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Californ-Ian
4 Posts
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11434
January 7th, 2005 03:00
Resource CD for the SmartStep 250N
Well,
I seem to be having the same problem many others are having. My SmartStep 250N started shutting off without warning about two weeks ago. Now, it won't start at all. I get a 'Sorry for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully' and I am unable to start in safe mode or any other mode for that matter.
Also, like many others, I have my stories to tell of Dell Customer Unsupport. After numberous emails, two 2hr phone calls (during one of which I was transferred four times), the 'live' chat to India, being given conflicting advice (all of it erroneous), I am still without a working computer. The main problem is that I moved a few months ago and can't find my Resource CD (with the diagnostics I need to run before the technicians can tell me that they don't know what the problem is). I was directed to two diagnostics files on the Dell website but neither would work on my SmartStep.
Now I'm directed to buy the Resource CD. I don't mind this, but I can't find the Resource CD specifically for the SmartStep. After all the mistakes on the part of Dell Support, I have no confidence whatsoever in their ability to tell me the correct CD to buy so I'm hoping someone here can help me. Can someone tell me, how is the Resource CD for the SmartStep labelled?
Thanks for any help you can give me. Even the smallest bit of advice would be more help than I've gotten from Dell.
I seem to be having the same problem many others are having. My SmartStep 250N started shutting off without warning about two weeks ago. Now, it won't start at all. I get a 'Sorry for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully' and I am unable to start in safe mode or any other mode for that matter.
Also, like many others, I have my stories to tell of Dell Customer Unsupport. After numberous emails, two 2hr phone calls (during one of which I was transferred four times), the 'live' chat to India, being given conflicting advice (all of it erroneous), I am still without a working computer. The main problem is that I moved a few months ago and can't find my Resource CD (with the diagnostics I need to run before the technicians can tell me that they don't know what the problem is). I was directed to two diagnostics files on the Dell website but neither would work on my SmartStep.
Now I'm directed to buy the Resource CD. I don't mind this, but I can't find the Resource CD specifically for the SmartStep. After all the mistakes on the part of Dell Support, I have no confidence whatsoever in their ability to tell me the correct CD to buy so I'm hoping someone here can help me. Can someone tell me, how is the Resource CD for the SmartStep labelled?
Thanks for any help you can give me. Even the smallest bit of advice would be more help than I've gotten from Dell.
bob.hughes
5 Posts
314
0
Posted January 9th, 2005 17:00
Hi,
from a windy wet England. Just dug out my resource disc P/N 7T860 Rev A01
Header is drivers and utilities
For re-installing DELL TM SmartPC 200n/250N
Contents
Device Drivers
Diagnostics and utilities
Online documentation
get back to me if can't get a copy.I suspect A01 is BIOS no. now have A06 on my 250N machine.Californ-Ian
4 Posts
314
0
Posted January 16th, 2005 22:00
Hi again,
Thanks for the replies. My former flatmate found my Resource CD and mailed it to me. I just ran the Diagnostics ('Test All Devices', 'Extended Tests') and after 2.5hrs it came back with these 3 errors:
IDE Disk 0 - Confidence Test
Result Code: 0F00-1344
Msg: Block 6302945: Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected
IDE Disk 0 - Read Test
Result Code: 0F00-0244
Msg: Block 6302945: Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected
IDE Disk 0 - Verify Test
Result Code: 0F00-1A44
Msg: Block 6302945: Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected
Can anyone tell me what these messages mean? I have to call Dell again and it would be nice to have some idea of the problem in advance so I can tell if the person I'm speaking to is even in the ballpark.
Thanks again for any help.
Californ-Ian
(still trying to live down the 'numberous' in my original posting)Californ-Ian
4 Posts
314
0
Posted January 16th, 2005 22:00
Hi,
Sorry. I thought I had searched the forum site for these errors and when I received no results I posted my previous message. Turns out I was searching the general Dell site. Now that I've realized my mistake, I've found numerous postings by people who received the same errors. Looks like I need a new HD. Is it likely that the failure of the HD was the result of the 'design error' (as one poster put it) of the SmartStep cooling system? I know, impossible to say (or prove) but my computer starts to shut off without warning (as described by many users) and then my HD fails. Interesting.
Thanks again.
ice_gamer
20 Posts
314
0
Posted January 8th, 2005 14:00