Windows Vista O/S not starting

[Andrea4]

I can turn my computer on and the BIOS loads but then I just get what I think is called the command prompt window. Just a black screen with a blinking line. Pressing F8 to get to the windows startup menu doesn't work. I think basically my only option is to try system repair with my Windows Vista O/S Installation DVD but the instructions for that are to restart my computer from the start menu with the DVD in the drive. How am I supposed to restart it when Windows doesn't start in the first place??

Windows Vista
Dell Inspiron 1525
160 GB Hard Drive
2GB RAM

[geek hoodlum]

Hi and welcome to Computer Hope!

but the instructions for that are to restart my computer from the start menu with the DVD in the drive. How am I supposed to restart it when Windows doesn't start in the first place?

You don't need to start Windows in order to boot from a DVD.

Check first the settings of your BIOS if it is configured properly. The 1st boot device should be CDROM or DVDROM drive. If yes, just insert the DVD and restart your computer.

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[Andrea4]

How do I get to the BIOS setup? And when you say restart, all I can do is press the power button on and off. Is that what you mean?

[Allan]

What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?

[Andrea4]

What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?

I don't think anything is different. I guess I could have a virus. Last week my computer just stopped working and I got the blue screen. It could have something to do with, on another forum they told me I have 2 sticks of RAM running at the same time. I still haven't done anything about that.. But otherwise I don't get any other errors.

[Andrea4]

Ok I figured out how to get in to the BIOS setup. Still not real sure of what I'm doing though.

[Andrea4]

So after I exited the BIOS Setup, it restarted by itself. Then it came to a screen that says Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.... I did and it has been on that screen for 20 minutes. Is that normal?

[Allan]

No. Do you have a bootable dvd in the drive?

[Andrea4]

I'm not sure..I have my Vista install DVD in the drive.

[Allan]

Is it an original Vista retail dvd or a copy?

[Andrea4]

It's the one I got from Dell when I got my computer. It says Operating System Already Installed on Your Computer Reinstallation DVD Windows Vista Home Premium 32BIT.

[soybean]

on another forum they told me I have 2 sticks of RAM running at the same time. I still haven't done anything about that..

There's nothing unusual about having 2 sticks of RAM.  In fact, it's very common.  So, I suspect you don't understand what RAM is. 

[Andrea4]

There's nothing unusual about having 2 sticks of RAM.  In fact, it's very common.  So, I suspect you don't understand what RAM is.

Ok maybe the issue isn't that they are running at the same time. But there is an issue and they suggested running one at a time to figure out what the issue is. And since I didn't want to open my computer to do this, a memory test was suggested. And when I was doing diagnostics since it hasn't been working, I think it did do the memory test and everything seemed fine.

[Allan]

It's the one I got from Dell when I got my computer. It says Operating System Already Installed on Your Computer Reinstallation DVD Windows Vista Home Premium 32BIT.

Well, that disc should be bootable and the fact that the system sees it at boot would confirm that. Try again - reboot with the cd in the drive and when you get that message tap one or two keys on the keyboard and see if you can't get the system to boot to the disc.

[soybean]

And when I was doing diagnostics since it hasn't been working, I think it did do the memory test and everything seemed fine.

You're not painting a clear picture here.  Your wording is a bit convoluted.  Perhaps you should further explain what lead to the discussion of memory, why running memtest (or whatever it was you used) was recommended, and how you concluded that your system's memory is OK.