1. Determine if Windows Vista starts up in Safe Mode.
   
   

   Click here for Microsoft Windows Help on How to Start your computer in Safe Mode in Windows Vista.

   
   

   If Windows Vista fails to start in Safe Mode, then the computer requires different troubleshooting than this article provides. 
   To troubleshoot the startup problem, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: "Windows Vista Begins to Load but does not Complete Startup" Article ID: 323233.
   
   If Windows Vista successfully starts up in Safe Mode, proceed to the next step.
   

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2. Updating the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) may resolve the problem. Install the latest update to the BIOS on your computer.
   


Click here to show more details on how to update the BIOS.

Browse to http://support.dell.com. Click Drivers and Downloads under the section Option 1: Most Popular Selections. In the Choose by Service Tag column, click Enter a Tag. If the Service Tag is not available, click Choose a Model and select by product model and click Confirm. Next to Category, click Change Category and select BIOS Updates from the dropdown menu. If a BIOS update is available, one or more items is listed. Note:     If no updates are available, click the   above to collapse this section, and proceed to the next step in the article.   Click Download Now in the Download and Options column. In the File Download - Security Warning window, click Save. Using the Save In: drop-down menu, select My Documents, then click Save. In the Download Complete window, click Run. In the  Internet Explorer - Security Warning window, click Run. When the BIOS: xxxx window appears, where xxxx represents the driver name, click Continue. In the Select the folder where you want to unzip the files to window, click OK. When the Folder does not exist. Do you want to create it? window appears, click Yes. When the message appears asking to overwrite the folder, click Yes to All. Click OK and follow the onscreen instructions. Note:     Dell portable systems must have the battery installed and also be running on AC power prior to updating the BIOS.




Proceed to the next step if Windows Vista still does not finish starting up.

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3. An installable solution may already be available for the issue. Check for new solutions in Windows Vista.
   
   

   Click here to show more details on how to check for new solutions in Windows Vista.

   Click the Start button and click Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, click System and Maintenance. In the System and Maintenance window, click Check for new solutions under Problem Reports and Solutions. When the Problem Reports and Solutions window appears, install any available solutions. Restart the computer after the solutions are installed.

   
   Proceed to the next step if Windows Vista does not start up successfully in Normal Mode after installing the solutions.
   
   

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4. The issue could potentially be caused by a damaged volume. Try to resolve this issue by running a repair procedure on the potentially damaged volume.
   
   
   Click here to show more details on how to repair the volume using the CHKDSK /F command.

   Click the Start button, and then type cmd in the Start Search box. When Cmd appears in the Start Menu above, right-click cmd, and then left-click Run as administrator. In the User Account Control window, click Continue. In the Administrator:c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe window, type chkdsk /f x:, where x is the drive letter of the drive to be checked, and then press <Enter>. When the message Cannot lock current drive. Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restart? (Y/N) appears, press <Y>, and then press <Enter>. Click the Start button. Click the arrow to the right of the lock icon (Figure 1). Figure 1: The Lock Icon in Windows Vista Click Restart.

   
   Proceed to the next step if Windows Vista does not start up successfully in Normal Mode after running the volume repair.
   
   

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5. The issue could be caused by damaged system files. Windows Vista includes a tool for repairing damaged system files, which can be run from Normal Mode or Safe Mode.
   
   

   Click here to show more details on how to run the System File Checker in Windows Vista.

   Click the Start button. Type cmd in the search box. When the cmd shortcut appears in the Start Menu, right-click cmd and click Run As Administrator. In the User Account Control window, click Continue. In the cmd.exe window, type sfc /scannow and press <Enter>. The System File Checker starts and checks the integrity of system files.

   
   

Advanced Users Only:

If the problem still exists, and you want to use the advanced tool that Dell technicians often use to diagnose and resolve related startup issues in Windows Vista, click Step by Step Troubleshooting Wizard - Problems with Microsoft® Windows Vista®.