The ambient temp for my dell latitude 100L caused an error message which after repair requires the computer to be prompted using the F-1 key. How can this be elliminated.

1. Who is the computer manufacturer?
2. When exactly do you get the error message?
There is a high chance that your hard disk is corrupt. Before we conclude this, try the following steps and check the result.
Step 1: Check for disk errors
a. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
b. Press a key when you are prompted.
c. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
d. Click Repair your computer.
e. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
f. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
g. On the command prompt, type chkdsk /r and hit enter.
Note: If the outcome of the scan is unrecoverable errors, then the hard disk is either damaged or corrupt.
h. Once the scan completes, remove the DVD and restart the computer to see if the system starts fine.
See Make system repairs from the Windows Recovery Environment
For additional support, you can get in touch with the system manufacturer to check if they have any diagnostic tools to check hardware.

Ifyou have compressed the hard disk drive using the Compress drive to save disk space option under the Propertiesmenu for your hard disk drive and have performed a non-destructive recovery ora system recovery, the following error message may appear: NTLDR is compressed. Press CRTL-ALT-DEL to restart. This error message is resolved byfollowing these steps: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD drive onthe computer and restart the computer. 2. Press F12 when the computer firststarts, then select CD-ROM, click any key to boot into windows startup. 3. When you get to the install windowsXP screen: 4. Press Rto repair the Windows XP installation using Recovery Console. 5. Enter the appropriate number for theWINDOWS installation, for example, the WINDOWS installation could be listed as 3:C:\WINDOWS or 3: D:\WINDOWS . 6. If prompted, enter yourAdministrator password and press Enter . If there is no password, justpress Enter . 7. At the prompt, if the WINDOWSinstallation you selected in Step 4 was C:\WINDOWS, type: cdc:\ Or, if theWINDOWS installation you selected in Step 4 was D:\WINDOWS, type: cdd:\ 8. At the prompt, type: attrib-c ntldr and thenpress Enter . 9. At the prompt, type: exit 10.Press the Enter key and immediately remove all discs or diskettes from thecomputer to allow the computer to restart.

you have a windows system file corruption on the c_437.nls file which is a national languages file required by windows to run.

repair this problem following these instructions-

1. Boot your computer from your Windows installation CD- ie-insert the CD and restart your computer.
2. Select 'R' for the recovery console and log on as administrator.
3. At the command prompt type the following:
cd system32
then press enter
4. Then type the following:
ren c_437.nls c_437.old
then press enter
4. Then type the following:
EXPAND D:\I386\c_437.nl_ C:\WINDOWS\system32\c_437.nls
then press enter

(If your CD drive is different than D: or your primary hard
drive/partition is other than C:, substitute the appropriate
drive letters.)
4. Select yes when you're prompted to overwrite the existing file.
5. Reboot the computer.

Depending on the level of file corruption, you may have to repeat this
process for additional files. To do this follow the instructions above substituting the file name.

//javaftper

Boot Priority on Dell Latitude 100L

1. Turn On Your PC
   Have you ever noticed the messages that pop up on the screen as soon as you turn on your PC? These messages tell you a key combination you can press to enter "Setup" or the "BIOS." Watch your screen and see if you can read what keys to press.
   
2. Press the Keys to Enter Setup Mode
   If you did not see a message telling you what keys to press, try tapping the following possibilities as you turn on the machine:
   
   • Esc
     
   • F2
     
   • F12
     
   • F10
     
   • F1
     
   After pressing Esc or other key, you will most likely see instructions telling you how to enter "Setup Mode". Follow those instructions.
   On some computers, you must hold down the key before you press the power button to turn on the computer. For example, if you are converting a Toshiba laptop to a Linux Workstation, you must hold down the Esc key and then press the power button. The computer then asks you to press F1, and you can then set the "Boot Priority."
   
3. Using the Arrow Keys, Choose the "Boot," "Boot Order," or "Boot Priority" Option
   The menu of choices you see will be different for different kinds of computers. Remember that the choice you want is the "Boot" order or "Boot Priority." On some computers, this is called the "Start Up Options" or "Start Up Sequences." You are going to change where the PC will look for boot information when it starts up. (CD-ROM, HARD DRIVE/HDD, LAN, FLOPPY, USB). If you wish to boot from your Hard drive, then select it as your First Priority.
   
4. Using the instructions on the screen, save your settings and start up your PC. The PC must boot from the HDD. Regrds
   

It sounds like you have a bad AC adapter . When you plug it in to the outlet in the wall and into your computer , do you see a charge indicator light on the computer? I'm asking you this because even with a bad battery your computer should operate without any problems with the AC adapter plugged in.

Try pressing F8 when the computer first boots up(before the windows logo). Then select "repair your computer" on the advanced boot options menu. Pick the language and log on as a user that is an administrator account. Then click "dell factory image restore". Then select the option to reformat hard drive and bring the computer to factory condition. Then wait and your computer will be restored. Remember that anything that did not come with the computer will be lost in this process so make sure to back up anything you do not want to lose before starting the restore.

Fn + F2 toggles wireless on and off

download new drivers offline for usb,,for your version windows

Hi,
For some reason your boot files are missing.
ntldr ( NT loader ) is one of the main boot files that is missing.
possibly a boot sector virus.which corrupts the ntldr file.

Put the disc back in, and you can choose to either install the O/S, or you can repair the current O/S, go for the repair,

Should resolve the problem,

Then run a full system vius scan,

Should be good then

Regards
Richard.

You need the Dell Quickset in order to use the special keys.

Yu can find that app and drivers from:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&osl=EN&catid=-1&impid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=LAT_PNT_P4_100L&hidos=NAA&hidlang=EN&TabIndex=