How do I fix my Dell Inspiron laptop?

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
       #1

    How do I fix my Dell Inspiron laptop?


    I feel frazzled and abandoned. Since downloading the Windows 10 update last week my laptop has been rendered completely useless. I can boot it up, sign into windows but in less than 3 minutes I receive the new equivalent of the blue screen of death and the thing reboots. To further complicate matters my other computer the desktop seems totally unable to carry the Media Creation Tool to its end. After download is complete when checking applications it gets to about 50% and fails noting only "Something Happened." I have been on hold for Microsoft support for nearly an hour and have yet to reach a live person.

    I am completely unable to use my laptop. I have been unable to keep it on long enough to even begin to try to figure out a fix and I have been completely unable to reach a "Safe Mode" or create a boot disc to assist me in the problem. I have been trying nearly every day to figure this out. I have talked to 3 local technicians and the only hope they give me is to format the drive and reload Windows 7. I really would like to avoid that scenario. Can anyone offer me a ray of hope?

    Dave Lee
    Vernon, AZ
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 131
    Windows 10
       #2

    I'm sure you must be totally frustrated. I have a friend that had a very similar problem with a Inspiron. He would get to the desktop and get a message that there was a problem and the computer had to be restarted. It would do that over and over. He's not very tech savvy and I'm too far away to see what was actually going on. After about the 3rd reboot it did give him a screen with some options. Not sure what they all were but I think one of them would allow him to go back to his case Windows 8. In his case he took it to Best Buy and they are working on it. I haven't heard from him so I don't know if they were able to fix it or not.

    How did you try to enter Safe Mode? I looked at the Dell site and they had several methods. although most of them were from inside Windows. Not much help in this case. But one said to hold the shift key and press f8 right after you power it up. I'm used to the pressing the f8 but I never saw the holding the shift key part. But then I don't have a Dell.

    How did you try to upgrade? Did you use the Windows upgrade method or use the Medial tool from MS download site?

    I'm sorry I don't have an exact answer for you. There are a lot of really smart people on this forum, I'm sure one will chime in with some real help. Good luck.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    How did you try to enter Safe Mode?

    I have tried: F8, Shift-F8, Shift-Restart none of which have worked.

    How did you try to upgrade?

    Actually it was a nearly automatic download from Microsoft. It was downloading before I was much aware of it. Since I wanted it I let it go and didn't think much about it.

    Did you use the Windows upgrade method or use the Medial tool from MS download site?

    No.

      My Computer


  4. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #4

    If you have a Dell restore DVD , I would use it to restore. I have read that many Dell users are having issues with Windows 10 upgrades. Maybe contact Dell Support.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Specifically when I get the new stupid frowny-face blue screen of death the error says: SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED. I would really hate to have to wipe this computer clean and start from scratch.
      My Computer


  6. You
    Posts : 613
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64 (build 10586)
       #6
    Last edited by Barman58; 04 Aug 2015 at 03:29.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hi Gary! I may actually have to do that I was just hoping to avoid it. I have so many things I will lose by doing that including having to rebuild my iTunes collection.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hey You! Thanks! The problem is I can't stay signed on the desktop long enough to accomplish anything so these routes into safe mode just don't cut it.

    I guess I am just going to have to wipe this thing clean and reload windows. While sitting here on the forum this afternoon I have re-booted no less than six times consecutively and no other options have presented themselves. I can't figure out how to get any support out of Microsoft and the Dell website holds no answers for me except that the Dell Inspiron 1545 has not been tested for Windows 10 and may not work properly. I guess I'm off to visit my friendly tech person and have the thing set back to Windows 7.

      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6
    Windows 7/10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Situation PARTIALLY resolved


    Took my Dell Inspiron 1545 to a technician today. It turns out that I had conflicts in my startup programs. I had quite a few and he also felt that perhaps Avast Internet Security may also have been causing trouble. He did not "cure" my problem but he made it a LOT better. He disabled all startup programs, this helped a lot. He also suggested I start them back up one at a time to see if I can identify the trouble makers.

    Now I am crashing when I am in Programs and Features trying to uninstall unneeded and unwanted programs. But at least I can stay in there a little while. :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 131
    Windows 10
       #10

    Glad to see that you are at least mostly functional. No doubt virus programs can cause problems with installations. It's generally recommended that you stop them before you upgrade. Sometimes nothing beats taking it to someone that can actually see what's going on and I have some of the tools necessary to fix the problem. Thing now is to make a backup and a system image so next time you wont have to worry about losing everything if you need to do a clean install.
      My Computer


 

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