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Inspiron 1720 problems
So, 1 year and (ha) 12 days ago, I bought my inspiron 1720 with 1 years warranty option. Great.
1 year on and sods law reared its ugly head and my computer started randomly crashing, having times when it would have a really hard time indexing the hard drive and then crashing and regular blue screens.
Being rather computer savvy I started checking off boxes, uninstalling new programs and such forth - however the computer would often just not stay stable for long enough for me to get much done. SO whilst booted in the VIsta Safe Mode I managed to get some programs removed and get essential files moved off my main partiton - the preparation for a good old format and reinstall had come - something I should have done the day I recieved it given the type of initial installation I expect it gets treated to but meh, it was shiney and new and working fine.
SO I dig out my dell vista disk, plug it in, fire it up, format the c drive and tell it to install once more. It gets all the way down to the 5th check box (customising installation I think it is...) and then just stops doing anything. The little ... things are still moving, but the progress bar goes nowhere for hours.
I notice that on the dell vista disk there is a memory check program... it says my memory is to fault and that I should contact the dell support people. I say my hard drive is to fault, but to be honest if it actively thinks theres a problem with memory there must be one there.
WHat I need to know is... HOW can I fix this, and fast ? IM a student currently in the final year, the final semester, the last 7 weeks of a computational physics course... Normally, given any other semester this would just mean me spending copious amounts of time in university but I need a specific piece of statistics software that I cant install on the linux based university computers. I would also prefer an option that doesn't cost the value of the laptop, im only poor which is why I came to dell in the first place :(
Thanks for any help,
Alex
Oki doke, here it is:
In the memory test:
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Then I got a:
Error Code: 0142
Message: Error Code 2000-0142. Unit 1: Drive Self Test Failed. Status Byte = 70
Then back to:
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Error Code: 0123
Message: Error Code 2000-0123. Memory Integrity Test Failed.
Then, on the hard drive READ test I got...
Error Code: 0F00:0244
Message: DISK_0. Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected.
I got this about12 times in total and it was all pretty much in one block - with a few segments in between a few of them. All at around 16%.
I received no errors on the Seek test...
Then, on the hard drive VERIFY test I got...
Error Code: 0F00:1A44
Message: DISK_0. Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected.
I got this 10 times in total and it was all pretty much in one block - with a few segments inbetween a few of them. All at around 16%.
Thats what I get, the only errors. To be honest I wouldnt have expected such a small amount of error to make such a big impact - guess they are just in the wrong places. Has anybody got some advice on what I should do ?
THanks!
In extra response for fleshing out any problem it may be, I have had a recurring start up problem since the day I got the laptop. AFter the vista loading screen with the progress bar and the windows vista logo it goes black, but stays black. This means I have to turn the computer off and on again. Sometimes it does this and sometimes it doesn't.
I have always assumed this is the result of an installation carbon copied to a hard drive off a server, but may it be more ?
You need a new hard drive at least. Replace the hard drive with a new one. Switch the two memory modules - see if the error follows the module. If it does, replace that memory module. If it doesn't (i.e., the other module tests bad in the same socket as the first) then you've a mainboard problem.
Any hard drive showing bad sectors is not to be relied on - more will surface until the drive is unusable.
Hard drives are inexpensive. So are memory modules (though prices are rising again). Neither is expensive to replace. The mainboard is another matter - that's a $400-500 replacement when part + labor are considered together.
Alright... Given that my warranty ran out I take it I can crack as much stuff open as I like now and it doesn't affect anything relating to my support ? I dont want to go swapping my memory modules about and then find out I could have gotten dell to do it for free! :)
Thanks for the help!
Ok then, so...
Last night I ran the memory test again sans the one memory module I could find to remove - all the memory errors went away with only one memory module in which makes me think that DIMM has a problem.
Now I have 2 questions:
(a) The memory is kingston which often carries at least a 10 year warranty on it. Can I RMA it to them and get it replaced or do I need to buy a new stick myself ?
(b) Where is the other memory slot located ? When I opened up the panel's at the back I could only find one slot, but there is at least another somewhere as there was still 1024mb when I took that stick out. If I have to replace the memory I would rather do a matching pair of 2gigs than replace this with another 1gig.
Also with regard to the hard disk drive - how am I meant to get the caddy off the drive ? It appears to be stuck! :S
If you purchased the memory module yourself (i.e., it did not come with the system) then contact Kingston to have it replaced. If it was original equipment in the notebook it is warranted by Dell for the length of the system warranty - not by Kingston separately. Same goes for the hard drive.
The other memory module is under the keyboard and the service manual for accessing it and for hard drive removal instructions is located here:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/SM/index.htm
husky0894
1630 Posts
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Posted February 5th, 2009 12:00
Start with the Dell diagnostics, including a full (extended) test of the hard drive. F12 at powerup to get in.