>Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
>>blank.
>>
>
>
> Exactly when did you first notice this happening. Do you recall just
> before this what you were doing on the pc? Did the original symptom
> happen as you described or slightly different when you first noticed
> something going wrong? Do you have any rescue disks from backups?
> Can you boot up from anything else and inspect the primary hard
> drive's contents?
>
> I wonder if the partition table or such is messed up tho I'd think the
> screen would advance a bit more before stopping but at this point I'm
> just trying to come up with some ideas for starters.

What else to do?
Can you borrow a live CD of say Knoppix, yes I know its linux BUT it
will run IF your hardware is not broken. If it runs then its a software
or hard drive problem.
Let us knowif you get any resultswith this.

what color are the four leds on the back of the system? they are labled
abcd and can light orange or green and represent and error code, a potential
clue to your problem. also, what usb devices do you have attached? if you
have a usb 'thumb drive' plugged in for instanance it is possible that the
system is hung trying to boot from that device.

"UPNDOWN" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> On Apr 15, 5:06 am, "Bill" <b...@home.com> wrote:
>> "UPNDOWN" <ftw5shopp...@fastmail.us> wrote in message
>>
>> news: oups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Not sure is this the group for this.
>>
>> > I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
>> > had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>>
>> > Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
>> > blank.
>>
>> > Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
>> > in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
>> > starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
>> > configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
>> > the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.
>>
>> > I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
>> > ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
>> > a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)
>>
>> > Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
>> > and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
>> > this from windows.support webpage.)
>>
>> > Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
>> > professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.
>>
>> > During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
>> > diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
>> > hours), they all passed.
>>
>> > It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
>> > Windows.
>>
>> > My next 2 things I'm going to try is:
>>
>> > Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
>> > BootDisk-ENU.exe
>> > It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
>> > that is my problem)
>> > It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
>> > computer.
>>
>> > I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
>> > would try slipstreaming
>> > the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
>> > original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).
>>
>> > Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
>> > waste my time, If someone has a better idea.
>>
>> > TIA
>>
>> Dont know if this applies to you but I went through a similar situation
>> with
>> my 8400. Before I could reinstall XP from the Dell restore CD I had to
>> install drivers for the hard drive and then XP would recognize the C
>> drive
>> and continue the installation. Although I eventually found the drivers in
>> the original stuff from Dell I had to download the new ones from their
>> web
>> site to get it to work. Of course I did all this from my working laptop.
>>
>> If that works here is another tip. The Dell restore XP CD is SP1( for me)
>> and I could not just install SP2 for some reason. It kept failing and
>> BSODs
>>
>> I had to go back and do all the manual updates from the MS web site until
>> the SP2 offer came up. That was time consuming and a ton of reboots.
>> Bill- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Replying to all.
>
> The F8 key does nothing.
> No new video card. PC is original, though I added 512mb of memory
> about 8 months ago, and I updated some video drivers from Dell about 5
> months ago(This was to allow games like SIMS 2 to view properly).
> This computer is on our family network of 4 computers, it is used by
> my daughter, even with firewalls, virus programs, she uses AIM and
> other programs that might have let a virus in.
>
> I did find a setting in the bios setup that toggles: Allow OS to
> Install. I set that to yes(thought I was on to something). I get a
> message that the computer is limited to the original 256mb of memory
> and to press F1 to continue. Unfortunately, it didn't get any farther
> than before.
>
> I own a usb external harddrive case that I can use to recover data
> before reformatting. I gonna try to do that. Then continue on trying
> to install the OS.
>
> Thanks for the input
>

On Apr 15, 2:35 pm, "Christopher Muto" <m...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> what color are the four leds on the back of the system? they are labled
> abcd and can light orange or green and represent and error code, a potential
> clue to your problem. also, what usb devices do you have attached? if you
> have a usb 'thumb drive' plugged in for instanance it is possible that the
> system is hung trying to boot from that device.
>
> "UPNDOWN" <ftw5shopp...@fastmail.us> wrote in message
>
> news: oups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Apr 15, 5:06 am, "Bill" <b...@home.com> wrote:
> >> "UPNDOWN" <ftw5shopp...@fastmail.us> wrote in message
>
> >>news: groups.com...
>
> >> > Not sure is this the group for this.
>
> >> > I have a Dell dimension 4600, a couple of years old. Originally it
> >> > had Windows XP Home sp1. Upgraded to SP2 2 years ago.
>
> >> > Right after the Dell bios splash screen is done, the screen goes
> >> > blank.
>
> >> > Installed the original Windows Home cd from Dell. Changed the startup
> >> > in the bios to Cd-rom first. After the splash screen, The CD-rom
> >> > starts spinning, I get a message "Setup is looking at your hardware
> >> > configurations", and then the screen goes blank, 30 seconds later,
> >> > the cd-rom stops spinning and thats it.
>
> >> > I tried to make a bootable cd-rom with
> >> > ATW_Windows_XP_SP2_Boot_CD.ISO(got this off the web somewhere). I got
> >> > a missing file error.(I suspect that means I have a software problem)
>
> >> > Tried to boot from a blank floppy with just the ntdetect.com, ntldr,
> >> > and boot.ini from a similar computer, and same blank screen. (got
> >> > this from windows.support webpage.)
>
> >> > Tried an ms-dos startup disk created by a computer with XP
> >> > professional, it gives me disk I/O error, on startup.
>
> >> > During the splash screen, if I hit F12, option 8, is a Dell
> >> > diagnostics program that runs. Ran all hardware tests(this took a few
> >> > hours), they all passed.
>
> >> > It doesn't seem to be hardware failure, but how do I reinstall
> >> > Windows.
>
> >> > My next 2 things I'm going to try is:
>
> >> > Downloaded this from windows support:WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Home-
> >> > BootDisk-ENU.exe
> >> > It is designed for computers without a bootable cd-rom.( I don't think
> >> > that is my problem)
> >> > It requires 6 blank floppies, and it needs to be run on a similar
> >> > computer.
>
> >> > I own a copy of Windows XP home, and have my SP2, so I thought I
> >> > would try slipstreaming
> >> > the two programs to make a new install cd.( Thinking that maybe the
> >> > original Dell XP disk wont work because of the upgrade to SP2).
>
> >> > Any input would be appreciated be I embark on this tomorrow. Hate to
> >> > waste my time, If someone has a better idea.
>
> >> > TIA
>
> >> Dont know if this applies to you but I went through a similar situation
> >> with
> >> my 8400. Before I could reinstall XP from the Dell restore CD I had to
> >> install drivers for the hard drive and then XP would recognize the C
> >> drive
> >> and continue the installation. Although I eventually found the drivers in
> >> the original stuff from Dell I had to download the new ones from their
> >> web
> >> site to get it to work. Of course I did all this from my working laptop.
>
> >> If that works here is another tip. The Dell restore XP CD is SP1( for me)
> >> and I could not just install SP2 for some reason. It kept failing and
> >> BSODs
>
> >> I had to go back and do all the manual updates from the MS web site until
> >> the SP2 offer came up. That was time consuming and a ton of reboots.
> >> Bill- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > Replying to all.
>
> > The F8 key does nothing.
> > No new video card. PC is original, though I added 512mb of memory
> > about 8 months ago, and I updated some video drivers from Dell about 5
> > months ago(This was to allow games like SIMS 2 to view properly).
> > This computer is on our family network of 4 computers, it is used by
> > my daughter, even with firewalls, virus programs, she uses AIM and
> > other programs that might have let a virus in.
>
> > I did find a setting in the bios setup that toggles: Allow OS to
> > Install. I set that to yes(thought I was on to something). I get a
> > message that the computer is limited to the original 256mb of memory
> > and to press F1 to continue. Unfortunately, it didn't get any farther
> > than before.
>
> > I own a usb external harddrive case that I can use to recover data
> > before reformatting. I gonna try to do that. Then continue on trying
> > to install the OS.
>
> > Thanks for the input- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks again for the input. Strange. Looks like a bad connection
somewhere.
I removed the hard drive, installed in my usb hd case. Backed up
personnell files. Reinstalled, hit the interior of the computer with
Canned Air. Computer works fine.

Did not mess with any connectors except the IDE cable for the
harddrive, and the power supply cable for the harddrive.
Still not sure why the hard drive, motherboard,video card, sound
passed all those Dell system tests, and still not boot an OS, but who
knows.

Thanks again.

On 15 Apr 2007 19:04:25 -0700, "UPNDOWN" <>
wrote:

>Still not sure why the hard drive, motherboard,video card, sound
>passed all those Dell system tests, and still not boot an OS, but who
>knows.

That's what threw me off too -- the main thing that didn't compute (no
pun intended).