BIOS setup screen in loop after resetting to factory specs on Inspiron 1525

Hi all,
I recently had a problem with my Dell Inspiron 1525 (System Event
Notification Service error) and I had to use the function to return
the system to its factory settings. I believe this involves using an
OS image that's installed on a separate partition on the laptops hard
drive. I followed the steps in the manual which involves using the F8
setup screen and selecting "repair your computer" and "system recovery
options" and selecting restore factory settings or something to that
effect. I selected this and after about 10 minutes a message appeared
stating that the return to factory settings was successful. Per the
instructions, I hit enter but after I did the computer went into a
continuous loop of showing the bios screen and what sounded like
trying to boot up and then back to the bios screen. It would continue
doing this unless I hit the power button or pressed the F2 key or the
F12 key. I hit F2 and noticed that the boot sequence had been changed
to diskette drive as first and hard drive as second. I changed it to
make the hard drive the first in the boot sequence, CD-ROM second and
USB third, there's no diskette drive on this system. I selected save
and exit to save these settings however the computer is still in that
continuous loop. Pressing F12 only gives me the option for selecting
the operating system to boot but The Vista Business is the only OS on
this computer. When I select this the machine goes back into the BIOS
endless loop. Hitting F12 only allows me to change which device to
boot from.

I guess I have the other option of reinstalling the operating system
from the OS disk Dell provided but I'm wondering if that is the same
as the restore to factory settings option? For example, are all the
necessary drivers and other applications that were on the machine when
it left the factory copied during installation? The manual says the OS
image file on the hard drive has all the drivers and applications so
I'd really like to go that route if I can but I do need some advice on
how to fix this problem with the Bios looping. Thanks in advance for
any help!

"Daniel G." <> wrote in message
news...

<snip>


Try pressing F8 and see if you can boot to desktop in safe mode. ?

Reinstalling from the Dell Vista CD is only the OS; not a restore of the
full factory image with all drivers/apps.

You have a hardware problem and should be in contact with the computer
manufacturer. It has nothing to do with Windows as, according to your
description, the computer does not even reach the point where Windows will
begin to boot. It is stuck in a bios hardware reboot loop.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience



"Daniel G." <> wrote in message
news...
> Hi all,
> I recently had a problem with my Dell Inspiron 1525 (System Event
> Notification Service error) and I had to use the function to return
> the system to its factory settings. I believe this involves using an
> OS image that's installed on a separate partition on the laptops hard
> drive. I followed the steps in the manual which involves using the F8
> setup screen and selecting "repair your computer" and "system recovery
> options" and selecting restore factory settings or something to that
> effect. I selected this and after about 10 minutes a message appeared
> stating that the return to factory settings was successful. Per the
> instructions, I hit enter but after I did the computer went into a
> continuous loop of showing the bios screen and what sounded like
> trying to boot up and then back to the bios screen. It would continue
> doing this unless I hit the power button or pressed the F2 key or the
> F12 key. I hit F2 and noticed that the boot sequence had been changed
> to diskette drive as first and hard drive as second. I changed it to
> make the hard drive the first in the boot sequence, CD-ROM second and
> USB third, there's no diskette drive on this system. I selected save
> and exit to save these settings however the computer is still in that
> continuous loop. Pressing F12 only gives me the option for selecting
> the operating system to boot but The Vista Business is the only OS on
> this computer. When I select this the machine goes back into the BIOS
> endless loop. Hitting F12 only allows me to change which device to
> boot from.
>
> I guess I have the other option of reinstalling the operating system
> from the OS disk Dell provided but I'm wondering if that is the same
> as the restore to factory settings option? For example, are all the
> necessary drivers and other applications that were on the machine when
> it left the factory copied during installation? The manual says the OS
> image file on the hard drive has all the drivers and applications so
> I'd really like to go that route if I can but I do need some advice on
> how to fix this problem with the Bios looping. Thanks in advance for
> any help!

If the O/S were missing he would get a message saying same. I have seen it
many dozens of times. He doesn't get far enough into the boot process to
begin to receive that message.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience



"RnR" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 19:34:50 -0400, "Richard Urban"
> <> wrote:
>
>>You have a hardware problem and should be in contact with the computer
>>manufacturer. It has nothing to do with Windows as, according to your
>>description, the computer does not even reach the point where Windows will
>>begin to boot. It is stuck in a bios hardware reboot loop.
>
>
> I'm not so sure about that. Suppose he wiped out his OS. If it were
> me, before I'd assume it's hardware, I'd try to reinstall the OS and
> then make the call if hardware or software.