My computer won't start. What is wrong with it? Can it be fixed?

Question

Got Dell Ispiron with XP. Worked fine for two years and about two weeks ago went through a spell of random shutdowns. Opened it up aired it out cleaned it up started and worked well for a week. 

Then came home tried to start it and it would just sit at the opening screen that said Dell. So unplugged it plugged it back after a few minutes and it started. 

Few days later random shutdowns occured again. Now the pc will try to start, but can't seem to boot all the way. Sometimes it makes it then shuts down immediately then tries to restart again. 

Before the final blow there ran plenty of virus checks and what not so I don't think it is that. Changed out the power supply and that didn't work either. Any ideas?

? · Accepted Answer

Was thinking power supply when I was first reading it, but if its a new PSU, then its not that. Sounds like you have bad RAM. Try making an ISO for memtest

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

Boot to that, run the test and if it does not fail, let it pass at least 3 times. If it fails, replace that RAM. If it does not, then you have some other device that is preventing you from fully loading the OS. Could be HDD, Optical drive, floppy drive. 

Start by taking out one device at a time, make the hard drive the last device, then try to start the computer. If it loads the os, that component is most likely the faulty device that is preventing the computer from functioning correctly.

Anonymous · Answer

try a few things:

1. Take out one stick of RAM and see if that is stopping the boot
2. Could be overheating, check and make sure all fans are turning.
3. Could be the hard drive starting to fail.


Sorry I can't be of much help but since it randomly restarts, I keep leaning towards the CPU or the chipset overheating.

? · Answer

i pass to take a wild wager you're conversing some pc pc with a plastic casing? be advantageous the air bypass isn't limited on a pc, air is presented in via the backside and regularly exits from the area. warm plastic will provide off a scent of a few thing burning. a working laptop or pc overheating will provide off a burning scent additionally. If there is no indications of smoke coming from the pc, it relatively is probable overheating factors. in step with threat the cooling fan provide up working. in spite of everything, i could have somebody verify it out to be on the risk-free area.

teddypicker · Answer

Scrap it and get a custom built PC. It takes research but you can get a superb rig from newegg.com for about 600 bucks. And DON'T get a Mac if you're an XP user.

gamerguy · Answer

We had the same problem with our computer and we ended up with 1000+ viruses and spyware we took it to geek squad and they backed up the computer and got it to work it wont be the same as it did but all your files will be on a cd and you can put the file anywhare in your computer to acess them thay will charge less if you dont want to have the files on it when it crashed. Hope this helped!

Anonymous · Answer

Yep, system restore it. F12 or F11 maybe even F10. Dell, Windows, Linux, and AWH all use a different system restore code :/. Try system restore, that always fixes the problem.

Anonymous · Answer

Please Unplug the power cable first, open the PC ,remove the Ram wash with brush if you have AGP then open that and again keep them to right place i think it will work. check all power supply.thank you

Anonymous · Answer

Throw it off a roof.

dj · Answer

scrap it and get a fu**ing mac!

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My computer won't start. What is wrong with it? Can it be fixed?

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