Start Window
If your computer stops after the blue Windows screen or will only allow you to start in Safe Mode, the first question which must be addressed is whether a new piece of hardware or software has been added to the system. When a problem arises immediately after a new program was installed it is advisable to uninstall the program and then reinstall it. Use the add/remove programs routine in Windows rather than to try to remove the offending application manually. If the problem is not resolved, search the web to see whether the software producer acknowledges an incompatibility which explains the problem and, hopefully, offers a way to work around the problem.
When a problem surfaces after a new piece of hardware is installed there are a couple of items to check. First, does the Device Manager in Windows give any clue? Problems detected by windows are shown by a yellow circle with an exclamation point or a red "x" next to the device with the problem. Sometimes this situation will occur if the device driver has not been installed correctly. Try to update the driver with either the driver which came with the new device or, even better, by downloading the most recent version of the driver from the manufacturer's web site. If there is still a problem, check whether a resource conflict exists. Go to the device manager, highlight "Computer" and click properties. The result will show which devices are using the various interrupt requests (IRQs). Devices sharing the same IRQ number can be problematic and need to be resolved by reassigning resources manually. If you want to try changing the resource allocation manually it is crucial to take detailed notes of the changes you make. From Device Manager highlight a device with a conflict, click on Properties, and select the Resources tab. The lower pane may indicate the resource in conflict. The way to change a resource manually is to clear the Use automatic settings box, highlight a resource (e.g., Interrupt Request or Input/Output Range) and click on the Change settings button. If a window appears which states "This resource setting cannot be modified", you need to try to resolve the conflict by changing the resources for the other conflicting device. If the computer allows you to modify the resource, a window will appear showing a value and selection buttons which may be activated to select permissible values. Watch the lower pane to ensure that any new value results in a "No devices are conflicting" message. When you are satisfied that the conflicts are resolved click ok, respond to the warning concerning changing resources manually, and don't be surprised if Windows needs to restart your computer.
Problems which begin without warning while you are using the computer, and which cannot be related to a recent addition of hardware or software usually indicate a failing piece of hardware. Step 1 is to attempt to backup all of your important files if possible. Step 2 is to try disconnecting drives and removing add-in cards, in-turn, to determine whether the failure is due to a particular piece of hardware. If the computer starts after removing a particular device or board, that component probably needs to be replaced. If the symptoms are not resolved one or more memory sticks may be failing and can be isolated, if the computer has more than a minimum amount of memory, by removing some of the memory sticks, in turn, and noting if improvement occurs. If this does not resolve the problem, the power supply may be failing and can be checked by installing an alternate. If the computer still does resolve you will need to seek professional help.
Home