Dell XPS 8700 computer locked on the Windows 8.1 "rainbow" log in screen.

Hi KBleivik,

You need that Windows 8 emergency boot disc you created when prompted by the operating system. That's what it's for. Boot to that and follow the instructions.

Hi osprey4,

Thank you for your answer.  I have also sent a email to dell support with no answer so long.

I have as I write above configured, formatted and reformatted many computers.  I am used to being asked about creating a boot disk when configuring the Pc on the first start.  I was not asked to create one when I first started my computer.  Some computers also have  a system recovery partiticion.

I tried a 32 and 64 bit Windows 8 disk that I bought to my Acer laptop.  That did not function either.

I also held down the Shift key while starting the computer and then hit the F12 Key.  Then I ran the complete diagnostics test for three hours.  No error was found. 

I am not new to computers and know how important it is to have a system recovery CD.  I always create them like on the Acer Laptop when asked.  Is there a way to run Windows 8.1 in safe mode?  It may be enough to run Windows 8 in safe mode and log out and restart the computer.

I have screened the XPS 8700 Owner’s Manual http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-8700/manuals

I find no solution there.  So if it is possible to start the computer in safe mode that may be enough.  This

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/windows-8-safe-mode.htm

does not seem to apply to a dell computer. 

The computer came with one  CD.  Dell 52240T Monitor,  Drivers and Documentation. 

So can you send med a system recovery CD?  The screen is completely locked on the log in screen.

Best regards
Kjell Bleivik

My suggestion would be to call Dell and request a recovery CD or flash drive. 

Ok I called Dell and they will send me two CDs, a system restore CD and a Drivers and utilities CD.

In the mean time I have tried to fix the problem myself. 

I try reach the advanced options menu described in this

http://www.howtogeek.com/107511/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode-on-windows-8-the-easy-way/

article.

It is possible even if the Norwegian version Miss the last option:  Windows startup settings. 

I reach the menu this way.

1.  Turn off the computer.

2.  Hold down the shift key permanently and restart the computer.

3.  Now I come to the screen where I can choose F2 Settings or F12 Boot options.

4.  I choose F12 and from the  menu I choose

Change Boot  Mode Settings

and select

Legacy Boot mode.

Now I reach the advanced Options menu explained above by starting the computer from My 64 bit Windows 8 Pro CD that I bought to my Acer Vista Laptop.

As I explained above, the Norwegian Advanced Option Menu don't have the

Windows Startup Settings so I have to try the other options.

This

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/windows-8-safe-mode.htm

article may help me.  Automatic repair did not help,  so I have to try the other options.

At the command prompt C:\>

shutdown /r /o

does not function and system restore is only available when you are logged in.  The only remaining option is a full restore where my installed files (programs) will be deleted.  I wait for the system recovery CD from Dell, since that Windows 8.1 Cd may be better than the Windows 8 installation CD I bought for my laptop.

As a side note the traditional DOS commands like help, run, etc. does not function. The initial command prompt was K.\Sources> that I changed to C:\> with the command C;

Made in China.  Hm.

The traditional DOS exit command functions fine.  Are all computers made in China today?

Initially it was a good experience with a computer that functioned very well for a week.  This is one of my worst experiences with a new computer.

KBleivik

Quote ' Are all computers made in China today?'

Yes, most of them are, especially the Laptops.

Bev. 

Foxconn makes computers for Dell and Apple and Many other vendors.Foxconn, which employs some 1.2 million workers in China is one of the largest manufacturers in the world.  Dell part numbers starting with CN are made in china whereas if they start with MX they are made in mexico.  I haven't seen any Dell products that don't say made in china right on the box.

I have now slept a night on this problem. According to  , you can cancel the purchase if an item has a significant deficiency.  In my opinion it is a significant deficiency if you can not start a computer in safe mode.  I talked about half an hour with David at Dell.  He were not able to tell me how to start the computer in safe mode. We did agree that the computer was completely frozen on the log in picture. Time is definitely money, and I can not risk having to reformat the computer more or less frequently.  I will send Dell an email that I want to cancel the purchase so I can buy a computer without this deficiency. Any opinion?

I am now reading the user manual more thoroughly.  I have only tried

Shift + F12.

There may be other Safe boot options from Shift + F2. 

I am trying that now.

The recovery  and drivers and utilities disk should come today.  I am still waiting for the system recovery disk and hope that there is a way to log in without having to format the C drive and restore the operating system to factory settings.

In the mean time I try the other options from the F2 and F12 menu.

There a big UPS car came with the disks.  That delivery was timely.  Excellent Dell:emotion-2:.

There are also some interesting options on the Shift + F2 menu that is explained in the user manual.

Boot settings configuration.  That may solve the safe mode boot problem. 

I try that before I try anything else.

As I understand from the user manual

Boot mode must be set to:  UEFI

Legacy Boot mode must be: disabled

and

Secure boot to: ON

The computer came with Secure boot set to off.  I have changed that to on.

Now the problem is perhaps  to use the right key combinations to start Windows 8.1 In secure mode. 

F8 that functioned on earlier Windows versions does not function.

Neither does Shift + F8.

The USB stick will hopefully solve the problem.

From Setup I now boot from the SB stick.

System recovery to the first recovery point did not function. 

I get an error that system recovery was not finished and I can try another point. 

It is great that these menus are available from the recovery stick, but so far without success.  I try another point before a full reinstall that is my last option.

There are four restore points.  I have tried them all and no function.

I have one option left, take a full format and reinstall.  I don't like it.

David from Dell technical support said that he should call me and ask how I solved the problem.  This is not good enough.

 I start the full system restore. 

Changing from Non Secure boot Legacy to UEFI Secure Boot requires a REINSTALL. :emotion-3:This has nothing to do with Dell. UEFI Secure Boot change requires total reinstallation.

I try Windows 8 Install now,  The fist option did not function.  Now I use custom installation.  There seems to be a cyclic error.  I come back to the same menu.

I don't want a computer where I have to reinstall the OS each time a similar error occurs!  Will any of you that has posted in this thread do that?

Read above.  I run a complete hardware test without no problem. 

When (if) David Henningsson call me I will cancel the order and buy another computer. 

I have used enough time on a one week old computer with an in my opinion significant deficiency.

What happened?  Tomorrow it is one week with computer trouble.

Copy of email sent to David Svenningsson that has been very helpful and polite so long.  He shall call me on monday afternoon to ask if I manage to connect to the internet. 

Here is for your information a copy of an email sent do Dell.

I dont' want this computer.  I bought it for NOK 16 000 with screen and other utilities.  Please send me a new computer with a full recovery CD ( USB stick that functions). 

Yesterday I managed to reformat and reinstall Windows.  But the internet connection did not function.  I have talked to David Svenningsson at Dell support so he know the problems.  Talk to him if anything is unclear.  He told me to download an internet driver from Dell.  I should do that from my old Xp computer whose internet connection is fine.  But I was unable to log into my Dell computer.  I got a message about activating Windows.  The reinstall USB stick did not ask about that and the computer functioned well without internet connection when I went to bed yesterday.

If anything is unclear call me as soon as possible.

The USA Dell forum is not contact with Norwegian aka EMEA Dell Support.  There is no person here who will be contacting anyone.

OK.

I have two functioning computers. 

But this takes time, and the system restore USB stick could have been better.  The computer functioned fine in one week and internet connection was no problem.  The internet connection configured itself automatically during configuration as it shall with a new computer in 2014. 

David Henningsson called me on thursday.  I told him that it was no problem to use the USB stick, format the C drive and install Windows 8.1.  But it did not automatically connect to the internet.  I don't use a Wifi, but during configuration three wireless connections were identified.  That is my neighbours Wifi networks.  My cabled network was not identified.  David said that I should download the internet driver.  I don't find the internet driver for a cabled connection here:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-8700/drivers

I have called my ISP and there I talked to a network specialist.  I asked him if a Wifi connection could take over the login and that was the reason I had the problem described in the OP.  He did not believe that and he should send me a new router that I have now installed without any problem.

He said that there should not be so many problems wit a new computer and a recovery USB disk.  David from dell technical support will call me on monday afternoon.  I try as much as I can to solve the problem before monday afternoon.

The big problem is still that I will have the same problems if it happens again.  It is far from ideal to have to reinstall the OS if I have the same problem in the future.  As I asked above, would any of you that writes in this thread accept that?

Do any of you have a link to the internet driver for a cabled connection for the XPS 8700 computer where I can download it?

I tried to install the Dell DW1703 802 11 network driver from the Drivers and utilities disk. 

Failed.  A problem occured installing this update package,

There are two other network drivers on the Disk.

Intel 6235 802 11

and

Intel 6235 BT40 + HS.

I use my two old computers to David call on monday or I get a answer in this thread,

The third internet driver solved the internet connection problem.  A suggestion is to have those drivers on the recovery CD.

Now I will ghost everything (create a recovery CD) when the installation is complete.  Then it will not be so critical to take a full system restore if this happens again.

Made in China and controlled in Norway.:emotion-43:

Even if the problem is solved so long, I don't close the thread.

This http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx computer that I have written about here http://www.web2logistics.com/#supercomputer-pc-laptop-or-tablet may be my next computer so I can compete with Google on meta data.