How to fix a Dell Inspiron laptop that keeps crashing, restarting by itself (easy steps)

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Need help with your Dell Inspiron that keeps crashing, or restarting by itself? If so, then this content is for you. Read on to learn how to troubleshoot bootloop problems on your laptop and get it back up and running smoothly as intended with any of the applicable fixes highlighted in this post.

Bootloop problem does not only occurs in mobile devices but only on desktop and laptop computers. In most cases, the problem is triggered by some malware of software glitches. There are also other instances when the bootloop is triggered by some damaged components on the computer. This usually occurs when the computer has accumulated a physical or liquid damage from a drop or liquid exposure. Unfortunately in the latter cases, service would already be necessary in order to get the problem fixed once and for all. However, for bootloop problems that are software-related, you still can take your chances by resorting to some troubleshooting procedures and workarounds.

Highlighted below are solutions and workarounds you can try should you wish to troubleshoot your Dell Inspiron that keeps on crashing, restarting by itself, or stuck on infinite Windows boot loop. You may proceed whenever you’re all set.

Now, before we proceed, if you found this post while finding a solution to a different problem, then visit our Dell Inspiron troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this machine. If you can’t find something useful, then fill up our computer issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Forced reboot (hard reset)

Performing a hard reset is the first recommended procedure when dealing with booting problems like when your Dell Inspiron does not boot into operating system or able to boot up but then suddenly crashes and restarts by itself.

A forced shutdown often rectifies minor issues inflicted by random program crashes, corrupted data, drivers, or operating system itself. It can also help eliminate any residual power that might be causing conflict.

Here’s how to perform a hard reset on your Dell Inspiron laptop:

  1. Turn off your laptop.
  2. Disconnect the power cord or AC adapter.
  3. Remove all external devices or USB peripherals like USB drivers, media cards, and printer cables from your laptop.
  4. Connect the power cord or AC adapter.
  5. Press the Power button to turn on.

Alternatively, you can remove the battery from your laptop and then re-install it after a few seconds. Make sure that the battery is properly secured before turning your laptop back on.

Disable firewall/antivirus (if applicable)

If your laptop can successfully boot into Windows, try to disable any firewall or antivirus software installed. While security software like firewall and antivirus programs can help prevent hackers or malware from gaining access to your computer over the Internet, sometimes they interfere with the operating system routine thereby causing system errors. To rule this out from the possible causes, try to temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus software then see how your laptop performs without any security software enabled. Here’s how to temporarily disable or turn of firewall on your Dell Inspiron laptop:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Click Control Panel.
  3. Click Security.
  4. Click Windows Firewall.
  5. Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
  6. If prompted, enter the administrator password or login authentication to confirm action.
  7. Click Off (not recommended).
  8. Then click OK.

If the problem persists with the firewall disabled, it denotes another culprit. Enable the firewall again to keep your computer secured. Try to work with your antivirus (if there’s any) afterwards.

To uninstall an antivirus software on your Dell Inspiron laptop, follow these steps:

The process of removing antivirus software may vary depending on the security software that is currently installed on your system. But if you’re using windows 10, you can try the usual procedure as demonstrated below:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Apps.
  3. Locate the security program or antivirus software that you want to uninstall.
  4. Right-click on the program and click the option to Uninstall.

To know the correct procedure, you can visit the software’s support website. Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer.

Boot into safe mode

Booting into safe mode is often recommended if your computer shuts down incorrectly or refuses to boot up properly. In safe mode, no programs start automatically and your computer will not connect to the network. It allows you to fix software problems on your computer without endangering your data and hardware. There are different ways to enter safe mode on your Dell Inspiron laptop. The steps may vary depending on the operating system your computer is running on.

(For Windows 10/8) If you can boot into Windows follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Start menu.
  2. Click Settings near the bottom.
  3. Click on Update and Security.
  4. Select Recovery.
  5. Click Advanced startup.
  6. Click Startup settings.
  7. Then click Restart now. More options will show up when your computer restarts.
  8. Select Troubleshoot to continue.
  9. Then go to Advanced options-> Startup settings-> Restart.
  10. Select Safe Mode from the given options.

Alternatively, you can run safe mode on your Dell Inspiron by launching the system configuration. Here’s how:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Type msconfig on the search box.
  3. Click to select System Configuration from the list of search results.
  4. Click the Boot tab.
  5. On the next screen, check the box to enable Safe boot using different Safe Mode options available.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Restart.

Your computer will then boot into safe mode.

Other ways to boot your Dell Inspiron laptop into safe mode

The easiest way to enter Safe Mode in Windows 10/8 platforms is through the Windows login screen. If your Dell Inspiron laptop can boot into the Windows login screen, simply select the option to Restart and hold down the Shift key. Doing so will prompt you with options to troubleshoot your system. Select the option to Boot into Safe Mode.

If you are already logged in but your laptop shows a black screen, you can press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys on your keyboard simultaneously until you see the selection screen. Select the option to Logout, then restart. Then hold down the Shift key to get you to the screen from which you can select Safe Mode.

Reformat Windows OS on your laptop

Restore your laptop’s software to factory defaults.

This should be considered the last resort as the process involves wiping files and data from your device. That being said, be sure to backup important files and data stored on your computer before you proceed with the following steps to reformat and restore your computer system to factory defaults:

  1. Turn on your laptop.
  2. As it starts, press the F8 key on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu shows up on the screen. Be sure to press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears, otherwise, the Advanced Boot Options menu won’t show up and you need to go back from the start.
  3. Press the Arrow Down key on your keyboard to highlight/select the option to Repair Your Computer from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
  4. Press the Enter/Return key to confirm selection.
  5. Specify the language settings based on your preferences then click Next.
  6. Log in as an administrator or user with administrative credentials.
  7. Then click OK.
  8. Click Dell Factory Image Restore.
  9. When the Dell Factory Image Restore screen appears, click Next.
  10. Click to select the checkbox next to Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition.  Doing so will reset and restore your laptop system to its factory defaults.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Wait until your laptop is restored to the default configuration.
  13. When the restore is complete, click Finish.

Your laptop then restarts. At this point, the software is installed and running in factory defaults.

If the problem persists after reformatting the software, you may need to escalate the problem already.

Contact Dell Support for further assistance in performing more advanced troubleshooting procedures if none of the aforementioned methods is able to fix the problem and your laptop is still restarting by itself. They will also be able to help you diagnose your computer hardware for any possible indications of hardware damage. Problems like this can also be a symptom of a faulty hard drive if not a bad RAM.

Connect with us

We understand that for many computer users, troubleshooting is really difficult that’s why we’re here to help you find a solution…for free. All we need is information about your computer and the problem. Just fill up our Computer issues questionnaire here and give us the information we need. Also include your own observation on how and when the problem started or what you were doing when the problem emerged. We will help you find a solution to fix your problem or advise you what to do.

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