Inspiron 8000 - Windows won't boot: divide overflow error

Question

Three year old Inspiron 8000 has recently developed a fault. This was intermittent, but now happens all the time. When booting Windows ME (via GRUB on built in HD, or direct from a media bay HD, or floppy DOS disk), I get a 'Your program caused a divide overflow error' message, and the laptop refuses to boot. On the rare occasions I manage to boot from a DOS floppy, I can get the Dell Diagnostics going, but it crashes at random intervals with the same error. It will boot and run Linux fine though. BIOS is A23. I haven't changed anything on the laptop in months, and this fault developed in the last couple of weeks. Anyone have any suggestion as to what the problem may be & how to fix it? I can use a screwdriver and I'm happy to take the thing to pieces if needed. Thanks. Les.

ejn63 · Answer

Try safe mode - does the problem occur?

lsmithso · Answer

Yep - safe mode, and when booting a DOS floppy. This makes me think there's a hardware fault,

johnallg · Answer

Boot to the blue Dell Drivers and Utilities cd that came with the 8000 and Dell Diagnostics will start up.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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