Member Avatar for D.Ferguson

every now and then when i start up my Dell desktop running windows vista, it gets to the black screen with 'micosoft corp' and the scrolling green bars, but just stays on this screen for ages

i end up holding down the power button and restarting again, this causes the 'there was a problem starting up your machine last-time' screen with the two options, run problem fixer or start normally, sometimes if i skip the startup repair option and go with 'start windows normally' it works, sometimes it doesn't

i cant remember installing any new software that may have caused this malfunction, but it was a long time ago now and we've just been patient. but recently the problem is gettin worse and more frequent and difficult to bluff our way past...

i have a sneaky suspiscion that it may be to do with the router (belkin 54G)as this normally co-incides with internet connection problems but it maywell not be, seen as i am however accessing this site via my laptop which is working fine - its probably a seperate problem

any help people?

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Dani AI

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This looks like an early-boot problem (freeze at the Vista logo/green bars) rather than an Internet/router issue, so treat the router advice from and the power-cycle idea from as useful first checks but move on to hardware/boot diagnostics. Because Startup Repair and System Restore sometimes run and then hang, the fault is intermittent — that pattern commonly points to a failing disk, flaky driver, or bad RAM. When the machine does boot, back up any important files immediately; repeated forced shutdowns increase risk of permanent data loss.

Try this prioritized checklist (in order):

  • Disconnect all non-essential USB/peripherals (printers, external drives, USB hubs) and try booting.
  • Use F8 to attempt Safe Mode or “Last Known Good Configuration.” If Safe Mode starts, inspect Event Viewer (Windows Logs → System) for disk/driver errors.
  • Enable Boot Logging (F8 → Enable Boot Logging), then check C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt to see the last driver loaded before the hang.
  • Run a full memory test (bootable memtest86 or equivalent) — let at least one full pass finish.
  • Check the hard drive’s SMART status and run the manufacturer’s long diagnostic (bootable utility) — watch for reallocated/pending sectors or long test failures.
  • If you can boot from a Vista DVD/repair disc, open Repair → Command Prompt and try offline system checks and BCD repairs:
    sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd

If memtest or the HDD diagnostics show errors, plan hardware replacement (RAM or HDD). If offline SFC/bootrec repairs allow a normal boot, make a full backup and update storage/chipset drivers and BIOS carefully. If diagnostics are clean but the problem persists, perform a clean boot (msconfig) to isolate a driver/service, or image the drive and test with the disk connected to another PC.

Because Vista is old and unsupported, use this opportunity to secure data and plan migration to a supported system. If any of the above steps are unclear or you get specific error messages/log lines, capture those and they’ll point to the next action.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

simply disconnection it from the router would solve it if was being caused by the router.
next time you are in windows run chkdsk .how to in link .

Member Avatar for mjdodd

I bow the the superior knowledge of caperjack but have you tried a complete reboot after turning everything off including the router and then turning everything on except the computer and then turning it on last. i have had routers that have got stuck and they can be a pain as they do not tell you they are causing the problem.
Hope this helps

M

Member Avatar for D.Ferguson

Nah i've decided it's NOT the router

sometimes it turns on straight away sometimes it takes two or three attempts using the "start windows normally" pathway, rarely does it work when you run the startup repair wizard, often it takes me to a system restore which requires a reboot during which it then gets stuck again and i have to force shut down again

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