serious problem

sugarbush · #1 August 31st, 2005, 07:30 PM

my computer won't boot.
sometimes it does but crashes before i can even do anything.
the scandisk automatically loads sometimes but doesn't help.
this seems serious.
what can i do? is my compurter dead.
help!!!!

Strider · #2 August 31st, 2005, 07:46 PM

First thing to try: open the case and blow all the dust bunnies out of the CPU fan and heat sink with canned air. Leave the case open and try to power up. Verify that the CPU fan and any other fans are turning.
If that doesn't help, post back with more details. When you can get it to boot and it crashes, does it just freeze, or does it go to a blue screen? Do you get any error messages? When you power on, do you get the usual one short beep, or something different?
Good luck!

sugarbush · #3 August 31st, 2005, 08:24 PM

thanks for your quick reply. i'm in a panic.
i tried what you suggested and it didn't work.
my fans are working.

what happens is:
i power on the computer
i get the dell screen
i get the windows ME screen
and then scandisk comes on
after its done it eithers goes to the desktop (but i can't press anything or it crashes)
or it just crashes.
I get the evil blue screen
"an error has occurred....file name ; VWIN32(05) + 00000BF$ Error: 0E : 0028 ; C02A3DCC'

I also sometimes get this message
"the system has detected conflict for IP address 192-168-02 with the system having hardware address 00.14.A.03.2D5E
The interface has been disabled."

It makes the normal beeping sounds.
I appreciate your time.

Strider · #4 August 31st, 2005, 09:17 PM

I did a Google search on the error and found nothing specific. The source of the error seems to be a virtual device driver (.vxd). Have you installed any new hardware or updated drivers for any hardware that could have triggered the error?
Do you have a home network or have you recently installed a network card? The conflict you report sounds like 2 computers fighting over the same address.
Look here: http://www.techadvice.com/specs/answer.asp?aid=407 and see if any of those give you any ideas.
As a last resort we can try to do a repair reinstall of ME, which is not the same as using Dell restore CDs.

sugarbush · #5 August 31st, 2005, 09:43 PM

I haven't intalled anything new latelly.
I do network with another computer in the house. My other computer is working fine.

This repair reinstall ME, will I loose the info on the computer? I have some important files that I need.
I checked out the website you sent me to. The problem is I can't do anything on the computer to solve the issues. Right now its unworkable. I can't access anything.

Strider · #6 August 31st, 2005, 09:51 PM

It's a long shot, but try unplugging your network cable and see if the computer will boot.
Can you boot into Safe Mode, or can you boot with a floppy?
IIRC, your data are not overwritten with a repair reinstall. If you use Outlook Express for mail and if you save your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, etc. to the default 'My *' you might lose them, especially your address book and mail folders. I would like to be able to back them up, just in case. Thus the question about booting into Safe Mode.

sugarbush · #7 September 1st, 2005, 06:04 PM

I have wireless so if you mean unplugging the cable modem and router, i did and no luck.
I cannot boot up in safe mode (pressing F8). Unless there is another way to do it that i'm not aware of.
You mentioned boot by floppy. Do you mean use the floppy rescue disks(the last ones i made where in 2004)? Or something else?
The things that i can't loose are pictures and documents. Both are in "My documents and my pictures."
I wish i could save but nothing can be really done on the computer right now.
I get the blue screen if i touch anything.
Any other suggestions? Thanks

Strider · #8 September 1st, 2005, 08:01 PM

It seems all that's left is to try to boot with a floppy disk. If you made a rescue disk using ME's built-in tool, yes, that's it. Try it and see if you can boot to a DOS prompt. Tell me how much you know about using DOS commands. If you can get to a DOS prompt, you can copy files to a safe location on the hard drive and reinstall Windows.

sugarbush · #9 September 2nd, 2005, 01:48 PM

is it OK that the rescue disks were made in 2004?
I don't know anything about using DOS commands. I will try booting with the floppy.
Thanks!

Strider · #10 September 2nd, 2005, 03:57 PM

Yes, any way to get your computer started to a DOS prompt will let us copy your irreplaceable data files to a safe place. Try booting with a floppy and post back your results. If that works, I'll try to walk you through the DOS commands.

sugarbush · #11 September 2nd, 2005, 04:44 PM

How do i boot from the floppy? Do i just insert it and turn on the computer?
If so, its not working.

Strider · #12 September 2nd, 2005, 04:57 PM

Back in the good ol' days when your computer was working, every time you started your computer did the floppy drive light come on and the drive stepper make a faint buzzing sound? If yes we have a problem. If no, you'll have to enter BIOS setup and set the boot sequence to boot from floppy first.

sugarbush · #13 September 2nd, 2005, 08:00 PM

I'm sorry but I don't remember if the floppy light used to come on and about the noise.
How do I enter BIOS setup?

sugarbush · #14 September 2nd, 2005, 09:12 PM

I was able to boot to DOS. I inserted my dell resources cd and the floppy disk.
Does this get me anywhere?

sugarbush · #15 September 2nd, 2005, 09:36 PM

i did a system diagnosis. this is what i found out:
test error
realtime vlock-rtc functionality test fail
status fail
status code dos ddg-d system 020 029
device realtime_clock
test rtc_functionality _test
release_1050 modules system
msg the seconds register is not updating.
the resgister is not updating or is updating too slowly. the part may be bad or the 32KH2 crystal might not be functioning.

does this help?