Is my computer dead?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dmclone

This is a software problem not hardware.

---

It certainly sounded like a software problem and not a hardware problem when he first mentioned it.. but it looks like he ran RAM tests? And if they failed, it at least means he need to replace the RAM..

To me, it doesn't sound like your computer is dead without repair. At first it sounded like your Windows Installation was busted, in which case you definitely would need an installation Disk to either fix it or re-install Windows. If you don't have one, you're in trouble.. you'll have to find one, or find a way to make one or something.

Otherwise, those "March A" tests and stuff sounds like you have Bad RAM, which can screw up Windows running because, well, if it can't read or write from RAM correctly, it'll crash and you'll get blue screens.

So either way, if you ran those RAM hardware tests that come with DELL computers, and it showed a lot of errors in the DIMM slots, then you need to replace the RAM. It's gone, and there's no fixing hardware.

After you replace the RAM, you'll have to try booting your computer, and only then will you be able to know whether or not your Windows installation is dead. Although I guess you could find out by placing that hard drive in another working computer, and try booting from it.. then you could find out whether Windows still works or not, but that takes a bit of work if you've never done it before.

To verify if your hardware is working correctly, you should have something other than your HDD to boot to. If you don't have your Windows Install disk (sounds like you don't), go here and make yourself a Ubuntu CD or USB. You'll probably have to go into your BIOS and either enable booting from CD or USB or you will have to move it up in the order (before the HDD). Just boot and run as Live, don't install it. Checking things out, verify that everything is working. Once you remove the CD/USB and reboot, it will be as if it was never there. I assume you're posting from a second working computer with internet access, etc. If not you'll have a hard time with this.

As far as your memory, pay close attention when you turn your computer. One of the first things it does in the boot process is POST (power on self test). It should be verifying that your memory is working correctly. If you're getting a blue screen, it sounds like you're successfully passing the POST. If not, memory is one of the least expensive and easiest to replace components inside your computer. Get it at newegg if you need some.

If the memory proves fine and it's Windows that's b0rked, you're really going to need and install disk of some sort. If for some reason you don't have yours anymore, or you never had one :jimlad: (get it, he's a pirate), that Ubuntu CD/USB you made can be easily converted to a full install. It's free and fully featured. You can have it partition your HDD so you can keep your (b0rked) windows install and your files, etc. Or, just go out and pay up.

9 times out of 10 when you have a problem after you suddenly shut off the computer it's because you caused the HD to have a bad write to a file. IE it was writing to a file and you shut it off right in the middle of it, causing a corrupt file. In this case, a registry file. All that needs to be done is run a checkdisk and it should fix the file however, you need an operating system disk to do that. Borrow one from a friend. doesn't matter what version as long as it's xp
boot to the disk
press r to go to recovery console
type chkdsk /r
profit.

Ok....got ahold of an XP disk (it's xp professional rather than home, not sure if that matters), but when it starts up, "R" doesn't do anything, going into the automatic system recovery mode ends up with it asking me to insert a floppy disk (I have no floppy drive or disk) and setup ends up with a message that kbdhid.sys or isapmp.sys are corrupt, whereupon it ends the setup and restarts the computer.

Is it time to go Office Space on it?

Wait until the disk boots up completely.

you should get 3 menu items.

Hit R to enter the recovery console

Hit enter to install windows

Hit esc to exit - I believe.

At this point Hit R. Then continue with the necessary steps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Darko

9 times out of 10 when you have a problem after you suddenly shut off the computer it's because you caused the HD to have a bad write to a file. IE it was writing to a file and you shut it off right in the middle of it, causing a corrupt file. In this case, a registry file. All that needs to be done is run a checkdisk and it should fix the file however, you need an operating system disk to do that. Borrow one from a friend. doesn't matter what version as long as it's xp
boot to the disk
press r to go to recovery console
type chkdsk /r
profit.

---

This!


chkdsk will fix it.

And then get a Mac.

You don't want to run chkdsk on a xp home machine with a xp pro disk. It can mess it up, though since it already is it may not matter to much. You are better off trying a xp home disk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by flipper

And then get a Mac.

---

If you pull the plug on a mac, the same thing would happen if it was writing to a system file. jesus.

Also chkdsk is the same across all versions of XP afaik. Could be wrong but i'm in the business and i've fixed probably 50 comps w/ a different version xp disk and never had an issue.

Edit: and fixed vista w/ xp chkdsk and vice versa as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cytech

You don't want to run chkdsk on a xp home machine with a xp pro disk. It can mess it up, though since it already is it may not matter to much. You are better off trying a xp home disk

---

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

---

Sounds like it's not booting to the CD correctly. It should get to the options screen no matter what version of XP is on your HD because it's booting from the CD only. What is the error message you are getting?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Darko

Sounds like it's not booting to the CD correctly. It should get to the options screen no matter what version of XP is on your HD because it's booting from the CD only. What is the error message you are getting?

---

This was my thought, it's not booting from the CD. Enter the BIOS and make sure that booting from a CD is allowed, and that the CD is set higher in the boot order than the HD.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

I'm not getting to the options screen that was mentioned earlier- it starts to go into setup, then stops and says cannot finish. I'm wondering if this is due to the XP pro instead of home? I'm going to try to find an XP home disk and try again. Thanks everyone

---

Generally when setup can't load you are having a memory problem which you indicated earlier. Regardless of what version of windows you have installed it should boot to the disk.