R
robert
Symptoms:
Computer, on bootup, will intermittantly hang right
before "starting windows" screen. In other words, it will
complete post routine (with no errors), flash a simple
cursor twice, then drop to a blank screen and not proceed
further (the screen still has input, it's light never
flashes). It never gets to the "starting windows"
horizontal progress bar. I have left the computer in this
state for hours, and it will never pick up the routine and
start windows. Usually, I wait until the hard drive
activity light goes out (about fifteen seconds), power
down, wait ten seconds, and power up, which usually gets
me fully started.
This occurs, on average, every three or four days,
sometimes takes up to four cold boots to complete starting
windows, then proceeds as normal.
Performance of the computer and windows is terrific
(regardless of whether booting goes directly to windows or
requires this "rebooting routine"). Once this computer
gets to windows, all is perfect.
There are no errors in any logs, I routinely wipe clean
for internet caches, spyware, registry cleanup, etc.
It has never failed to start, but has sometimes started my
work day with no small amount of anxiety. The computer is
slightly more than one year old (Dell Precision 340,
win2k, 1gb ram, p4 2.3ghz, sp4). It has done this almost
from day one. Dell replaced the motherboard with no
positive results, and I replaced the power supply with a
PC Power & Cooling unit, but again, no change in
behaviour.
This behaviour can occur days in a row, then disappear for
two days or a week, then every other day, there is no
pattern that I can discern. I have run every diagnostic
that Dell has to offer, drives and components report fine.
Dell's opinion is predictable: the problem must be windows
because the diagnostics check out and the computer is
completing it's post routine with no errors.
This may be nothing but an annoyance, but it is
aggravating and worrisome.
Any ideas?
Thanks for any help, Robert
Computer, on bootup, will intermittantly hang right
before "starting windows" screen. In other words, it will
complete post routine (with no errors), flash a simple
cursor twice, then drop to a blank screen and not proceed
further (the screen still has input, it's light never
flashes). It never gets to the "starting windows"
horizontal progress bar. I have left the computer in this
state for hours, and it will never pick up the routine and
start windows. Usually, I wait until the hard drive
activity light goes out (about fifteen seconds), power
down, wait ten seconds, and power up, which usually gets
me fully started.
This occurs, on average, every three or four days,
sometimes takes up to four cold boots to complete starting
windows, then proceeds as normal.
Performance of the computer and windows is terrific
(regardless of whether booting goes directly to windows or
requires this "rebooting routine"). Once this computer
gets to windows, all is perfect.
There are no errors in any logs, I routinely wipe clean
for internet caches, spyware, registry cleanup, etc.
It has never failed to start, but has sometimes started my
work day with no small amount of anxiety. The computer is
slightly more than one year old (Dell Precision 340,
win2k, 1gb ram, p4 2.3ghz, sp4). It has done this almost
from day one. Dell replaced the motherboard with no
positive results, and I replaced the power supply with a
PC Power & Cooling unit, but again, no change in
behaviour.
This behaviour can occur days in a row, then disappear for
two days or a week, then every other day, there is no
pattern that I can discern. I have run every diagnostic
that Dell has to offer, drives and components report fine.
Dell's opinion is predictable: the problem must be windows
because the diagnostics check out and the computer is
completing it's post routine with no errors.
This may be nothing but an annoyance, but it is
aggravating and worrisome.
Any ideas?
Thanks for any help, Robert