Member Avatar for lucylu100

Hi,

I have recently rebuilt my Dell Latitude laptop from Windows 98 to Windows 2000. My problem is that when I reboot the laptop, it freezes on the Windows 2000 splash screen. The problem does not arise when I do a shut down and start. I have adjusted the power management options in the BIOS but this doesn't do the trick. I have also checked the fans and they are fine. Can someone please advise on measures I can take.

Thanks

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Targeted diagnostics to try before a full reinstall. The thread shows has a warm-reboot hang at the Windows 2000 splash (BIOS power-management was already adjusted and fans checked), and and have recommended a fresh install. The short checklist below gathers evidence and often fixes warm-boot-only hangs without wiping data.

  • Remove non-essential hardware: unplug all USB devices, PCMCIA cards, external monitors/docks and try a warm reboot after each change to isolate a peripheral that fails to reinitialize.
  • Reset embedded-power state: fully remove AC and battery, hold the power button ~30 seconds to discharge, then reseat power and test. This can clear EC/firmware states that only affect warm reboots.
  • Use Safe Mode and boot logging: press F8 at boot and choose "Enable boot logging" (or Safe Mode). After a cold boot inspect C:\WINNT\ntbtlog.txt for drivers that fail to load or stop loading near the end of the file.
  • Test with the basic video driver: if a cold boot works, boot into Safe Mode, uninstall any vendor video driver and let Windows use the standard VGA driver; then test a warm reboot to see if the display driver is the culprit.
  • Check Event Viewer: after a successful cold boot review System/Application logs for errors reported just prior to shutdown/hang.

If the quick checks do not isolate the cause:

  • Verify BIOS and chipset: confirm the laptop BIOS and Windows 2000 chipset/storage drivers match Dell's supported versions and update only via the vendor procedures (BIOS updates carry risk—follow Dell instructions).
  • Look for HAL/ACPI mismatches: a HAL installed under a different power model can hang on reboot. Inspect Device Manager -> Computer for the HAL type; if a mismatch or corrupted HAL is suspected, a repair-install will replace it without destroying data.
  • Repair filesystem/system files: use the Windows 2000 recovery options to run disk checks and repair system files before considering a full wipe.

When diagnostics point to a corrupted driver or HAL and repairs fail, a clean install resolves the issue—but only as a last resort after backing up user data and collecting the boot logs above.

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Member Avatar for MAD_DOG

To make life easier just install Windows 2000 dont do the upgrade from 98 to 2000 outlook never seems so good. Just a thought.

Hi,

I have recently rebuilt my Dell Latitude laptop from Windows 98 to Windows 2000. My problem is that when I reboot the laptop, it freezes on the Windows 2000 splash screen. The problem does not arise when I do a shut down and start. I have adjusted the power management options in the BIOS but this doesn't do the trick. I have also checked the fans and they are fine. Can someone please advise on measures I can take.

Thanks

Member Avatar for Thong_Ispector

Did you start with a clean format?
You can power up and work in 2000 with no problem just not get it to restart correct?

It just hangs...

It is a software not a bios or hardware problem...

Member Avatar for MAD_DOG

It is one of those things that spending all this time trouble shooting it will (in my case) just waste time. Seriously to yourself a favor and start fresh man I bet anything that would work and it will also take less time.

Did you start with a clean format?
You can power up and work in 2000 with no problem just not get it to restart correct?

It just hangs...

It is a software not a bios or hardware problem...

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