Article Summary:

This article describes troubleshooting computers that are powering up correctly and passing the Dell BIOS screen at boot-up, but do not successfully boot to Microsoft Windows

This article is for Microsoft Windows Vista:
Click here to change the Operating System

In many cases a computer will not attempt to hand off control to the operating system. If you power the computer on and you see a Dell logo screen with a bar at the bottom, and that bar fills up completely and disappears, then your computer has successfully completed POST.

Click Here if Your Computer Does Not Complete POST

Dell has information on some specific error messages at startup. Refer to the following links for more information:

HAL.DLL is missing or corrupt

NTLDR or NTDETECT is missing or corrupt

Loading PBR for Descriptor generated after POST

A BLUE SCREEN or STOP error has occurred

If the error message is not listed above, try searching for additional solutions on the Web.

Describe your problem, including any specific error messages, in the field below and click on your preferred search engine.

     

To run PSA Diagnostics, turn on the computer and tap the <F12> key several times at the Dell logo screen. This will start the One-Time Boot Menu. Select Diagnostics to start the diagnostic assessment of the computer hardware.

This test takes approximately 5 minutes.

If you receive an error from the PSA diagnostics, refer to the Dell Hardware Diagnostics page for further assistance:

Click Here to Troubleshoot Diagnostic Errors

1. Start the computer.

2. Tap <F8> on the keyboard during the startup process until you see the Windows Advanced Options Menu on the screen.
   (If the Windows Advanced Options Menu does not appear, restart the system and try again.)
3. Select Safe mode and press <Enter>.

4. Log on as the administrator or as a user with administrative access.

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Select from the following options based on your success with booting to Safe Mode:

The computer successfully boots to Safe Mode

I cannot boot the computer to Safe Mode

I cannot get to the Advanced Options Menu