The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Troubleshooting a Inspriron 8500 no safe mode

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by lesliesp, Feb 28, 2011.

  1. lesliesp

    lesliesp Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    77
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I was able to find a replacement for the video card, then replaced the hard drive. All seemed well at first but I realized I could not get any MS downloads. MS staff told me to go into safe mode and follow their instructions. That didn't work as I couldn't get into safe mode. Just a black, then blue screen with squiggles very much like the video card problem I had prior to replacement. Next suggestion was to do a repair install. That worked for the download problem but I still have no access to safe mode. With the pc seemingly normal, that isn't a problem now but I may need that in the future. Other odd things about the laptop, the FN + keys don't work. Is there something else I can try to rectify the safe mode problem or just live with it and hope for the best?
     
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Are you sure the new GPU is good...artifacting is pretty suspect. Have you tried booting from a Linux disc to rule out bad drivers?