[simplee55]

Essexboy:

It did it, froze twice in a 10 min period.

I think what I would like to do is the Recovery CD.

I have saved all of the important stuff, so if you give the green light, I will go ahead and do it.

Trust me, I scared but I don't see any other way around it.

Let me know ...

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OK as long as you have your important stuff - Do you know how to do this ? It is usually quite painless

[Essexboy]

OK as long as you have your important stuff - Do you know how to do this ? It is usually quite painless

[simplee55]

I already did it, and that CD was a DUD, I couldn't believe it, didn't work at all.

I went through all that trouble backing up stuff sos it wouldn't be lost.

Guess I'm right back where I started. Is there anything that can be done from this point ????

Thanks !!!

[Essexboy]

OK first why was the CD a dud ?

Next is there any specific task that will generate the freeze e.g. opening paint, a video, a game ? Or is it totally random

[simplee55]

OK first why was the CD a dud ? I have no idea. When the CD was first (1st) cut, I watched it being made. I put the CD in, it took me through the steps and that's it.

Next is there any specific task that will generate the freeze e.g. opening paint, a video, a game ? Or is it totally random. There is nothing I can see that would cause all these freezes, nothing. So looks like it random.

I just fired up the PC, and trying to, it froze three (3) times in under a minute, before I could even come here.

Ok Essexboy, now I'm getting nervous, is there something that we can do to stop all this. At lease I can get up on my Desktop, but I don't want it to be where the System won't load at all. Is it maybe the Drivers and if so, is there something that can be done, as to why my Systems Tray will not load ???

Edited by simplee55, 25 May 2010 - 05:54 PM.

[simplee55]

Essexboy:

Speaking about Drives.

I looked under Dell's Accessories, under that is the Driver Reset Tool. I clicked on that and ran a Diagnosis check and it found no Errors, which is good news.

Just thought you should know.

[Essexboy]

The CD you have is it a bootable one ? I.e. fo you need to reset your BIOS to boot from CD or can it be run from within windows ?

Also what is the make and model of your computer

[simplee55]

The CD you have is it a bootable one?? Honestly, I don't know. After the CD was completed, I wrote down exactly what it said, which was: Dell XP Backup Recovery CD.

i.e. for you need to reset your BIOS to boot from CD or can it be run from within windows? If I understand what your saying about the BIOS, I see that every time I turn the PC on, BIOS I mean, other than that, I don't understand any of it, so I can't talk that Technical stuff with you. You will have to walk me thru all of it Essexboy.

Also what is the make and model of your computer. Dell Dimension 3000; XP Home Edition.

[simplee55]

Essexboy:

I did 4 more HARD SHUT down this morning.

Not only that, it seems it's getting harder for my System to load normally. Do you have any idea what the problem is ???

[Essexboy]

Could you try this for me please

When you see the Dell screen on startup hold CTRL and tap F11. This will bring you into the Dell specific restore utility.

[simplee55]

I got on DELL's website and followed their instructions on how to do a ("DST"). There instructions were:

1. At the Dell BIOS splash screen Ctrl + Alt + D, I did that, then;
The computer beeps once to acknowledge that the hard drive diagnostics have been initiated, and then the following message appears:

IDE Diagnostics running, please wait;

Primary

Drive 0: (Drive Model)

2. The test may take up to 3 mins. to run the diagnostics. When the diagnostics are complete, one of the following messages appears if the test PASSED:

IDE Diagnostics running, please wait:

Primary

Drive 0: (Drive Model) - PASS
Drive 1: No IDE Device

OR

Secondary:

Drive 0: (CD-ROM Model) - Diagnostics not supported
Drive 1: No IDE Device

I followed those instructions, here is what I got:

Diskette drive 0 seek failure

Primary IDE

Drive 0: WDC WD800BB-75JHCQ - PASS
Drive 1: No IDE device

Secondary IDE

Drive 0: HL-DT-ST GCE-8487B - Diagnostics not supported
Drive 1: No IDE device

Now, can you tell me, did this (DST) pass or not. If it passed, it's not my Hard Drive, yes, no ??? And what should I do.

Thank U !!!

Edited by simplee55, 28 May 2010 - 12:50 AM.

[Essexboy]

Yep the hard drive is OK

When you see the Dell screen on startup hold CTRL and tap F11. This will bring you into the Dell specific restore utility.

Did you try this ?

[simplee55]

Didn't you see my latest Post ???

I ran a DST last night and posted the results ....

[Essexboy]

This is a different command Control + F11, this will let me know if there is a restore partition on your computer

[simplee55]

Alright, I'm in process now.