XPME will not boot

[tmbriar]

I have a Dell Dimensions 8400 OS is Windows XP Media Edition. I run an up to date version of Kaspersky.  Yesterday I installed a Logitech Communicate STX Plus webcam. During installation (with Kaspersky turned off) the puter got very sluggish. With the cam succesfully installed, I reactivated Kaspersky and went online. The sluggishness continued so I decided to restart since I had just installed a new program. During restart the computer will not boot to the hard drive in any of the safe modes or "to the last known settings that worked". I dug out the OS installation disc and tried to boot up from CD-ROM prompt. That eventually takes me to a prompt for an administrators password. I don't remember if I actually set this puter up with a password but I have tried every password that I ever used with no results. I called DELL Tech support and they basically walked me through all of the same steps that I had already done and said that I may have to reinstall the OS. I hope to heavens that I don't have to do that because they said that I will lose everything back to out of the box condition.
Can anyone offer any ideas?
TB

[Spero-T]

When you say will not boot to the hard disc what exactly does it say....

I am sure you have tried but if not; try removing the web cam and turning it on.....

Make sure the hard drive is plugged in, try removing and plugging back in...

If none of these work wait a few more hour someone will be along to help

[tmbriar]

Thanks for the feed back.
Yes I unhooked the CAM and the internet.
When powered up the computer seems to be going thru the normal routine but after the flash of the DELL page and the option of an F2 for set up (no set screen comes up) or an F12 for boot menu, a black background with white text comes up, apologizing for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.
This page eventually gives me the safe mode options or the normal start, or the last known good config. All options result in a blue screen that says;
"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer."
It tells me to restart the box if this is the first time to see this screen. Did that and eventually got right back to same screen. Then proceeds to tell me to run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption and then restart. Well....can't run a check if Ican't get to set-up. 

[uesquebeathus]

 it sounds as if there could be some damage to the drive or the boot sequence and settings, that is making the boot sequence fail.
 have you had the box opened and checked all components are fully fitted into there sockets, molex plugs and eide/sata cables all fitted in the motherboard and the drives, and the Ram is fully in there sockets as well, check also that all fans are still moving at startup and then see if they stopping, check and clean any fluff/dust from in the fan cooler/fins which may cause overheating.

 it is not a good idea to connect any usb components while the actual computer is powered up and working, it can cause short circuits in the motherboard, as the actual USB wire/contacts in the sockets/plugs are very close together and are easily shorted while plugging in.

 is it possible that you may have actually put the plug into a Firewire socket in error?

[tmbriar]

The box hasn't been jostled or bumped and I regularly vacume the in's and out's for dust.
I'm asking because I really don't know but if something got shorted, would it wait until restart to screw up?
I will open the box and check stuff in the mean time.

[kbm292]

If something was shorted then yes it may not present a problem until restart, which is when windows would try to intialize it and be unable to do so.  Also when you say vacuum you don't mean with an actual vacuum cleaner do you?  I would highly recommend against that.  You should verify your boot sequence though before presuming it's a short.

[Spero-T]

Ok, have you check evey thing is pluged in... ram etc....


your hard drive may be corrupt?

[2k_dummy]

Go into safe mode and disable the camera software from loading at startup. Reboot. Post back result.

[tmbriar]

I checked everything in the box...no problems found there.
Through Boot Menu and System Setup, I did find Security and set an Admin. Password but when trying to boot with my Installation Disc, I'm still told that it's an invalid password.
Any ideas other than a medium sledge hammer.

[tmbriar]

2k...I can't get the puter to boot up in any of the safe modes.

[street1 (RIP)]

You need to set that hard drive as slave and get a new hard drive,or
put that hard drive in another computer as slave and copy all of your
important information to CD's then do the fresh back to factory install.

Could you manage that ?