The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[ThePhanastasio]

I am desperately in need of help. My favorite laptop has bit the dust, and I no longer want to share a computer.

What I'm working with:
Dell inspiron 1420
Windows Vista

I have lost my installation disk. And here is my problem:

The thing won't start up! (Windows won't open).

I turn it on - Dell start screen with option for F2 or F12

Then Windows error recovery. My options are:

Launch start-up repair (recommended)
Start Windows normally

When I launch startIup repair, it shows the loading bar for a bit, then goes to a black screen (although still backlit). It stays this way infinitely, as far as I can tell. I've given it an hour before.

The latter option: loading bar, then - brief flash of BSoD, then cpu restarts itself.

Really - is there anything I can do? :/