Dell laptop i1545, gets stuck on starup

[704_Skate]

Hey everyone, one of my friends has a problem with their dell, I tried to figure out what was wrong but I couldn't quite grasp a single thing that caused it, now before I say what's wrong, she did call dell tech support after I looked at it, and they were able to get the computer in safe mode and do a system recovery, right afterwords the computer became slow and froze again. So it sounds like a hardware problem to me?

Ok, so here's what happened from what I've been told, a couple days ago, she wanted to download the google toolbar, and she knew google chrome had it, she went to download that, and shes not sure if the computer froze before or after she hit run after the install file downloaded, but the computer had froze and she just held the power button to turn it off. Upon start up the computer froze at the black screen where the green dot moves across that bar, and it says Microsoft Corporation. She then turned it off and tried to go to safe mode, made it there at one point and did a virus scan, she said it found some high risk viruse threats, after that she tried to get rid of them, didn't know what happened, re did the scan and the viruses were gone. The next day when I came over I looked at it, the black screen before she tries to start the computer says this;

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

Then it said some other stuff,at that screen she had the option to start windows normally, or do a startup rapair and try to fix it, she did that and it took her back to the same black screen with the Microsoft Corp logo and it would freze there. Then, like I said in the first paragraph,she called dell, that didn't seem to work out, so I came here to ask if anyone knows what's wrong? She didn't a system restore, so I'm guessing it's a hardware problem, RAM or her HDD?

sorry if this was typed up pretty bad, I'm in a rush to get out the door right now.Being so cold out I have to take extra time to get ready.

[Midknyte]

Start by running a hard drive diag before you waste more time troubleshooting software. Get the diag app like Seatools from the hard drive manufacturer or download UBCD.

UBCD also has Memtest86+.

[704_Skate]

Ok how do I download it onto the computer?!?

[Midknyte]

You have to burn the .iso to a CD, then boot from the disc.

I'm guessing you didn't see the link in my signature.
http://ubcd.linuxfreedom.com/

http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/faq.html

[704_Skate]

Btw this is windows, will that link still work?! Also once I burn it to a CD how do I start the scan?!

[Midknyte]

Btw this is windows, will that link still work?

What do you mean? You go to the link, download the iso, then burn the .iso AS AN IMAGE to a CD.

You don't run the diags in Windows. You boot from the CD. That's why it is called the Ultimate BOOT CD.

After it boots, you choose the diag you want from the menu.

Please read the FAQ.

[704_Skate]

Ahh ok I understand, sorry about that! I'll test tomorrow and let you know, but her computer keeps frezing so hopefully I'll be able to complete the diag. She got it working again but it keeps frezing now!

[704_Skate]

Hmm before I do this, because the computer is actually running again, is there any scan I can do with the command promt to check if there are any problems with the computer, like 'sfc scan now' or something?

[Train]

Follow Midknyte instructions.

Start by running a hard drive diag before you waste more time troubleshooting software. Get the diag app like Seatools from the hard drive manufacturer or download UBCD.

UBCD also has Memtest86+.

Unless you feel you have everything you would hate to lose backed up. And can afford to lose everything on the hdd when the ram or hdd messes up. And they will, just give it a bit of time.

[704_Skate]

Ok thanks, this person has not backed anything up but their music, which is backed up onto an online storage provided by their virus program.

I did forget to mention the computer is not even 6 months old, so it's kind of new, probably a defect instead of just ware n tare on it. That's good thought because free replacement on any defective/damaged part!

[Train]

Might open it up and used canned air to clean the inside of the case. Dust causes heat to get hotter and that is the number 1 enemy of computers. I have had to clean computers every three weeks when I lived int he Seattle area. Yep, they got dirty that fast!

[704_Skate]

Holy crap, that must've got annoying to clean! My laptop use to over heat from dust, got all inside the fan and a quick spray with compressed air and it was running fast again! Same problem is building up now, I don't want to open up mine or my friends laptop because I'm not sure how to ground myself, I've been a static magnet ever since the cold weather!!!!! Thanks for mentioning dust though, I'll keep that in mind next time I see my friend!

[Train]

I suggest shop time then.
To be on the safe side.