Not sure what is going on...we had the power company shut of power to put a new poll in without notifying us while I was using my laptop, now I am having issues.

Dell Inspiron 6000 with Vista home premium...

When I start it up it gives me a screen that says that Windows was shut down improperly, giving me options as to how to boot. I tried hitting F8 and starting from the last known safe spot but no matter what option I try it acts like it is trying to start up and then I just get a dark, blank screen -- although I can still see and move my mouse.

Any ideas would be great and thanks in advance!

Joy

I'm seeing a lot of these recently - I suspect a conflict between a Windows Update and an older video driver (but have no evidence to support it). I've only had my hands on one of these since I've started suspecting this - and it didn't have any evidence (nor could I recreate the issue).

Are you trying the Last Known Good Configuration - or the Safe Mode - or both? If you can't get into Safe Mode, you'll have to try repairing it with the Vista DVD.

Thanks for your response. I did try both -- last known good config and safe mode (I was able to try and boot in safe mode). Both times it first acted like it was going to start up (shows the microsoft logo and the little bar) and then goes blank. I did have dell send me a new video card. The one that is in the dell now is the one that came with it. They sent me the only one that is compatible with the Inspiron (they said). I was debating if that was the prob or not and if I should try to put it in or just send it back. I have not tried to repair with the Vista DVD.

Thanks for your input and help, Joy.

I installed an updated video card but it still didn't startup correctly...

j joy j see if this 'repair' tutorial works for you:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

That worked. Started it off the DVD, used system restore to a date before I ran my last updates and everything is great.

So does this mean that I have to return the HP laptop I just bought? I talked my hubby into letting me get a new one, he's not to techy and doesn't know a thing about trying to fix stuff like this. So my plan...was to get a nice new laptop and someday get this fixed for our daughter. My new laptop still has a few days that I can return it... I think I'll have to keep it and continue to work on the "broken" one for a while.

Thanks for your help...
Joy