Windows XP Won't Boot; Blank Screen, Flashing Cursor

-Jared-

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    Alright, I have to ask for some help...

    My mother tried to turn on her Dell Inspiron E1505, which runs Windows XP, and after the Dell loading screen, the screen turns to a blank, black screen with a single blinking cursor in the top left corner. The computer just sits there like that and doesn't do anything.

    I tried rebooting and pressing F12 and I got this screen:

    [PokeCommunity.com] Windows XP Won't Boot; Blank Screen, Flashing Cursor


    When I chose Internal HDD, it went back to the blank screen; same with CD Drive. Onboard NIC gave me this:

    [PokeCommunity.com] Windows XP Won't Boot; Blank Screen, Flashing Cursor


    From there, my only option is to restart. When I do, if I press F2, or choose BIOS from the F12 menu, I get the BIOS screen (or whatever, I don't really know. ;-; ) I set the settings back to defaults, but that didn't help. If I run the Diagnostics, everything passes, and then it just goes to a blue screen and sits there indefinitely.

    Does anyone have any idea on how to fix this? I am completely baffled.
     
    I don't know if I have a "Recovery CD" but I have one that said "Windows XP Operating System CD" on it. Is it that or not?

    (Please bear with me, as I am not very computer literate. XD)
     
    If you have the operating system CD, that cleans the computer and resets it as if the pre-loaded manufacturer stuff was not loaded.. that should work, though check the laptop for its product key sticker and copy down the key as you might need to re-enter it

    Also, I dont know for sure if its a virus, so dont take action quite yet because re-installing will cause wiping of the files ;)
     
    Which we really don't want, as it is tax time...yeah. >__>

    Well, I already had the disc in when you posted this, but left it at the screen asking what I wanted to do, and it offers and option that states "Repair using Recovery Console". Do you know what that is?
     
    I tired the recovery console, but it didn't work. Donavannj, I think that is what we are gonna have to do. I just hope they can fix it quickly because we need tax information in time to actually do the taxes. Thanks for the advice, guys. :)
     
    Pikapal642 said:
    I tired the recovery console, but it didn't work. Donavannj, I think that is what we are gonna have to do. I just hope they can fix it quickly because we need tax information in time to actually do the taxes. Thanks for the advice, guys. :)
    Click to expand...

    The Windows XP recovery console is hopeless, as you basically have to carry out any fixes manually. Vista and Seven have a much better version, but that's not to say they'd sort of the issue.

    I'd be most inclined to blame the HDD here. I know the Dell BIOS on those models are rather limited, but see if you can find the HDD in there, to confirm that it is picking it up at all.

    If you really need the files and have another computer, you could boot up off a Linux CD and copy the files to a flash drive. That's assuming the HDD is in working order.

    Don't forget to tell us what the outcome is if you end up taking it to a shop.

    Good luck.
     
    I don't agree that it is your Windows XP. I guess why not check your hardisk or memory. Usually when a pc won't boot the OS is not the problem. There are other areas that maybe the caused.
     
    It's probably not a virus.

    My first guess is that it's a dead hard drive. The media test failure often means that. Do you know how to use Ubuntu Live Disk for its convenient mem test feature? Or do you have another computer and a hard drive to USB adapter (or something you can use to connect that hard drive to another computer)?

    Try seeing if another computer can boot off of that hard drive. If it can, that means that something could be wrong with the connection between hard drive and the motherboard on your mom's computer. Otherwise, probably a dead hard drive.
     
    Thank you everyone for your advice. :) I think I am gonna take it to a professional when we have some time, and we can let him or her take care of it. I don't have the tools or the skills necessary to fix this (if it can be fixed...>__>) So thank you everyone, but this can be put to rest. XD
     
    I wouldn't say hard drive, not yet. Generally, when the hard drive is gone belly up, BIOS won't even recognise it, and when it gets past BIOS, it'll just say "Operations System Not Found". Attempt to boot into Safe Mode if you haven't already. Can you get in that way? If so, not all is lost. Just let me/us know!
     
    If the NTLDR goes missing, Windows will tell you. Since he's not getting a "NTLDR is missing or corrupt" message, it's not that.
     
    No duh. Look at the error he got. PXE-E61 error pops up when the computer can't find a bootable device. I'm guessing OP's mother dropped her computer or something and a cable or two popped loose (in which case it's a very easy fix) or a faulty drive (believe it or not, it's quite common, even though not quite as common as the first case).

    Seriously though, the easiest way to confirm is to use a Ubuntu Live Disk. Honestly, calling a professional will cost a zillion times more than what it will cost if OP does it himself...
     
    Sounds like the hard drive's boot sector or MBR is corrupt, if it's just a cursor flashing over a blank screen endlessly after the POST.
    Usually, after POST, the screen blanks and a cursor flashes for about a second as the BIOS executes the boot sector of the first available device as specified in the BIOS setup.
    If a boot sector is not present in any device installed or loaded into the machine at boot, the system will give an error message such as "Insert boot device" or "DISK BOOT FAILURE-INSERT SYSTEM DISK", or the like.
     
    When I come across the flashing cursor, I start checking what the system is trying to boot to. It might be trying to boot to the CD/DVD drive, the network, a removable drive like USB, etc. The HDD might be missing from the boot list.
     
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