Blank Screen Startup F1 to retry boot = NOTHING?

[Chris B]

I am running Windows XP Home Edition without Windows XP Service Pack 2
on a Dell about 2+ years old. When I start from cold boot I get a blank,
black screen with at the top "Strike F1 to retry boot, F2 to setup utility."
When I click F1 the whole thing repeats all the way down the screen. I am
not sure what to do with F2.
Any ideas?

Thank you very much,

Chris.

 

[Guest]

Try at start-up tap the F8 key,then select safe mode with networking,enter
xp as administrator,chk for trouble(s) in event viewer and device mgr.

 

[Chris B]

Andrew,
Sorry I forgot to mention that I had tried the F8 key on booting.
Nothing happens other than as I mentioned below. I know that F8 usually
leads one to Safe Mode or a menu to administrator.
Does it look hopeless? Thanks.

Chris.

 

[T. Waters]

What about getting into your BIOS, changing the boot order, and booting from
your XP CD?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

See if there is a floppy in the A: drive. Remove it if there is.

The message that you're getting is from the BIOS. The part about the F2 key
is how you get into the BIOS setup utility. Windows has nothing to do with
your problem.

I don't know your exact problem, but you aren't far enough along in the boot
process that Windows would even enter into it.

I would suggest that you look at the BIOS setup utility instructions in your
Dell manual.

Here are online instructions...

How do I enter the BIOS, CMOS, Setup, or System Setup on my Dell™ computer?
http://support.dell.com/support/top.../kb/en/document?dn=1012573&c=us&l=en&s=gen&cs

You failed to mention anything about your machine other than it's a Dell,
dude.

Have a look at this...

System Messages
Message: Strike F1 to retry reboot, F2 for setup utility

Possible Cause: The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive
C.

Corrective Action: Enter the system setup program and confirm that drive A
or drive C is properly identified.

Advanced Troubleshooting
Dell™ Dimension™ 4600 Series Service Manual
http://support.dell.com/support/edo...00/sm/advtrbl.htm?c=us&l=en&s=gen&cs=#1106060

Instructions here to...
Entering the System Setup Program
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600/sm/sysset.htm#1106146

I have no idea what any of your BIOS settings should be, but I would look at
Primary Drive. There are DEFAULT values listed. A: drive is probably the 3
1/2" floppy drive. C: is probably the hard drive.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Kelly]

And then what?

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com