Computer freezes after barely booting up.

[timisbrill]

Hello,

Basically I can't use my computer anymore. Here are a few things that
may have something to do with the problem. I have a Dell 5000 which is
about 1 and a half years old. Recently I completely reinstalled windows
and repartitioned my only drive (C into 5 smaller ones. Also, I
opened up the side and brushed out all the dust I could get to without
taking anything apart. I have also managed to download the new Windows
Vista Beta version and so have 2 operating systems installed - the
other being XP.

This is what should happen when I turn it on:

I press the ON button and the little light shines orange for about 1/2
a second then changes to a yellowy green. From there everything boots
up and is fine.

This is what happens:

I press the ON button and the little light turns orange but stays
orange. The fan (I think the main CPU one) speeds up and gets
increasingly faster and louder. Nothing else happens - screen is
completely blank. I have opened the side again since and felt the heat
sinks after several attempts at booting and they are very hot - maybe
overheating.

Sometimes if I am lucky I can get the computer to load up properly but
it often crashes before reaching the desktop and doesn't last long if
it gets that far.

When I say my computer is crashing I mean that it just completely stops
in its tracks, you cannot move the mouse and the screen is still -
nothing happens and you have to reboot. Then it has problems with that
as I wrote above.

I think its either going to be down to overheating or a virus - I have
an out of date version of McAfee which I've been meaning to upgrade but
haven't got round to it.

If anyone can give any help what so ever it would be much appreciated.
Also I'm not that familiar with techie language so any responses need
to be simple to read and understand.

Thanks very much.

Tim

 

[ras_nb]

If you are getting any POST beeps during bootup it will give you a clue
where to look. You might check this site out if you are getting more than
one POST beep - http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm . Normally it's best
to blow compressed air through the inside of the PC to remove the dust. You
said you brushed the dust out but only you know with what kind of force you
used. Is it possible you knocked something loose? I would try removing and
resetting all your PCI cards but especially the video card if you have one
and see what happens. Assuming you repartitioned correctly that shouldn't
have a bearing on this problem. You say occasionally it does boot. Are you
getting a choice of operating systems?

 

[timisbrill]

Yes, it gives me a choice of operating systems at startup - if it gets
that far.

You said to remove all PCI cards and reset them. I've taken out the
video card and put it back in again i don't know about rsetting it. The
only other PCI card I have is a standard dail-up modem one which has
never been used so shouldn't be the problem.

Another thing that might be the cause: I think I must have pushed the
Power button in too hard some time because i discovered it jammed in. I
have since managed (with a screwdriver) to lever it out back into its
original position. Maybe this has something to do with it.

Alternatively it could be the power supply unit breaking down. Reading
other peoples similar problems this seems to be a common cause.

Thanks again
Tim.