Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Can't start computer in regular mode

Sep 19, 2012 8:15AM PDT

I have an XPS ONE 2420 BY DELL and was trying to sell the computer and erased the operating system. I recall putting it back on and I was starting to reinstall the drivers and never finished. This was a year ago. Now I turned the computer on and it booted up and asked me my password. I couldn't remember it so automatically the windows updates started downloading all 109 of them. I just went to system restore to restore the computer before the updates were installed. It will not boot up in regular mode. Just safe mode. I kept getting some kind of error code 0F00:075D on the smart long self test. I have no idea what this is or what to do. Can you help or should I get someone to try to fix.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Why not install the OS again?
Sep 19, 2012 8:33AM PDT

Be sure that the hard drive is good or it will fail to install or have another issue later.

Or why not wipe the drive and sell it as-is?
Bob

- Collapse -
Installing OS Again
Sep 19, 2012 10:36AM PDT

As a matter of fact, I am reinstalling the OS as we speak. It said it was going to name the OS windows.old and the reinstall windows.new.

I will keep you informed as to the progress. Thank you for suggesting that I install the OS again.

- Collapse -
Install OS Again
Sep 19, 2012 1:47PM PDT

Thank you. Everything is working fine now. I'm downloading the drivers.

- Collapse -
Still having issues
Sep 20, 2012 3:47AM PDT

Well everything loaded, the OS loaded, all the drivers loaded from Dell's website. When I rebooted, the screen is still dark and I'm back to square 1. Can't figure this out. Could I have been in SAFE mode when I redid everything?

Someone please help.

- Collapse -
My answer is no.
Sep 20, 2012 7:09AM PDT

To install Windows you can't select safe or other modes.

There can be other causes such as a BIOS setting that isn't default, a video card that isn't stock, some USB thing was plugged in or the clue in the prior posts that the HDD was failing.

Try booting Safe Mode and setting the video to 800x600 and try again.

Also, this post is also a hint to unplug USB things, remove CDs, etc.
Bob

- Collapse -
Still having issues
Sep 20, 2012 7:25AM PDT

Thank you I will try the above and I'm about to give up. But I will try one more time. Just don't understand if the hard drive was failing, why did anything load at all. Thank you very much

- Collapse -
Because the SMART test is a predictive test.
Sep 20, 2012 7:30AM PDT

" I kept getting some kind of error code 0F00:075D on the smart long self test. "

Windows can crack up later because of such an issue. Since the hardware is not 100%, it may do this or something else. I listed other items in case you knew more than what is in these posts.


--> There's also another bad thing out there. A rootkit in the boot area is a little hard to kill. If this fails (the SAFE MODE trip) then try DBAN and then install the OS.
Bob

- Collapse -
PS. Posted too quick. A question.
Sep 20, 2012 7:32AM PDT

How many VGA connection are on this PC? I wonder if someone changed the BIOS or has a second video card. In other words, something not stock or USB thing plugged in?