Periodic Failure to Boot

Not sure this is the right forum but it is here or software.

Periodically, maybe once a week or less, my PC fails to complete a boot. Following is what happens

1-Press power button and it lights up - monitor light comes on, but flashing of DVD drives do not occur - nothing else happens. No sounds, no nothing.
2-After a bit I press the power button for 5 seconds and the PC turns off (power button/light goes out and monitor light goes out).
3-Press power button and everything appears to star up ok except I first get a screen that gives multiple ways to start up (top line of screen is "We apologize for the inconvinence, but Windows did not start succussfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this."
4-I select "Start Windows Normally"

No hardware or software change was made.

Anyone know how I can eliminate this problem?

 

I would suggest opening your computer case and manually reseating your memory and PCI cards, and see if that helps!

 

I am one of those people that only knows how to hit the on button (mechanically) - Is that a hard thing to do and where or the memory and PCI cards? This is a Dell Dimension 8250.

 

are you using any firewall,antivirus protection, and when was the last time you updated windows?

 

Hi Rikky,

Last updated Windows May 17, using ZoneAlarm for firewall and NAV as antivirus.

Problem was occuring before I started using ZoneAlarm for sure, I think it occurred before the last Windows update. It probably started after the install of my current Norton System Works premier 2005 (which includes my current NAV).

 

If you had or can borrow a copy of windows to repair the install that should fix it,you have a dell though I'm not sure what they put on there repair disks,could be an option to repair windows,be carefull though if you return everything to factory settings you may lose all your files.

 

I have a Dell Resource CD and a 'Reinstallation CD -- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition including SP1'

Are you referring to the Reinstall CD? If so wouldn't that revert me back to what I had when I first bought the PC? Is there no way to 'repair' or fix a problem without going back to square 1?

I have installed maint up to SP2 and have a lot of other stuff on the PC.

 

Yes I am no dont wipe your hardrive,I said be careful in my last post,you want to find an option that repairs the install on the disk somewhere,or some kind of dell diagnostic program,also if you can borrow a windows cd you are well within your rights to use it because you own the windows licience

 

For someone like me - that is a bit scary. If I load the "Reinstall CD" would there be an obvious selection for repair instead of reinstall.

In your opinion, is this just a missing or corrupted file that needs replaced or fixed?

Or should I find someone that knows more than me what is going on? Maybe contact Microsoft and see if they could/would supply a CD to fix the problem?

Another point, since this problem only occurs 2 or 3 times a month, could it possibly just eventually go away since I boot up 95% or more of the time with no problem?

Bear with me - scared user talking here ---

 

Try this first:

Windows XP has a built in system file checker. Try using this first to check the system files:

1.) Click start, then run. Type "cmd" (no quotes) and click ok.
2.) Type "sfc.exe /scannow" (again no quotes, note the space between the "e" and the "/")
3.) Wait for Windows to scan. This takes awhile even on fairly fast machines.
4.) Windows should tell you if you have any corrupt files. If so, it will prolly ask you for the windows xp cd, which would be your dell reinstall cd.

Hope that helps!

~corndog

 

Thanks Corndog,

Performed the directions you gave and it did ask for the Windows XP CD. I loaded the 'Reinstall CD Microsoft Windows XP' shipped with my PC. It gave me the folowing options:
1-Install Windows XP
2-Install optional Windows Components
3-Perform Additional Tasks
4-Check System Compatibility

So I Xed or canceled out of everything, because it looked like the only option I should select would be Install Windows XP.

If I did that wouldn't I be in the situation I am worrying about and indicated earlier -- Reinstall Windows XP at the level on the CD which is a very old SP1 and possibly loose files as indicated by Rikky?

 

I would like to update the above problem and get opinions.

First, I was wrong in step #1 -- the flashing of the DVD lights DO occur normally. Also, since I reported the problem, I started keeping close track of things that happened just before the problem happened and exactly when the problem occurred. The problem has only happened 3 times during June and July -- 6/15, 6/30 and today, 7/25.

After, the 6/15 incident, I started to realize (or it seemed like) that each time I pressed the power button to boot-up, I was actually pressing the power button a bit longer when I didn't get the problem and was being a bit lazy and just barely touching the power button when the problem occurred. So, I got into a habit of pressing the power button until well into the flashing of the DVD lights -- maybe 2 seconds. On, both, 6/30 and 7/25, I forgot to follow this deliberate procedure and the problem occured.

Now, I know this seems sounds odd (it does to me) but does anyone think I may be on to something? Has anyone else noticed similiar behavior? Or is this just a a major coincidence?

Thanks for any feed-back.