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Solve : Computer doesent boot?

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I have a dell,

When i started it up a few months ago it came on and just sat at a screen with a cursor blinking.

Im not allowed to type ANYTHING at this BLACK screen with a blinking cursor.

Dell doesent know what it means and neither do i....

i wanna format it but i dont have XP because it came programmed on the computer. So im basically Screwed.

Please any information on what the problem is and how i might go about fixing it would help greatly.

ThanxI'd ask Dell for a refund or replacement. I'd never buy a computer with a pre-installed OS unless it came with its disk.i didnt buy it. it's a gift and the giver of that gift has moved away.....Ok. It sounds liek you have a BAD hard disk. Heard Disks are not very expensive, so you might just want to go buy a new one from Bestbuy or CompUSA, or somewhere like that. It's not hard to install either. Before this problem happened, did you have a virus scan PROGRAM, or firewall installed? You might have picked up a nasty WORM......

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Ok. It sounds liek you have a BAD hard disk. Heard Disks are not very expensive, so you might just want to go buy a new one from Bestbuy or CompUSA, or somewhere like that. It's not hard to install either. Before this problem happened, did you have a virus scan program, or firewall installed? You might have picked up a nasty worm......

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i wanna format it but i dont have XP because it came programmed on the computer. So im basically Screwed.


You will have to obtain an operating system as you can NOT own a computer without one.

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Ok. It sounds liek you have a BAD hard disk. Heard Disks are not very expensive


If the HDD went bad he wouldn't have seen any cursor flicker at all.. Run diagnostic software if you want to be certain that it is not failing.if its a bad hard drive would it still be picked up in the bios, meaning would it still show up at all?

because my hard drive still shows up in the bios.

i hope thats not the case...  i REALLY couldnt afford 1 now...Is it reliable to just per-say download windows xp? Quote
if its a bad hard drive would it still be picked up in the bios, meaning would it still show up at all?

because my hard drive still shows up in the bios.

i hope thats not the case...  i really couldnt afford 1 now...


You can obtain diagnostic software from the HDD manufacturer's website.

If the BIOS is still detecting your HDD, that means it is still  functioning.

As for attempting to repair Windows XP:



  • Upon boot, press F8 and select 'Last known good configuration'
  • Boot into safemode and attempt to scan for Viruses, Trojan Horses and Spyware from there
  • Obtain a Windows XP CD and run the repair option


thanks dudes ill check that out.
If you have the XP CD Key on a sticker on the machine, you can get a friend with the same version of XP to burn you a backup copy of the Windows XP OS CD. The sticker and CD Key represent the licensed OS on the machine.

You can also use Linux free. Start with a Knoppix LiveCD and run Linux from your CDROM, and see if the HD took a powder or if it is just some glitch... The Knoppix LiveCD includes some good hardware test tools.but thats the problem i dont have any friends with the OS
did you try>Upon boot, press F8 and select 'Last known good configuration'  raptors suggested......?link>http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1027295....or try ctrl/alt del...see what happens....if this has a ibm travelstar hard drive......then thats it....hook it up to the mains adapter...Every computer, including dell, should come with a back up recovery, reformat disk. I don't have the XP cd either but I used a three disk series to reformat my messed up computer. Quote
but thats the problem i dont have any friends with the OS


That's why there are stores that sell operating systems..

F8 didnt respond.....

Does anyone know the commands in MS-Dos that are needed to make a non-bootable cd load (persay a  burned xp copy..)? i have a ms-startup disk and need the commands to run the Xp cd. Any help is appreciated.


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