My XPS M1330 on Vista Cannot boot up.

l despair not if you have the vista install cd insert it in drive let it run until select regional settings press next and there should be a repair option on that very next screen.

that should repair Vista and get it booting again if not well there are other options. Like if you have disk restore on Dell Vita option on that boot part will allow you to restore one of the images you knew it was working...

Alternatives for recovering data to external disks include Acronis true image where you can image that drive and mout it copy files over or paragon partition manager 9  on paragon partition manager there is a import export data but you need to get a boot recovery cd which has to be created from the intalled sofware same for acronis. so a second computer or a friend is best thing to do.

Failing that your pretty much stuffed and a complet reintall is only way but if you have Dell Media Direct 3.5 you have to run that disk forst then install Vista then install Dell media direct without touching the diagnostics partition.

Unfortunately this is a common problem with Vista in general.  A couple of things to check:

1.  In BIOS make sure that the hard drive is set for AHCI mode.  ATA mode is only used if you're running Windows XP as it will not recognize an AHCI drive mode.  You may have to enable the flash cache module too.

2.  As was posted above, insert and boot from the Windows Vista Disc and choose "Repair Your Computer" option.  Have it check problems that will keep your computer from booting.  If this doesn't work the only recourse in my experience is a full wipe and reload.  If it does come to a wipe and reload, make sure you load Service Pack 1 for Vista.  I have not run into your common problem on any machine I've upgraded to Service Pack 1.

Good luck!

repair your computer if its a boot curruption on BCD its almost instant if your restoring to a previous restore point using the restore option I would estimate MS technology against professional tools in between 40 minutes to an hour is the restore point in currupted then im afraid its a no show.

I also think that if you really wanna recover some data you can connet the hdd to another pc run checkdisk Ive had cases where that helped put it back in laptop if its still bummed take it out plug it back into the other pc remove data and reformat its slightly cheaaper than buying the sofwares I suggested earlier.

Just without any further data I would say you caught a virus/trojan.

Never mind the n00b Post there I do far more complicated things for a living ;)

I've already done the "Repair Your Computer" deal both with and without the Vista disk.  All it does is sit there with a black screen and mouse arrow either way.  How long should I give it to repair?  I waited like 30 minutes.

I'm going to back it up onto my desktop with a Serial ATA hard drive enclosure.

What operating system is on the computer you're hooked up to?

I can't even boot up, so I can't do a system restore to any point.

I got the serial ATA enclosure and connected the hard drive to my desktop via USB.  It recognized a it as a local disk called RECOVERY when I just plug it in.  When I reboot with it in recognized two.  When I explored the disk, it said that that disk wasn't formatted.  I didn't want to format it and lose the data since that is what I am trying to recover. 

If it is a virus, how can I fix it when I can't boot up?

OK, I tried a few more things. 

My drive is already set for AHCI mode and the flash cache module is already enabled.

I tried booting up from the disk - same deal.

I don't see any "Dell media direct" button.

How do I do a "full wipe?"

I think I'm just going to get a new hard drive for now, start from scratch and keep trying to get the files off my old hard drive.

My desktop is on XP.  Probably why it thinks its not formatted.

Dell Media direct button is usually located near the Power button it has a logo/picture of house on it.

For either of these operations you need to be able to see the dell booting logo and press F12 to boot from CD if you cant get to this stage you have another bigger proble which you have not answers my question.

A)To keep the dell diagnostics partition which is fairly helpfull in troubleshooting do the following if you want dell media direct intalled and running and only if your dell media direct is 3.5 version.

B)Insert dell media direct disc follow instructions usually assign all space to C should be fine. once its completed it takes only a little while then when prompted insert xp or vista disk whatever os you want to install and run it. Install the OS to thelargest unalocated space by formating/follow on screen intructions.

Once os is istalled you inser dmd disk and install.

If you dont want dell media direct skip step A

If you cant reach to the point where you can boot from cd and you cannot see the dell booting logo its very likey 1) Video card is fried 2)motherboard is fried

In future when I ask a question and if you want my help answer the questions otherwise I will not help. 

X3,

Thanks for your help, but I'm not sure what questions you are refering to.  I see the Dell Media Direct button now and will try what you suggested.

are you saying that you cant go past dell bios and press F12 to boot from cd you may have a dud video card... press fn + dell media direct button for 15 seconds if you get to lights flashing near the dell media direct that means what i said..

that question?

OK.  I thought I answered it:  "I tried booting up from the disk - same deal."  So, yes I can get by BIOS, hit F12 and boot from the Vista dvd.  I got the same results where it went to Windows Repair or start up normally.

Not able to see a Dell Direct Media button I couldn't try the fn + Dell Media Direct for 15 seconds before.  I just tried it and I didn't see any lights flashing.

Running the diagnostic on F12 I got an error code 0142 and it said Unit 1 Self Drive Test Failed

right that error code meand your hdd is caput usually by havind bad sectors on it and those sectors contain parts of the OS that are needed to boot properly.

One last thing to do before you gon running to dell to get a whole neww hdd would be to take that drive plug it on a pc and boot pc it will recognise the drive or not usually it will, pay particular attention to abnormal noise comming from it, righ click on disk/properties/tools tab/checknow button

next you have a small pop up window with windows checkdisk make sure both options are selected, this operation will fix any errors and try to recover any bad sectors and its going to take a long while to complete be patient.

when that is finishes save or print the report to txt file or screenshot and post it here.

put hdd back on laptop and try to see if it worked if not Im sorry but your laptop may have had a knowck or just a dud drive.

there is no more to do after waht I just said but get a brand new spanking drive and in the meanwhile get any data while the HDD is connected to oter pc and save it.