no boot/safemode on laptop

trbomike

Junior Member
Jan 16, 2014
1
0
0
My daughters Dell Inspiron N5040 running windows 7 home is crashed. you push the start button, it tries to boot but ends up on the "windows error Recovery" screen from there you can "launch Startup Repair" or "Start windows normally". Choosing either one just takes you back to the same screen.. F8 gives me all the safe mode options but it ends up going back to the "windows error recovery" screen again. I downloaded a ISO windows 7 but it won't book to the DVD or Jump drive. I'm at my wits end.. she don't have the original windows 7 disc or recovery disc.. any thoughts? thanks in advance
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,197
763
126
Use F12 during the initial power on process to get to the boot menu. You can choose to boot from the DVD there to attempt to repair the existing Windows installation.

Or you can also do a system recovery (which will wipe the system and reinstall Windows) by pressing F8 and choosing "Repair your computer", then "Dell Factory Image Recovery and Data Safe Options".
 

HOSED

Senior member
Dec 30, 2013
658
1
0
Good Suggestion ^^^ IF F12 fails, remove bottom cover and reseat RAM and hard drive, then retry. If you have an enclosure remove the drive and see if you can access it from another computer, if you can backup any needed data. Also power on, press F2 to enter BIOS and reset it to "defaults" then retry F12
2. did you verify checksum on the Win7 ISO file and what program did you use to make the Jump drive bootable? IF all looks good try the jump drive on another computer
Welcome to the forum
 

Gunbuster

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,852
23
81
You can also select the Dell diagnostics by pressing F12 while powering up the laptop.