Hello, My friend just received a used laptop and it's a pretty nice computer. The only problem is that when Windows is booting up it has a tendency to freeze. Many times the green bar that scrolls across the screen during boot up (the screen with the XP logo) will just stop after scrolling a couple of times. Other times, the screen to start the computer in safe mode comes up. If he chooses to use the last known good configuration it still freezes again sometimes. Then, after having to shut down the computer due to it freezing a couple of times it will eventually start up fine. Once it does start up, everything is fine. It also tends to only do this when it has been turned off for a little while. So, if it is off for a day and he tries to turn it back on, then it will freeze a couple of times. However, it he just tries to restart it then everything is ok. I tried everything obvious like removing spyware and checking for viruses but it didn't seem to help. So, at this point I'm not too sure what else I can do to try and fix this problem. The only other idea I had was to try and do a repair of the operating system, but I have a feeling that won't help the issue. Is it possible that it could be a problem with the hard drive going bad? It just really stumps me as to why it will only freeze like that when it has been off for a little while. I'd really appreciate it if you guys have any ideas. Thanks! Kevin

A couple of things to try * Boot into Safe Mode then: Start > Run > enter "msconfig" (w/o quotes) OK or Enter. Click the "Startup" tab then "Disable All" Reboot -- if all works fine then you can begin the process of elimination until you discover which program is the culprit. * If it isn't a program then it could be a system file problem. With the XP CD in your CD-ROM, boot to Safe Mode: Start > Run > type "sfc /scannow" (w/o quotes). Windows will check for / replace corrupt / overwritten system files. Reboot. Neither of these operations has to be performed in Safe Mode. I suggest that here because of the difficulty you have with freeze ups -- it might be a lot quicker. If neither of these does it for you a system repair / restore might be the way to go. Maybe someone else will post other suggestions soon. Good luck.

Have you ran antivirus scans on this comp yet? If the antivirus and antispyware programs came with the effected comp then they may be corrupted by a virus. Try downloading avg free antivirus off of download.com onto a cd then running it on your comp.

Try this... -Boot up without any USB devices attached. -Boot up without the battery or cd/dvd drive. -Update your drivers...specifically video, sata, power management, chipset, etc. -Update your BIOS. -Run a CHKDSK /R on the drive.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll be sure to follow up with how things went when I have a chance to try some of these fixes. Kevin

i have a dell inspiron 1000, and i have the same exact problem...i actually just reformatted my hard drive.....and i still have the problem. After being off for hours...when i start it up....maybe 1, 2 , 3 even 4 times...., i must retart....., but if ive been on it,and need to re-start , its fine....Sometimes i freeze...and sometimes, it just wont continue the start up.....HELP