My computer turns off and on by its self.?

August 27, 2009

This has happened before but it was always related to software. I have put no new software on. I have done a diagnostic and it says everything is ok. This is a Dell Inspiron 9300. My anti virus says no viruses and my spysweeper says no spyware. I did get a message a couple of days ago from my antivirus that said it had quarrantined something that could possibly be a virus. I deleted it and scans since then come up clear. I am also getting a message from my fire wall that says something about ICMP Echo Request (‘Ping’) from (IP addy) and it’s blocking it. Any ideas?
I use avg antivirus, spysweeper, and zone alarm firewall.

Why won’t my computer boot?

August 23, 2009

I have a dell inspiron 2200 that I purchased in the summer of 2005. It still used windows xp. about a week ago, I tried to restart my computer and it simply wouldn’t boot. after further exploration, i noticed that it does begin to load. it goes through a few sequences then gets to the black screen where there is a large window’s icon and the little moving status bar underneath for about 20 seconds, then simply goes black with the cursor still movable and on the screen. I’ve let it sit for about thirty mins in this screen with no progress.

I’ve done thorough diagnostics in the boot menu by pressing f12 at the beginning of the startup process hoping to find a problem. nothing resulted.

I also don’t believe my laptop came with a boot disc. Looking through some of the original paperwork that came with it, i found something that says my computer does not require an operating system cd or drivers cds. instead, it tells me to reinstall software by using system restore… i’d love to do this if my comp would actually boot!

somebody please help.

thanks

Cannot Start Windows. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.?

August 22, 2009

Windows failed to start . A recent hardware or software chagne might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. insert Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose you language and click next.
3. Click repair your computer

Other options
Safe mode
safe mode with networking
safe mode with command prompt
Last known good configuration
Start windows normally.

I have done the first option and it just says if the errors were fixed correctly then windows should start normally.
All the other options just load and super fast blue screen flashed and then it reloads everything.
It is a dell inspiron 6400
I am running windows vista home premium 32bit

I have a new Dell Laptop Inspiron 1520; It goes into repair mode after Windows Vista updating re-start?

August 7, 2009

I have a new Dell Inspiron 1520 note book PC; It was having problems on start up like heavy monitor flickering after Log On and long time to start. It was giving unexpected shutdowns. The service from Dell and agents was not helpful.

So I re-installed Vista from the CD (that deleted all Dell software). and updated drivers as required. Then all start up problems vanished. But there is one problem now. After most Vista updates, it goes into black screen (repair mode) during the re-start process. What can be done? Can I avoid updating? Will it cause any problems?

After the "repair" (nothing really) and booting, it says the updating was OK and works normally. Pls advise.

USB ports stopped working and I’ve tried everything. Is it a software or hardware issue?

August 5, 2009

A few days ago I was syncing my Samsung Cell Phone to my Inspiron 1150 and afterwards the computer cut off. I restarted it and neither one of the USB Ports in the back of it are working. Below are the following measures I’ve tried to resolve this issue.

1.Called Dell Tech support a multitude of times
2.Ran a Customized USB Test from the Dell Diagnostics CD and all checked fine.
3.Ran a Express USB Test from the Dell Diagnostics CD and all checked fine.
4.Ran a Symptom Tree Test for USB’s on Dell Diagnostics CD and all checked fine.
5.Ran a Thorough Test from the Dell Diagnostics CD and all checked fine.
6.Ran a Test from the Dell Inspiron ‘Fn’ key at boot and all checked fine.
7.Downloaded & installed from Dells Web site the most recent Bios, Division 7.
8.Downloaded & installed from Dells Web site the most recent Chipset Drivers.
9.Plug and Play is running & automatic in the Services portion of Computer Management.
10.USB is enabled in the Bios.
11.There is no damage to the USB Ports or plastics.
12.All USB items that wont work on my Inspiron 1150, work on other computers.
13.I’ve uninstalled all USB’s from Device Manager, restarted the computer, and reinstalled.
14.Ran the System File Checker (SFC /scannow) and all checked fine.
15.Ran Norton to check for viruses and all checked fine.
16.Ran Ad-Aware to check for spyware and all was fine.
17.I’ve left the computer unpowered for 8 hours, no plug and no battery.

With all of that done, still no USB device plugged into either of the 2 existing ports on my Inspiron 1150, show a device in Windows when something is plugged into them. No, mouse, no printer, no, flash memory drive, no nothing. Even though I see the flash memory drive light up showing its receiving power from the USB when it’s plugged in, it still doesn’t show in windows. Dell through technical support has said it’s a software issue, then hardware issue. But the diagnostics all show the hardware is fine. I did purchase a 2 port USB PCMCIa card for my Inspiron 1150 and its USB ports work fine, even though earlier today Dell technical support said that there was no such card that would function in my PCMCIa Slot. Technical supports solution, as always, is to reformat and reinstall Windows. I’m willing at this point to try and do a repair to windows to possibly see if I can get the two primary USB ports on my computer to work. But for some reason it’s asking for my password to start the repair and I’ve never ever had a pass word. Does anyone have any solution to my USB problem or a way for me to resolve the pass word issue so I can attempt to repair Windows?
Thanks for your reply programmer2718 and forgive me if I’ve not replied correctly in this forum. But to answer your questions:

1. I have XP Home SP3.
2. When trying to repair Windows with my Windows Installation CD, it asks for my Password. I tried to chat online with Dells technical support but was asked to send them a e-mail because they were so busy. As of yet I’ve not received a reply.
3. The two existing USB ports on the BACK of the computer do not work. Neither of them function, even though my flash memory stick lights up showing its receiving power from those two non-functional USB ports.
4. I purchased a PCMCIa card that has two USB ports. Those two USB ports work when I put the PCMCIa card in the PCMCIa card slot on the SIDE of my laptop.

So, it seems that your suggesting I should use Ubuntu and try to see if that operating system will see the two USB ports that aren’t apparently functioning in my Windows XP. I’ll try that and see. Thank you.