I need help fixing my computer

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actualdruid33

Reputable
Oct 25, 2014
2
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4,510
I have a dell sr500 vostro 220. I have Vista Home Basic, with service pack 1 installed. Recently my computer told me that I needed to install some important updates and when I did then my computer refused to reboot. I can get to the screen where I can chose to boot into safe mode and safe mode with networking, ect. ect. but after it loads the files then I get a black screen with a white cursor that I can move around and that's it. I can perform all of the tests that are in the F12 menu. I have even performed tests on my monitor and everything was fine. I cannot do the control+alt+delete action to bring up the task manager. My monitor seems fine but at the end of the test it says that my monitor is out of range. I cannot get to my desktop or even to the welcome screen. I have tried to restore my computer to the last known good configuration and it does nothing. I don't know what's wrong. Please someone help me. All of my personal files and pictures are on this hard drive. I cant lose them. I have surfed the web and I have tried everything that I found and NOTHING works...... what do I need to do? please let me know. My E-mail address is <removed by moderator>. Thanks for your time and effort.
 
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Wisecracker

Wisecracker

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Jan 15, 2007
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The was an update (may have been SP3) that would lock-up computers.

You may be able to whine at Dell and get a new OS disk for a fresh install. I've got a few boxes with Win Vista and stopped at SP2. I was doing a fresh install for a guy and got burned with SP3 --- thankfully, it was a quick-fix, and I simply avoided SP3 from that point forward.

Fire off a sweet email to Dell and see if they will hook you up ...

 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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Jan 1, 2013
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When your on the black screen with mouse cursor try windows key+P and or windows+D
That resolution out of bounds makes me think its defaulting to an extended desktop for some reason

Holy thread revival batman ;-) oops - don't know what happened there
 
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AdMan1

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Nov 22, 2014
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If you have or can borrow another pc you can access and save your files from the Dell hard drive. If the other pc doesn't have sata connectors you can buy an ide to sata adapter for about £15 - £20. You simply remove the hard drive from the Dell Vostro and hook it up to the other pc using the adapter. You may have to boot up and go into the BIOS (using DEL or F1, F2 or whatever key the startup screen tells you) to make sure the Dell drive is NOT the boot drive.

Start the pc, then create a folder on the working pc drive (not the Dell drive) called 'Dell backups' or something similar, and open the folder so you can see it on your desktop.

Next, go to Computer or My Computer, and you should be able to see the Dell drive as (probably) D: or E:. Search for your files and drag them to the folder you just created.

You may want to think about saving up for another computer. I have 30 years of pc support experience and most of the pcs I'm asked to sort out are Dells, Compaqs and HPs.
 
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