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Question

Windows Vista Boot Problem

Oct 6, 2012 8:56AM PDT

I started to have Windows Vista boot problems after I cloned the old HDD to the new HDD and used the new HDD as the boot HDD. It is a Dell Dimension E521 desktop computer and the boot problems are as follows.

The computer can boot every other time. When it runs into boot problems, it stops at loading the BIOS. I cannot press F2 nor F12 to enter the BIOS menu either. But if I press the reset button to force it to stop and press it again to start, it will work just fine.

Can someone give me pointers on how to debug? Thanks.

David

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
So why clone?
Oct 6, 2012 9:06AM PDT

Why not use Dell's fresh install and see if that fixes it?

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Dell Re-installation DVD
Oct 7, 2012 3:16AM PDT

Will the install this DVD impact other software programs and data I have on the disk?

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It will not affect the old HDD so files are still there.
Oct 7, 2012 3:20AM PDT

The fresh install will answer a lot of questions.
Bob

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Answer
It could be as simple as ...
Oct 6, 2012 9:05AM PDT

checking the data and power cables to the new drive to ensure they are firmly seated at BOTH ENDS - a loose connection (metal) will expand as it is heated and the expansion may be enough to make contact.

It could also be that the hard drive isn't spinning up fast enough. Go into the BIOS and make sure it is set to perform a full memory check (some have a setting to enable or disable fast booting) as this check also would allow a loose connection to expand as it heated.

Did you make ANY other changes when you changed the hard drive?

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probably not temperature related
Oct 7, 2012 3:19AM PDT

My guess that it is not temperature related. I can use the computer for a few days and do a reboot. Then the computer would hang at loading the BIOS stage. If I shut it down and quickly start it again, it would work.

I used Acronis to clone the HDD. That is the only change I made to the system that caused the problem.

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Answer
"Then the computer would hang at loading the BIOS stage. If
Oct 7, 2012 3:23AM PDT

"Then the computer would hang at loading the BIOS stage. If I shut it down and quickly start it again, it would work."

THAT is the classic symptom of BAD CAPS. Given we know Dell got slammed with millions of dead PCs over this you should be sure to learn about BAD CAPS and inspect your PC.
Bob