blue screen, black screen, constant freezing

Hi,

Those are serious issues, especially the black screens which usually get worse.

Frankly I would back up the data off of the computer and revert the system to factory out
of the box state or re-install Windows. That would also help you determine if hardware
was part of the issue if the problems continue.

Check with Dell Support, their on-line documentation, and ask in the Dell Forums for any
known issues with that model.

Dell Support
http://support.dell.com/

Dell Drivers - Product Manuals & Warranty Info (left side) - Tech Support and more
http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs

Dell Forums
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/

===============================================================

You could also back up the data and re-install Windows 7. The hard drive can be put into another
computer as 2nd drive (best) or into an External USB case. Either would allow you to copy the data
to removable media such as CD, DVD, or other USB drives.

Or you could use an Ubuntu boot CD to back up the data.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the support but I fixed the problem almost as soon as I finished the original post. There is a windows update with a bad patch of code in the x64 c++ explorer security systems, as well as a faulty graphics hardware update. I downgraded the graphics card back to original. Downloaded the patch for c++ from the kb article from microsoft. As well as re-installed the drivers just for extra measure. I also did a drive check through properties and tools which also fixed a few minor issues. I defraged all programs and files and presto. I've been error free for almost 24 hours. Before the computer wouldn't last 5 min.

I'm not the kind of person that downloads a lot of programs. Aside from I-Tunes and software for my windows smart phone, garmin and anti virus, for the most part my computer is out of the box a year later. Thats why I started looking at updates. I can't say this will work for everyone due to possible programs others may have on their computer but it worked for me.

Hi,

Very good troubleshooting.

I would run SFC /scannow and checkdisk to ensure there is not corruption.

Do these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

Run DiskCleanup - Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

Start - type in Search box -  COMMAND   find at top of list -  RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Then run checkdisk (chkdsk).

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Hope this helps.

Sad to say but the problems are back. I can only assume that I managed to mask the problem by fixing additional problems that were most likely still there but not the cause.

Question???

Back to the hard drive. It makes a knocking sound from time to time which I'm aware can be the cause of a faulty arm or head. The sound can be caused by the drive attempting repeatedly to read or write data. My question, is it possible that a corrupt file or piece of damaged information can also cause the arm to skip or knock. Reason I ask is so far safe mode is unaffected by any issues.

I don't want to back up my pc and put possibly corrupt data on a new drive and continue to have the problem a waste of money later. I also have a spare xbox hard drive which I can unlock, flash, and mod to save money but once again that takes time with only the fear of tranfering the problem.

So

options

1- create backup, wipe hard drive completly. Install the basics without back up data and give it a few days to see what happens.

2- aquire a new hard drive. Knocking means death of hard drive.

My main concern now would be if there is a corrupt file. Trying to figure out what it may be.

oh and sfc/scannow wont go past 23%

Finally. If this is just a microsoft issue, a posible update or vista/7 software error I can only assume to ignor all updates. I have noticed that this issue is so common just in this forum alone. I can only assume that, my laptop being a year old, recent updates could have caused this and someone buying a new pc would already have the most up to date problematic system. I would hate for this to be the problem 

 

Hi,

Does sound like hard drive. Did you run checkdisk?

Disk issues can get serious very quickly so I would thoroughly check the drive now and be sure
to keep redundant backups of your important data (use several methods).

Inside Windows - Regular or Safe Mode (repeatedly tap F8 as you boot).

Run checkdisk - schedule it to run at next start and then Apply OK your way out then restart.

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

OR :

Start - type in Search box -  COMMAND   find at top of list -  RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Then run checkdisk (chkdsk).

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

----------------------------------------------------

For even better and more efficient checking :

From the Command Prompt of the Recovery Console (if you have one) or from a Vista/Windows
7 disk - if you do not have a Vista/Windows 7 disk you can borrow a friend's (it needs to be same
32 or 64 bit and they are not copy protected) or make one. Also your System maker will sell the
physical disks cheap since you already own Windows.

chkdsk /f /r

REBOOT

Space after k and before /  and after f and before /

sfc /scannow

REBOOT

Space after c and before /

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

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Go into Setup/Settings (BIOS/CMOS) often F2 as you boot so watch screen as you startup. Set the
boot order to CD/DVD to use Windows disks (Vista or Windows 7 whichever you have installed.)
Remember to set back when done.

If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.

How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

=====================================

If CheckDisk fails to complete as above :

(The old 302602 links is not valid now for the diagnostic links.)

Diagnostic Utilities By Manufacturer - run the one for your hard drive
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/462298-no-ide-device-found.html

Corrected list as of 6-09-2010

Fujitsu Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here
http://www.fujitsu.com/emea/products/hdd/

Hitachi Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here
http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

IBM Hard Drives: Use Hitachi Utilities*

Toshiba Hard Drives: Use Hitachi or Maxtor Utilities

Maxtor Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here (now SeaGate)
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/

Quantum Hard Drives: Use Maxtor Utilities

Seagate Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Conner Hard Drives: Use Seagate Utilities

Samsung Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/

Western Digital Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en

The trial versions of one of these "might" help.

SpeedFan
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

HD Tune
http://www.hdtune.com/

Hope this helps.

Hi,

You are explaining exact same symptons i had with an old hard drive i had.It would occassionly make a knocking sound... but a reboot would make it work fine. Also occasionally it wouldnt appear and as if it was unplugged. made sure the connections were fine and they always were... but then it would return. Luckily it was not my system drive and didnt effect the running of my machine. However ... the problem got worse and worse... and stopped appearing more and more often until then it never returned... so now, its a paper weght next to me waiting to be destroyed.

When it was on it would pass test fine.... it just slowely got worse though ..

Anyway definately back up all your data. I would if you could do a fresh install... you'll probably find the problem continues occasionaly getting more frequent until one day its a goner!

 

---

Free Support Tools

blue screen, black screen, constant freezing as well as programs failing to respond, and only once did it reboot and then fail to find the hard drive. All test say that the hard drive is fine. I see a lot on here about video card upgrading or degrading to solve the issue of the blue screen. I'm aware that i need to find the error code on the blue screen although I'm taking advantage of safe mode working for the moment. Although it also froze as well as failed to run anything after logging in. I typicaly have to ctrl/alt/del log off then log back in and it might work. I don't want to buy a new hard drive and everthing still not work. I have a dell and use to think that was the problem. My next step is to get all error codes and try to fix each prob 1 by 1 but please if anyone has delt with this and already knows what to do please do tell. This issue seems common and my computer is a year old. Also, my comp didn't have a PID # ??????????? Look, I'm computer smart but not genius if you know what I mean. I just need to be pointed the right way.

More Specific

I turn on the computer.

It loads a lot of times says there was a prob shutting down, prompts for safe mode.

It then takes 10 years to load or sometimes it just won't load at all.

If it does I get to the log in screen either frozen for a while or blacked out with only my mouse visable.

If I can log in I'll type my password and it says welcome for 10 more min.

Everytime I manage to get to the desktop Its frozen. Dell dock quit working properly. Wireless doesn't always work right either but nothing else does either.

It sometimes says a script is running that is slowing down the start up process but I have disable all unneccessary programs from running.

Blue screens are random, but the computer typically freezes a lot and then presto.

Every program runs slow, control panel not responding, bottom toolbar will freeze and nothing will be accessable.

Occasionally it will work but only for a little while till the blue screen comes in and says "sorry but you're done"

All of the above

repeat everyday every time

new discovery, windows security service center is turned off and it can't be started. It came up in the pc issues window