Dell Inspiron start up problems

Hi,

Welcome to the Community. Start by running a diagnostics to check if the hard drive is working fine. Press the F12 key at the Dell Logo on startup, select diagnostics and run an extended diagnostics on your hard drive. Post back with any error codes.

If the diagnostics pass, press the F8 key at the Dell Logo on startup, select safe mode and press enter, and check if it works fine in safe mode. It could be an malware or virus infection, or an issue with the OS itself.

Thank you

KE6QCV,

In addition to what Royan stated...

Try reading...

Windows startup programs. What are they? Are they required? How can I disable them?

Also download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware update it and do a quick scan. Post back the log, if it finds anything.

Rick

KE6QCV,

Run the full diagnostics and report back any error messages. How to Run the Dell™ Diagnostics Utility

Rick

The only way I can get anything to run correctly on the hard drive is to remove it and run it as a USB drive, I will try the MalwareBytes on it as an external drive, if I run it on the laptop it will stop in mid scan.

I'm thinking that the drive may have some problems.

I will run a full test on it with the Seagate drive manager.

I will try that after the MalWareByes scan is done, I want to be sure it's clean before I re-install it.

Sometime it happens due to a heavy user profile and  a lot of startup programs which take much time in loading. So try to decrease your startups as well. You should also test it by creating a new user profile and if the same problem exists, then i guess you need to refresh your windows :)

OK, ran the F12 test, it came up with an "Error code 0142","2000-0142, status 79" on the hard drive.

Does this mean the hard drive is FUBAR?

OK, I checked the error code, it states that the drive needs to be replaced, and now I am very<ADMIN NOTE: Profane word removed as per TOU policy> with Dell, this drive failed 1 month after the warranty expired.

Is this planed into the system?

If this is some way to get an extended warranty out of someone, then I am going to switch suppliers, I recommend Dell PC's and Laptops to all my customers, this may not be the case in the future.

<ADMIN NOTE: Profane word removed as per TOU policy>

Terryl

Define the word I used as profane????? What word...???

I am an Administrator on 2 web sites, and the wording I used is within limits, you don't want to know what I really think now.

Over the years I have bought over 600+ Dell systems, and never had a problem pop up just after the warranty expired............Has Dell changed that much?

Thanks, I get a bit irritated sometimes.

I have begun a full back up of this drive to my network backup server, and may be looking for a new one, if I cant get it past the bad sectors.

KE6QCV,

Don't worry about the editing. Sometimes it happens. It was one of those words that some people think is TOU, I guess they have a list.

I have tried to contact someone to see if they can help.

Rick

Happen to have a Microcenter nearby? They have 320GB Hitachi drives for $55. They're single-platter and pretty quick... but cheap.

If you can't quite get past the bad sectors, you can try to regenerate them with HDD Regenerator first and *THEN* retry the backup. It can be found on the Hiren Boot CD version 10.1 (or 10.6) (google it). Sata mode will have to be native or IDE (whatever yours calls it) for HDD Regen to see it.

It's not 100% (nothing ever is!), but it's worth a shot.

Hi Terryl,

Sorry that your hard drive failed.  Since you're under warranty, Dell Tech support should be able to send you a new one right away at no charge, be sure to tell them if you need it factory imaged or blank. 

By the way, have you tried calling them yet?

If there is a problem with Tech Support, then, please contact me privately by clicking on my name in blue, then on the next page, click the envelope icon that says "start conversation", and send me your information.  Thanks.

Regards,

Robert

ref  21752402

Well that's the thing, it is 1 month out of warranty, it's able to be read when I have it in my drive test bed, (after I ran some drive repairs on it) but it still won't work in the laptop. (back to same problems)

So I guess I will have to order one from somewhere else as the ones Dell have are not the same type or brand, as this drive is no longer made.

But I guess it wouldn't matter if it was a WD drive, as long as the drivers are not different.

This must be a coincidence- I also have a 1545 Inspirion Studio laptop- approx 2 1/2 yrs old. I have ran Malwawarbytes and Anti-Malware

system checkup, startup repairs, Dell performance check-    I also have a very slow boot up-  it goes to a black screen-  and sits about 15 minutes

until it finally loads.  I work for a company that only uses DELL but we have cancelled our employee purchase program and discounts because of poor quality

machines.  And, of course my Dell laptop issues started just recently- again after the warranty expired.  I am purchasing (2) new Laptops but they will NOT be

DELLS.