Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems

idwtp · 06-01-2008, 04:52 PM

Hi, I'm running Windows XP SP2 on an inspiron E1405. Recently, I've had problems starting anything up; after the dell startup screen loads, I get nothing but a black screen.
If I try booting off of a cd, I get the same black screen. It seems the only 2 things I can run properly are the bios setup and some dell diagnostics tool that tells me everything is fine.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

dai · 06-01-2008, 05:13 PM

do you get anything in safe mode

idwtp · 06-01-2008, 05:38 PM

I'm not sure how to get there. (F8 doesn't work) The startup tells me f12 for boot options and f2 for setup.

dai · 06-01-2008, 07:36 PM

what boot options do you get from f12
are both the hard drive and cd drive listed correctly in the bios

idwtp · 06-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Under F12 I get
Internal HDD
CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive
Onboard NIC

BIOS Setup <-- (same as F2)
Diagnostics

The harddrive and dvd drive are both listed correctly.

dai · 06-02-2008, 08:55 PM

run
Diagnostics

idwtp · 06-03-2008, 05:02 PM

there are a bunch of tests, including:
rtc test
cmos confidence test
pic
video card connection test
lcd inverter detection test
lcd connection test
graphics test
memory test
optical device built in self test
dst short status testng

but everything results in an ok

dai · 06-04-2008, 10:11 AM

try hitting f8 abit futher into post and see if you get the windows boot menu

**grimx133** · 06-04-2008, 12:48 PM

F8 does work on Dell laptops, I have an Inspiron 9400 which is an E1705. Checked to make sure and it does get you to the safe modes.

idwtp · 06-05-2008, 09:12 AM

It's not doing anything on mine :P. But I booted up 'damn small linux' on usb, and everything worked fine - the harddrive was read correctly, etc. But if i take out the harddrive, then I can boot up off of a windows xp cd; is there a problem with the boot sector of the harddrive or something?

dai · 06-05-2008, 06:32 PM

download and run the hard drive makers diognostic utility on the hard drive

06-01-2008, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
idwtp Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP SP2	Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems Hi, I'm running Windows XP SP2 on an inspiron E1405. Recently, I've had problems starting anything up; after the dell startup screen loads, I get nothing but a black screen. If I try booting off of a cd, I get the same black screen. It seems the only 2 things I can run properly are the bios setup and some dell diagnostics tool that tells me everything is fine. Any suggestions? Thanks

06-01-2008, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems do you get anything in safe mode __________________

06-01-2008, 05:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
idwtp Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems I'm not sure how to get there. (F8 doesn't work) The startup tells me f12 for boot options and f2 for setup.

06-01-2008, 07:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems what boot options do you get from f12 are both the hard drive and cd drive listed correctly in the bios __________________

06-02-2008, 05:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
idwtp Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems Under F12 I get Internal HDD CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive Onboard NIC BIOS Setup <-- (same as F2) Diagnostics The harddrive and dvd drive are both listed correctly.

06-02-2008, 08:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems run Diagnostics __________________

06-03-2008, 05:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
idwtp Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems there are a bunch of tests, including: rtc test cmos confidence test pic video card connection test lcd inverter detection test lcd connection test graphics test memory test optical device built in self test dst short status testng but everything results in an ok

06-04-2008, 10:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems try hitting f8 abit futher into post and see if you get the windows boot menu __________________

06-04-2008, 12:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 2,203 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems F8 does work on Dell laptops, I have an Inspiron 9400 which is an E1705. Checked to make sure and it does get you to the safe modes.

06-05-2008, 09:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
idwtp Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems It's not doing anything on mine :P. But I booted up 'damn small linux' on usb, and everything worked fine - the harddrive was read correctly, etc. But if i take out the harddrive, then I can boot up off of a windows xp cd; is there a problem with the boot sector of the harddrive or something?

06-05-2008, 06:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Dell Inspiron E1405 Startup Problems download and run the hard drive makers diognostic utility on the hard drive __________________