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This is a Gateway unit running WinXP Pro. It worked fine when I gave it to my 90 year old father. He claims that: "it wouldn't turn off!" and so he unplugged it. Ever since it froze on start-up. Right at the point that several dots are racing across in a small bar under the logo. The dots stop and the unit sits there frozen.

Before then, if I choose an option by pushing TAB, it will display lots of arcane words and then ask if I want to start normally, in a few varieties of Safe Mode, or to revert to some earlier working configuration.

The revert to earlier config does not work.

Safe mode works. But I have no idea what to change to prevent the original problem. <g>

This is not a computer virus - there has been no internet exposure.

So? What can you all suggest?

My father will never be able to grasp any concept which involves 'hitting ESC, starting in safe mode, etc. It just needs to come on and run. All he does on it is play simple games anyway.

Thanks!

PHM
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Dani AI

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Short, practical checklist and next steps for (and anyone seeing the same symptoms): the freeze while the XP dots animate most often means Windows is hung on a driver, disk error, or corrupted system files; a later blank/“no signal” monitor means the problem may have progressed to a hardware/POST/video failure. Work top-down: fast hardware triage first, then Windows-level repair, then data-first recovery if repairs risk data loss.

  • Quick hardware checks (do these before any repair install): confirm fans/LEDs spin and the PSU makes normal sounds; try a different monitor or cable; unplug all USB/peripheral devices; reseat RAM and the video card (power off and unplug first); listen for POST beeps and note any beep patterns.
  • If Safe Mode is still reachable: start there and run chkdsk /r on the system drive, run sfc /scannow if possible, check Event Viewer for disk/driver errors, and use msconfig to disable non-Microsoft services/startup items so you can identify a bad driver/service.
  • If Safe Mode is not available: boot the XP CD into Recovery Console and run chkdsk /r, then fixboot and fixmbr if the disk looks healthy. If you can’t boot the CD, use a Linux/Live-CD or a rescue USB to copy important files off the drive before further repair.
  • Test hardware health: run a RAM test (Memtest86+) and a SMART/hard-drive diagnostic from the drive maker (SeaTools, WD Data Lifeguard, etc.). A failing HDD or bad RAM can produce both the dotted freeze and sudden loss of video.
  • Repair vs reinstall: try a Repair Install (keeps programs/files) only after backups. If Windows boots inconsistently after repairs, plan a clean reinstall and restore user data.

Notes and cautions: avoid destructive steps (repartitioning, low-level format) until data is backed up. If hardware tests fail, replace the failed component rather than chasing software fixes. ’s tone reminder is apt here — stay systematic; one change at a time.

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Member Avatar for Poodleheadmikey

Now the bastard just does nothing when I turn it off and then back on. The monitor just stays black/blank and displays a message saying that there is nothing wrong with the monitor.

But rather than punch the shit out of it I'm going to go ride a motorcycle for a while.

Member Avatar for sittas87

come on buddy thats not the way the danny peeps speaks in here.

Member Avatar for Poodleheadmikey

Sorry. Lost my head there for a moment.

Fooling with this recalcitrant computer had, to my eternal shame, pried back a corner my normally thick coating of civility.

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