My XPS M1330 does not boot into Microsoft Windows Vista

Question

I was powering my laptop (I just bought few months ago) when I accidentally pressed on the button suppossedly for the Dell Media Direct (the button on the left of the power button). The screen displayed that Dell Media Direct is installing and it will take a while to complete the installation. I let the installation finish. Since I don't need the Dell Media Direct and I want to use my laptop, after the installation was completed, I clicked on Exit and the machine powered down. After the machine shut off, I pressed on the power button. Now the blue Dell logo shows up with the usual Press F2 and F12 on the upper right, and a message keep on displaying on the screen saying that the machine did not shut down properly and it is asking to choose whether to start Windows normally or start it in Safe Mode. When I choose either selection, a Microsoft Corporation with the yellow bar is briefly displayed then the screen appears black and all I see is the white mouse cursor on the middle of the screen without the usual rotating blue circle with it and the machine will stay on like this until I force it to shut down by pressing the power button continuously.

I checked on Dell Tech Support: Knowledge Base Article - Windows Vista and I performed the following:

Step 1: Skipped it because I get no error indication

Step 2: Tried this but did not solve the problem

Step 3: Could not perform this step because the machine does not run either in Safe Mode

Step 4: Tried this but did not solve the problem

Step 5: Tried this but the screen says I have no restore points on the machine

For Steps 6 and 7, they are the last thing that I want to do because I am afraid I would lose my files and also, I have to repeat the long and tedious process of installing my applications and configuring them.

I performed hardware diagnostics but the results show theres nothing wrong with the hardware. When I press the Dell Media Direct button when the machine is off, it will run and I can view photos, videos from the machine's hard drive or even watch DVD movies when I insert one on the slot. But when I exit the Dell Media Direct and power on the machine, I will see the same black screen and the cursor.

Can anyone please advise me how to resolve this problem. Thanks!

Matto2134 · Answer

Here's what you do.

1) Buy a USB hard drive enclosure (~15-20 bucks, you can probably get it wherever you usually get computer stuff) and make sure it is compatible with the hard drive interface type you have (probably SATA).

2) Remove your laptop's hard drive.

3) Put it in the enclosure and then hook that up to a working computer. Copy all the files you want to save to the working PC.

4) Take the hard drive back out of the enclosure, replace it in the laptop, and reinstall Windows.

You will be able to keep your files, but you will have to reinstall all your applications. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any other way.

stefanrp97 · Answer

Boot from your Vista disk using the F12 menu and on the screen that gives you the option to "install now", instead, click on "repair your computer." From there it should give you an option to use system restore and hopefully one of the restore points you have will work for you. :smileyhappy:

EDIT: Also, if you reinstall Windows using the disk, it will put all of your documents and program files into a Windows.old folder and allows you to access all your files without deleting anything when you reinstall. Just make sure you don't use the option to format the drive.

Message Edited by stefanrp97 on 07-25-2008 03:49 PM

hotrent1 · Answer

I say the bootloader is corrupt.  Insert vista disc and boot up.  It will ask you to press any key to boot from cd.  Do not hit a key.  In a few seconds it will read the bootloader off the vista disc and boot into your vista os.  once in vista, you need to download a bootloader repair program.  It will write the bootloader.  and you can reboot after removing the vista disc.  Some how my bootloader has gotten mess up and i have reinstalled the os many times before stumbling on this solution.

Eric274 · Answer

Thanks for the advice Stefan. I tried your suggestion below 'repair your computer' but it did not resolve the problem.

Eric274 · Answer

Hello Hotrent, thank you for the advice. Kindly provide steps/instructions on how to download and execute the bootloader repair program.

As for the advice of Matto to reinstall the Vista, I will keep it as a last option. I will try advices posted here in the forum for few days and hopefully resolve the problem without reinstalling the Vista. It's also a challenge for me to resolve - with your help Guys! Thanks!

Eric274 · Answer

Thanks for the advice Matto. I used to backup my files like your suggestion below on my previous laptop and I already have a USB hard drive. However, I found out that the Norton Ghost 12 I purchased for my previous laptop (running XP) is Vista compatible. I booted up on the NG12 CD and I was able to copy my files using its utility to browse folders.

Eric274 · Answer

Hello Hotrent, I searched on how to fix the Vista bootloader and I was led to the site of Neosmart. I followed the intructions on how to fix the bootloader using the Vista DVD, did steps 3 and 4 to manually repair the bootloader but did not solve my problem.

I have another laptop running on Windows XP, installed the EasyBCD I downloaded from Neosmart, pulled out my XPS hard drive, installed it on an SATA enclosure, connected it to this laptop and tried to fix the Vista bootloader but still I have the same problem - my XPS does not start on Vista.

Does anyone have suggestion in resolving my problem? I would appreciate your help. Thanks.

Eric274 · Answer

After trying several options, I still could not get my machine to work. I followed Matto2134's advice by reinstalling Vista and my machine is now up and running again.

To all guys who posted, many thanks!

Matto2134 · Answer

Glad you got it to work, Eric.  Unfortunately, reinstalling Windows is often the most efficient solution when things go awry with Windows functions.

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My XPS M1330 does not boot into Microsoft Windows Vista

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