78 replies to this topic

[tuxmaster]

CK07, Perhaps we are missing something here. If it passed the diagnostics then the hard drive should be fine. What exactly is not working on your system please provide as much information as possible. What symptoms is your computer giving?

[appleoddity]

I do believe you that you formatted your hard drive and performed all the steps you stated. I don't really know what is wrong with your computer. If the hard drive tests out OK and the system has been reformatted (I believe that this is the case with your laptop) then it has to be something that was done to the system after windows was installed. You said that you had trouble with the proper drivers for the laptop. Possibly in the course of trying to get the right drivers, something got messed up. Its really too hard to say. All I can say is, barring any hardware problems, a new windows installation does not do this.

Now that I just said that, I thought of something else to check out on this computer. Perhaps you are having another type of hardware issue and this was causing issues during your malware removal thread also. I don't believe that you have been instructed to test your RAM yet. I would suggest you try doing that and make sure that it has a solid connection in the laptop.

Please Read Here about how to download the Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic and create a bootable CD from the .ISO file. You'll need to use a cd-burning software to burn the .ISO image to a CD. You don't actually burn the .ISO file to disc, you use the .ISO image file to create a CD. A good free product for doing this is DeepBurner. Once the disc is created, insert it into your laptop and boot it. Let the memory diagnostic run through a few passes to verify that there are no errors found. While the memory diagnostic is running I recommend lightly tapping in various areas on the bottom of the laptop to make sure there are no loose connections on the RAM. If there are any issues the memory diagnostic will report memory errors, lock up, or get strange video anomalies.

Please be careful to not tap your laptop too hard because an excessive beating can damage the hard drive.

Maybe this has been your issue all along. I don't remember if you have run any diagnostic like this yet in this thread.

[CK07]

Here again is my symptoms:

The system then wouldn't load desktop the first time it restarted (since I had to restart after the drivers). But on the second reboot it loaded everything fine. I then proceeded to install my anti-ware (Mal. bytes, ZoneAlarm, AVG, ERUNT, etc...). I then knew that my system would not be so lucky as to be able to start my desktop fully again but then Artellos told me to run chkdsk /r , so I did and *wallah* it won't run my desktop. (not blaming you for anything Artellos)

I'm not trying to be mean, but I swear I've posted my symptoms quite a few times through this thread. The problem is that my desktop will not load, that's everything in a sentence.

Yes, I "had" troubles with the drivers but after like 4 times talking with diff dell reps I finally got the "right" ones according to them. And it couldn't be anything wrong with the wrong ones I had earlier because I formatted after figuring out they were wrong.


When I get off work I'll check my RAM and try to burn and run that check. But I have a question, when I get that CD burned do I boot off of it? Cuz if my desktop wont run then I don't see how that one will work.

Sorry guy's if I start sounding irritated, I really don't have any anger towards anyone here I just am really frustrated at all of this. Some of you may know I've been working on this thing with you guys for months now.

thanks for all your help.

Edited by CK07, 12 March 2009 - 03:01 PM.

[tallin]

Hi CK07,

I have re-read your entire thread, all the posts, and all the very experienced techies advices to you.

In my opinion it is time for you to seek out an IT family owned repair computer shop near to where you live and take your Laptop to them for a quote for what exactly the problem is as you see it. I would tell them you have been online attempting to correct your problem and what if anything has been achieved here.

It is time for a hands on with your Laptop as I see it. We do not often advise this here on WTT, but the frustration and stress this is causing you is now out of hand in my opinion, so that is what I would do if I owned your Laptop - if that is possible for you to do of course.

For an experience IT technician with the computer on their bench the problem may well be diagnosed and corrected in no time at all as they have tools at hand that we do not have via this thread.

Keep us posted and let us know how you go and what you decide to do.

Best regards,

Edited by tallin, 12 March 2009 - 03:53 PM.

[appleoddity]

When I get off work I'll check my RAM and try to burn and run that check. But I have a question, when I get that CD burned do I boot off of it? Cuz if my desktop wont run then I don't see how that one will work.

Yes.. You need to create the CD on a working computer and boot the CD on the laptop.

[CK07]

I think you are right Tallin. I will give Appleoddity's suggestion a try and if it fails I think I'm going to try to plug in a different hard drive and see if that solves anything. If those two things fail then I will drop my laptop off somewhere to get it looked at.

I think we should rename this topic, haha. I don't think "Basic Re-Formating of my Laptop, A little help and pointers would be nice " really explains the 4 pages in this thread, lol. (In fact I think this thread is almost as long as my Malware thread, and that was mostly made up of logs... haha)

Edited by CK07, 12 March 2009 - 06:24 PM.

[tallin]

Whoever you trust with your Laptop, make sure they save any data you value from the Hard Drive. They have tools that can do all that if you currently have no backups.

If possible, this would be a good time to aquire software like Ghost or Acronis to install and back up your new working Laptop. I run both and one is as good as the other and I may say I have used both a couple of times and am up and running in around 35 minutes with either.

Good luck with kind regards,

[tuxmaster]

The system then wouldn't load desktop the first time it restarted (since I had to restart after the drivers). But on the second reboot it loaded everything fine. I then proceeded to install my anti-ware (Mal. bytes, ZoneAlarm, AVG, ERUNT, etc...). I then knew that my system would not be so lucky as to be able to start my desktop fully again but then Artellos told me to run chkdsk /r , so I did and *wallah* it won't run my desktop. (not blaming you for anything Artellos)

I do understand your frustration. The reason why I asked was to be clear on what your issue is so I know what problems to troubleshoot. After the first time was your system able to load to the desktop into normal mode just fine?

[CK07]

Well I ran the ISO deal Appeloddity provided and it all passed. But after the reboot for some odd reason my desktop decided to load. So here I am posting this from the laptop that is causing all of this. This is soo confusing. Well I bet if I restart this computer it will not load the desktop so any other suggestions while it's up and running? I will be looking for a hard drive in the meantime to try to hook up and see if that completely fixes the problem. Tuxmaster- It was able to load normally after the first format but eventually it decided not to. I told Dell tech. that it must be something wrong with the drivers and they said that all the drivers were correct. The only other programs installed on it were those given by tallin for anti virus, anti malware, etc... So, like I said earlier, it seems like a software problem, but the only way that could occur would be through the wrong drivers or possibly the stuff tallin gave me (I highly doubt that).

[appleoddity]

Hi CK07. All the tests you have run appear to eliminate any hardware troubles. I know you don't want to be told this, but it appears you may have already come to the conclusion that this is like a 99% chance that it is software trouble.

The only thing that will be accomplished if you install a new hard drive is that you will be foreced to reinstall everything again and this will most likely solve your problem. If you just do the install again on the current hard drive you will likely still have successful results. But this time, make sure you have all the right drivers and software in place and ready to go on a CD.

You don't have to do this if you don't want to. But, I'm pretty sure that most everyone in here will agree that the system just needs to be re-loaded again. While doing so, you need to reboot often during the install of software and make sure you know the last thing you did if it starts acting up again.

Its highly unlikely that a Dell tech was able to provide you all the right information for your laptop. If they are anything like HP techs they tell you to click here and try that, then when you tell them it doesn't work, they tell you to click here and try that. They don't have a clue, and like HP techs I'm sure they are reading from a script because they have no real technical understanding. So, the chances of being provided false information is high.

If you want to save yourself a great deal of hassle, then you can do what I do with a program called Acronis TrueImage Home. It is a backup solution that will let you create a recovery partition or backup discs of your computer. After completing the installation of windows, I would create a backup. Then, after installing all the drivers and making sure everything is working properly and there are no problems in device manager, I would create a second backup. Then, after installing all the updates, I would create a third backup. Incremental backups will allow you to easily go back to a "fresh" working system if something goes wrong and prevents you from having to do a complete reinstall again. It can be a great time saver when trying to track down problems like this.

Before doing this, I would be too curious in finding out what is causing the issue, and the first thing I would do is go into add/remove programs and start uninstalling everything until the system worked again, starting with the drivers. Its up to you, but seems how this is a fresh install anyways, the easiest way to go is to just start over and wash your hands of it. Good luck.

Edited by appleoddity, 16 March 2009 - 08:24 PM.

[appleoddity]

I couldn't help myself, I'm so sure that the Dell tech told you to install junk you didn't need to install that I have listed the drivers for your laptop myself.

This is a list of drivers and applications you may need to install and the order in which to do it.

Intel Chipset - INSTALL Reboot after this install.

Video - INSTALL Reboot after this install.

Ethernet (LAN) - INSTALL You can hold off later on the reboot.

SoundCard - INSTALL You can hold off later on the reboot.

Modem - INSTALL only if you have a phone jack on your laptop. You can hold off later on the reboot.

Touchpad - INSTALL You can hold off later on the reboot.

Dell Quickset - INSTALL NOW you can reboot your system.

The above drivers are definitely the correct ones for your machine. The ones below may not be required or there are other unlikely choices that you have.

Wireless Adapter - INSTALL (This is the most likely one you have) You can hold off the reboot until later.

Bluetooth Module - INSTALL only if you have bluetooth on this laptop (This is the most likely one you have) NOW reboot your system if you had to install this driver also.

I'm assuming this laptop does not have any wireless broadband connection like Cingular built into it.

The rest of the stuff listed on the Dell website can be commonly classified as "Dell Junk." and should be given no further consideration. If, after installing the above drivers, you still have something with a yellow exclamation point in device manager you can return here and it won't be very difficult to lead you in the right direction.

Edited by appleoddity, 16 March 2009 - 09:05 PM.

[CK07]

My wireless is actually the 1390 (I have the driver), but thanks. Yes you are right, this looks like all it could be is a software problem. And I said that earlier that I followed everyones instructions just as they were laid out. But you also bring up another point, I spoke to about a dozen different dell reps because most of them knew almost nothing about what was going on. I will reformat my pc again using most of your provided drivers (some are not necessary such as the touchpad, Modem, and Bluetooth, because they were not missing when I last formatted). If I am by chance still missing a driver I will let you know. I do have a question though about your order. At what point do I install Windows Updates?

Edited by CK07, 16 March 2009 - 09:22 PM.

[appleoddity]

After everything is working right then install the updates. The alps touchpad is needed if you want the scroll capabilities of the touchpad to work. It isn't a driver, it is an application. Edit: never use windows update to install hardware/driver updates.

Edited by appleoddity, 16 March 2009 - 09:30 PM.

[CK07]

Alrighty, well here we go then Wish me luck! Oh, could you post the link for where to get the updates from or how (I think I just use the actual application on my PC right?)

Edited by CK07, 16 March 2009 - 09:45 PM.

[tallin]

Hi CK07,

Here is the Windows Update link -

good luck with kind regards,