Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell

k-novice · 02-26-2009, 09:44 AM

I bought a Dell from walmart with preinstalled Vista. I have had it almost 2 years. After a recent update (I guess) is now saying the Vista is not genuine and I'm getting a black screen at start up. I need my computer! I've been everywher with no help.
I am not vry computer literate so some of the lingo is greek to me. I have so many pictures and my financec on there tha I cannot lose!
Bam someone PLEASE help me!
K

Espeon · 02-26-2009, 11:31 AM

If your computer came with a boot disk, I'd try using that. If you can't boot from the disk, then re-install your operating system.

Hope this helps!

Lemme know how it goes.

RockLee · 02-26-2009, 12:12 PM

Can you boot into safe mode?

seantobin5 · 02-26-2009, 12:48 PM

there should be a recovery partition. do a system file recovery or whatever it is and it should be all good...

**wrench97** · 02-26-2009, 01:02 PM

Does it give you a choice to make it legal or to contact MS?

RockLee · 02-26-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seantobin5

there should be a recovery partition. do a system file recovery or whatever it is and it should be all good...

While doing this will get his system working again he will most likely lose all the files he is trying to save

k-novice · 02-27-2009, 09:48 AM

Thanks for all the input. I don't remember if it had any disk with it. It probably did. The problem is finding them. I have followed some directions that were on the Dell and Microsoft forums without success.
Yesterday something came up about installing service pack 1....well, the brilliant computer expert (NOT) that I am, I did it. It took hours. When it finally stopped, everything looked OK. I used it fro about 15 minuets and a black screen came on. Then it went to the Vista screen and it has on it "Service Pack did not install. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer."
This started last night, I just closed it and brought it to work today. The same message has been on there every since. It's just that message and the little blue circle going around and around and around......

I am going to go online at work and see if I can locate a repair place somewhere in my area. I'm so disgusted. It's ridiculous that I have to spend money on something that is clearly not my fault!

Any suggestions? I can't get anyone on the
phone at Dell or Microsoft without paying!

How do I know if someone is good?

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 12:27 PM

SP1 installation support is Free from MS> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921

seantobin5 · 02-27-2009, 12:56 PM

well, actually, if you tell it to just repair startup files, it wont do anything to the files on it... or just do an automated recovery of ssomething... it worked on at least 15 computers ive doneit on and it hasnt wiped any hard drive...

k-novice · 02-27-2009, 01:20 PM

The Service pack uninstall finally stopped. It let me go in and actually worked for a while. I logged off to go to lunch, when I got back the Service pack started "Reverting changes" again!
My computer will not be usable for another few hours now.

Sean: when I can get back on there, where do I go to tell it to repair startup files?

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 01:30 PM

You need the Vista disk if you got one when you ordered it, if not from Dell> http://support.dell.com/support/topi...=us&l=en&s=gen

seantobin5 · 02-28-2009, 11:30 AM

there should be an option o the bios screen when you first turn on your computer that says recovery or something...

02-26-2009, 09:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
k-novice Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: dell inspiron 1501	Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell I bought a Dell from walmart with preinstalled Vista. I have had it almost 2 years. After a recent update (I guess) is now saying the Vista is not genuine and I'm getting a black screen at start up. I need my computer! I've been everywher with no help. I am not vry computer literate so some of the lingo is greek to me. I have so many pictures and my financec on there tha I cannot lose! Bam someone PLEASE help me! K

02-26-2009, 11:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Espeon Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell If your computer came with a boot disk, I'd try using that. If you can't boot from the disk, then re-install your operating system. Hope this helps! Lemme know how it goes.

02-26-2009, 12:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
RockLee Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 282 OS: Windows 7 Beta Build 7000, XP Pro SP3	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell Can you boot into safe mode?

02-26-2009, 12:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
seantobin5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 94 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Ubuntu Linux 9.04	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell there should be a recovery partition. do a system file recovery or whatever it is and it should be all good... __________________ ~Sean T.

02-26-2009, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell Does it give you a choice to make it legal or to contact MS? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 09:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
k-novice Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: dell inspiron 1501	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell Thanks for all the input. I don't remember if it had any disk with it. It probably did. The problem is finding them. I have followed some directions that were on the Dell and Microsoft forums without success. Yesterday something came up about installing service pack 1....well, the brilliant computer expert (NOT) that I am, I did it. It took hours. When it finally stopped, everything looked OK. I used it fro about 15 minuets and a black screen came on. Then it went to the Vista screen and it has on it "Service Pack did not install. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer." This started last night, I just closed it and brought it to work today. The same message has been on there every since. It's just that message and the little blue circle going around and around and around...... I am going to go online at work and see if I can locate a repair place somewhere in my area. I'm so disgusted. It's ridiculous that I have to spend money on something that is clearly not my fault! Any suggestions? I can't get anyone on the phone at Dell or Microsoft without paying! How do I know if someone is good?

02-27-2009, 12:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell SP1 installation support is Free from MS> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 12:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
seantobin5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 94 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Ubuntu Linux 9.04	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell well, actually, if you tell it to just repair startup files, it wont do anything to the files on it... or just do an automated recovery of ssomething... it worked on at least 15 computers ive doneit on and it hasnt wiped any hard drive... __________________ ~Sean T.

02-27-2009, 01:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
k-novice Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: dell inspiron 1501	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell The Service pack uninstall finally stopped. It let me go in and actually worked for a while. I logged off to go to lunch, when I got back the Service pack started "Reverting changes" again! My computer will not be usable for another few hours now. Sean: when I can get back on there, where do I go to tell it to repair startup files?

02-27-2009, 01:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell You need the Vista disk if you got one when you ordered it, if not from Dell> http://support.dell.com/support/topi...=us&l=en&s=gen __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-28-2009, 11:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
seantobin5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 94 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Ubuntu Linux 9.04	Re: Vista Black screen on pre installed Dell there should be an option o the bios screen when you first turn on your computer that says recovery or something... __________________ ~Sean T.