Windows XP fault.. Dell Inspiron..

[tinaandliz]

So hi guys..

Mum has a Dell inspiron not sure of which model..
It switches on and gets to welcome page then goes black and doesnt do anything, it wont let us start in safe mode or anything?? I'm confused, I was going to just buy a windows xp disc to reboot the whole system?

Any recommendations?

[VHG]

You can buy a Windows XP if you are not sure what version she is running.

There are numerous versions of Windows XP (version options, packaging options etc) and you need to buy the one that exactly matches her version.

This problem could be a number of things - hardware problem, Windows problem, faulty hard disk, corrupt Windows system files etc etc.

Has anything been changed lately?

New hardware, new program installed, any other major change?

Did you get any error messages in the period (days before) leading up to it?

[jaydah]

Reboot & hold down Fn and F8. Keep tapping the keys as it loads

[chrissa1]

What's Fn?

[squarebear]

The Function key, usually blue

[jaydah]

Function key usually marked as Fn in blue. On Dell's k'bord, left bottom row.

[chrissa1]

Oh yes. It's in red on my Packard Bell. You live and learn don't you?

[tinaandliz]

Personally i dont think there was any messages coming up..

But i think it's down to my brother who likes to watch football online and play games online etc.. But i aint sure.. There was avast on it and it did the necessary jobs i believe, But i have also just found out it's vista, and i think wat u were saying about having to install the exact same what was on it before.. How will i know wat to reinstall if it isnt going on??
And the Fn + F8 option? Where will this direct me or what will this do? xx

[TTG]

F8 will give you the option to start recovery console. This will enable you to return the system to "last good configuration". If that fails, you might have to "return the machine to it's factory settings".

[tinaandliz]

How do i return it to it's factory settings..

I tried f8 but i have no clue what i'm doing?

[whiskeryron]

I have a Dell Inspiron (Windows 7) & I cannot see a blue key my Dell keyboard is all black & not one of the keys is marked Fn.

[DTCwordfan]

I had that three years ago on XP - the good news is that the screen is not blue. It took a specialist to re-jig it as there was a fault in Microsoft downl;oads that triggered the condition. I wasnt the only one hit.

[tinaandliz]

Ok so what do i do?