[AndySE]

Essexboy referred me to this section:
Link to thread

We tried a clean boot but it still wouldn' start normally.

A short summary of my experience is that 99% of the time I can only start up in safe mode. On the odd occasion I can start up in normal mode and it will work fine, although sometimes it will crash (Other times, I shut it off/sleep and when I turn it back on, it crashes).

What's been determined is that it's a hardware problem. Any and all help is appreciated

[Broni]

First of all, if it's a desktop, disable all power saving features (sleep etc.)

While in safe mode....

Go Start>Run (Start Search in Vista), type in:
msconfig
Click OK (hit Enter in Vista).

Click on Startup tab.
Click Disable all

Click Services tab.
Put checkmark in Hide all Microsoft services
Click Disable all.

Click OK.
Restart computer in Normal Mode.

NOTE. If you use different firewall, than Windows firewall, turn Windows firewall on, just for this test, since your regular firewall won't be running.
If you use Windows firewall, you're fine.

Same problem?

[AndySE]

I'm using a laptop so should I still disable sleep/hibernate? If so, how do I do that?

If not, I ran the test and it still crashes.

[Broni]

If it's laptop, my comment about sleep option doesn't apply.

Quote

I ran the test and it still crashes

It crashes at what point?

[AndySE]

It goes to the screen where there's the loading bar with Microsoft Corporation © and then there's a black screen for about 20 seconds and then when the Microsoft Icon usually comes up before log-in, the BSoD comes up instead.

[Broni]

Start with hardware check to eliminate those possibilities.

1. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below.

If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, then you have bad RAM.


2. Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[AndySE]

I ran 18 passes and got 0 errors for RAM.

I have an external hard drive connected to my laptop so what should I do about that?l Can I leave it alone? Should I run a diagnostic? Or should I unplug it?

I'm not sure which diagnostic tool I should use since I don't know the brand of my hard drive. Given that I'm using a dell computer, should it be a dell hard drive or do they use another manufacturer's?

[Broni]

You better disconnect external drive for now.

Quote

I don't know the brand of my hard drive

What Dell's model is it?
Check Device Manager>Disk drives

[AndySE]

Inspiron E1705

STP10021AS ATA Drive - according to the Device Manager

[Broni]

I can't find any reference to STP10021AS hard drive. One site says, you have Hitachi drive, but I want to make sure.
Go to Dell's site, enter your service tag number, and see, if you can find something.

[AndySE]

It's Seagate =]. I'm downloading the diagnostic tool now.

I downloaded the setup.exe file but it says it can't open it in safe mode.

[Broni]

Download this:
SeaTools for DOS v2.13b (Graphical) (12.16.2008)
- Download SeaTools for DOS (ISO CD-ROM Image)

Create bootable CD, following instructions from my previous reply, and boot from it.

[AndySE]

There aren't any instructions after making the bootable CD.

When I boot up from the CD, it automatically does a basic scan (I think) that took 5 seconds and said "Scan Complete"

Now I'm running the long scan, but there's also an acoustic scan. Should I also run the acoustic?

[Broni]

You should have all kind of options there:



http://www.scribd.co...Tools-Dos-Guide

[AndySE]

Both tests passed.