Computer HELP! *UPDATE*

[HuntrRose]

Do you have anything worth saving on that machine?
If yes, get hold of a USB drive and a linux live CD. Boot from the CD, copy all essential data onto the USB disk.

In either case reinstall Windows. It's in all likelyhood the fastest, easiest and safest solution to your problem.

P.S. If you computer fails and reboots while booting or running from the CD it's a hardware problem. Contact your computers manufacturer for support and warranty issues.

Oh, and before you dismiss this advice: I have a bachelor in Information Technology and have been working as an onsite support technician for the last 3 years.

Took the words right out of my mouth. There is a CD you might want to try called the Hirens Boot Disk (download the ISO from a torrent and burn it to a CD) A giant list of diagnostic and repair tools on top of being able to boot to it and rescue files.

Hmm.. Think I'll have a looksie at that one =)

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Its a Dell, 'nuff said.

But in all seriousness: Your best bets are either the OS needs re-installing or the Hard Drive has done a bunk. (Which from personal experience, wouldn't surprise me, being Dell)

 

[Korten12]

Do you have anything worth saving on that machine?
If yes, get hold of a USB drive and a linux live CD. Boot from the CD, copy all essential data onto the USB disk.

In either case reinstall Windows. It's in all likelyhood the fastest, easiest and safest solution to your problem.

P.S. If you computer fails and reboots while booting or running from the CD it's a hardware problem. Contact your computers manufacturer for support and warranty issues.

Oh, and before you dismiss this advice: I have a bachelor in Information Technology and have been working as an onsite support technician for the last 3 years.

I believe what I am going to do is use the Dell Back-up system which it doesn't reboot while using, and back up my data to a 1 TB external HDD, and then reformat, then put everything back on the HDD.

As long as you get to copy your files onto USB it's all made of win. Problems like this is one of the reasons I always keep at least one linux CD around. The other is that they tend to come free with Linux Format... =P

Wait what..? The external HDD uses a USB to connect to the computer...

 

[HuntrRose]

Most external drives do yes.

 

[Korten12]

Most external drives do yes.

yeah I know I was just confused at what you said...

Alright well I backed things up, reformated and now I can't get passed the startup screen where it says "preparing your computer for first use" without it restarting. Luckily my comp still has warranty.

 

[HuntrRose]

sounds like something weird is going on there alright.

Yeah, Hardware diagnostics and/or warranty usage is a good idea at this stage.

 

[Korten12]

sounds like something weird is going on there alright.

Yeah, Hardware diagnostics and/or warranty usage is a good idea at this stage.

Yeah we're sending it into Dell, since we still have warranty on it.