Dell xps m1330 bootup problem

When I turn on the laptop, it says something about checking some files (the first is NSTF files, and the second is OS files) and that it recommend that I do it but it would let me skip it also. I would do both, skip and let it continue, but both would end up having a blank screen afterward. It was working fine before, but I don't know what's wrong now. Any help?

 

This is what it says:

Checking file system on D:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is RECOVERY.

One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency. You may cancel the disk check, but it is strongly recommended that you continue.

After that, it would say the same thing, but with OS instead of RECOVERY. Then it would go to a blank screen.

 

What OS do you have installed? Vista? When the screen goes blank is there any activity on the disc (the indicator for this is on the front edge). Can you still use the keyboard (e.g. caps lock lights and switches off when button pressed)? What if you try the other options? Do you still have Mediadirect installed? If so what happens when you press this button to start up? Can you still enter BIOS? If so what is the boot sequence? I don't suppose you have a CD in the drive that may be causing issues?

Any other info?

 

Boot up any linux distro and completely format HardDrive. Install 7 with dual booting OpenSuse or Ubuntu. Problem fixed

 

I have Vista. As for the indicator on the front, are you talking about the trash can thing? If so, yes it is on. The caps lock light does goes on and off when I click it. As a note, the disc drives work when I touch the eject button too. I don't really know what Mediadirect is. Yes, I can enter BIOS. The boot sequence is Disk Drive, Internal HDD, USB, CD/DVD Drive. I don't have a CD currently in the drive.

 

I really have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not really good at this computer stuff. Can you go into further details?

 

Hmm, this is strange. If you weren't seeing the BIOS / startup screen then it maybe the graphics card. As you can then it is obviously struggling to boot up the OS. Media direct is an instant (ish) mini OS that Dell installed on their M1330 to permit quick media / email access. Next to the power button is a button with a house on it. With your laptop shut down, press this button. The system will try and boot into media direct rather than Vista. If this works then it looks like you have an issue with your Vista OS.

Have you ever rebuilt your machine (reinstalled windows) or is it as supplied by Dell?

Have you tried starting up in Safe more? Info on this can be found HERE. Basically it is pressing F8 during the BIOS checks and you should get a Windows start up menu.

Finally did your system come with a Windows installation disc? I don't think they supply them automatically but you can request them. This may be of help getting your OS repaired if it is damaged in some way.

Oh and I forgot to ask, can you keep an eye on your disc activity light on the front edge of the laptop. Does it flash quite a bit on start up? If not then it might be a hard disc failure.

 

I don't quite understand this, but I can enter the setup blue screen thingy with I hit F2 on startup if that's what you mean. If you're talking about the Vista screen where it says welcome or something, then no I don't actually have a chance to see it.

Yes, I can enter MediaDirect. I works perfectly as far as I can tell. I tried viewing some pictures and everything was okay.

After turning on the laptop, all I can see is the progress bar with the word "Microsoft Corporation" underneath (This is weird, aren't I suppose to see the Windows logo on top of that too? Not really sure because I use a Mac). After that, it goes to saying Windows hasn't shut down correctly and so on. It lets me choose start in Safe Mode and some other stuff. Whatever mode I choose, it goes back to what I said in my first post:

hecking file system on D:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is RECOVERY.

One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency. You may cancel the disk check, but it is strongly recommended that you continue.

Yes, the HDD lights blink alot when it starts up.

I went to the Advanced Boot Options and chose Repair Your Computer and that led me to some blue screen with some words on it saying such: STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} blah blah blah and it ends with The system has been shut down.

I don't own this laptop, but I think the person has already reinstalled Windows at least once already. If I had the Installation Disc, would I just insert it and change the boot sequence to boot from the disc drive first?

 

blahblahblah

 

Hmm. If you can't get the thing to boot in safe mode and recovery is not working either then I think you may need to rebuild your machine. If there are files on your C rive that you want to keep then get yourself a USB 2.5" drive caddy and remove your hard disc from your laptop, put it in the caddy and copy the files you want to keep on something else. Then re-insert your disc and perform a rebuild.