I take that back, my Dell has a Pentium III @ 933Mhz but it's still a Dell
4100.
Some basic info on what BIOS mean:
http://www.bioscentral.com/
On the left of this page you will see a link to: Dell BIOS Post Codes:
http://www.bioscentral.com/postcodes/dellbios.htm
Now as to your problem.
When you first turn on the PC, press the Delete (Del key) about twice a
second until the BIOS screen is displayed.
Use you right arrow key to highlight the BOOT tab.
(You use the Left/Right & Up/Down arrow keys to navigate to the various BIOS
options)
You should see a "Quiet Boot" option:
If it is set to "Enabled" then you will see that Dell Logo when your PC
boots up.
If it is set to "Disabled" then you will no longer see the Dell Logo when
your PC boots up.
There is also a "Quick Boot" option:
Set this to: "Disabled" to display any error messages, be alert as any
errors will only be display for a very short period of time.
To save the BIOS changes navigate to the "Exit" tab and select the 'Save
changes and exit' option.
The PC should now continue the boot process, watch the display and see if
there are any error messages.
Note: The Power/lightning strike probably also messed up your BIOS from what
was the correct configuration for your PC to one that is not optimal.
Try making the BIOS changes I mentioned and let me know if you still have a
problem.
JS
"Deborah" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news

32532B4-CCBB-4C6F-9E62-(E-Mail Removed)...
> What is a BIOS and where do I find it? I have had a computer(s) for about
> 15
> years but I still stay away from the register and safe mode because I
> think
> it is over my head. I might mess something up big time.
> Thank you for the info on the registry cleaner. I do use or have used mine
> on occasion. I clean the cache regularly.
> --
> Deborah
>
>
> "JS" wrote:
>
>> I have the exact same model as you do, Windows XP PRO however.
>> There should be a BIOS setting to remove/hide the Dell Logo when you boot
>> your PC.
>>
>> There are also options to Fast boot or run a full (slow boot) BIOS/PC
>> test
>> during the initial boot process. I would need to shutdown the PC to get
>> the
>> exact BIOS version (which may or may not be the same) and info on BIOS
>> settings.
>>
>> Do not use a registry cleaner, it could cause more problems than it
>> fixes.
>> Use Windows XP built in defragmenter to defrag your drive.
>>
>> Will see what else I can did up.
>>
>> JS
>>
>>
>> "Deborah" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:4BF25825-0CDD-4BC6-9BD8-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Everytime I turn on my computer for about a minute or two it shows the
>> > blue
>> > screen with the word "DELL" on it, then windows will start
>> > normally.(Sometimes I have to click my mouse or hit a key on the
>> > keyboard
>> > to
>> > encourage it to start up). I was told that the blue screen normally
>> > only
>> > shows when there has been a "fatal error" and that is the way the
>> > computer
>> > recovers itself.
>> > This started about 5 months ago when lightning knocked the dsl modem
>> > out
>> > and
>> > the network adapter card out on my computer. I got a new modem from my
>> > ISP
>> > and I purchased a network card.
>> > I am just wondering would a window register cleaner or a defrager help.
>> > I
>> > am
>> > not computer savy but I know enough to get by. But when it comes to the
>> > register and things like that I am in the dark. So when you answer put
>> > it
>> > in
>> > laymen terms or spell it out please.
>> > I have a Dell Dimension 4100 that is running Windows XP Home Edition.
>> > It
>> > has
>> > Intel Celeron processor with 996 MHz, 512 MB of RAM. I ISP is broadband
>> > through my telephone company.
>> > My computer seems to be slowing down some now. Are there any good
>> > Register
>> > Cleaners available for free? Or Disk Defragers?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Deborah
>>
>>
>>