Boot Error Messages Checkpoint B1, Cheeckpoint D0 - Studio XPS 435MT

Question

I know there have been a couple of threads on this, but no one has posted to them in a bit and I thought I'd start a new one with some updated information. Sometimes when I start up my new (received in June) Studio XPS 435MT, I get a briefly flashed message after the initial splash screen that says, "Alert: Previous attempts at booting this sytem have failed at checkpoint [B1]. Contact Dell Technical Support." I saw this message a few times, and did both a Google search and a search of the Dell support site. Someone had posted about the same problem, and one of the people who replied reported that updating his BIOS to the newer version (1.1.2) seemed to fix the problem. I tried that, and also thought that things were fixed. However, after about a week, the message started appearing again. In another thread, I learned that the same thing had happend to that other poster as well. I - and others, based on the couple of threads about this in the forum - sometimes also see the same message, but with checkpoint [D0]. I had initially noticed that these error alerts were showing up if I'd put my computer to sleep and then woken it up more than once or twice without doing a full shutdown. Other posters mentioned seeing the same thing. General searches (e.g. Google) with these specific checkpoints yield very little, and my call to Dell tech support ended with, "We are escalating this issue with our engineers," as they didn't seem to have any idea what was going on either. Other than the appearance of the messsage (after which the computer continues to boot up, apparently completely normally), my computer seems to be running fine.

I did a little more searching, and stumbled upon a whitepaper that lists checkpoints and beep codes generated by "AMBIOS." I don't know if/how well it applies here, but it does have the first description I've seen anywhere of a B1 checkpoint. For B1 it says, "Save system context for ACPI. Prepare CPU for OS boot, including final MTRR values." I know that ACPI is the power management system, and I seem to see checkpoint B1 after I've used sleep, so I'm wondering if there is some sort of glitch in the way this model (this model's BIOS) is doing it's power management. Also, over the past few days, I've tried putting my computer to sleep in the morning before going to work, waking it in the evening, and then doing a full shut down at the end of the day. So far, no alert messages have showed up. Earlier, I tried turning off hybrid sleep and using regular sleep, but the message(s) still showed up. I have not tried hibernation to see if that seems to cause the error.

So...anyone else seeing the B1 or D0 checkpoint errors? If so, has anyone actually gotten an answer/found a solution? Are people just ignoring it because it seems to be a glitch with this model related to sleep states?

Lisa

FuncoDeb · Answer

Hi,

I am having the same problems and have spoken to Dell Support without success. I pointed out the other thread to the tech--of course, they had no idea that this problem had been reported or discussed.

So...anyone else seeing the B1 or D0 checkpoint errors? Yes, both.

If so, has anyone actually gotten an answer/found a solution? No.

Are people just ignoring it because it seems to be a glitch with this model related to sleep states? Ignoring and checking in here. Mine is not related to a sleep state as I shut down at night.

robnich · Answer

As I mentioned in a previous post in another thread on this topic, I have repeatedly seen this error message on start-up for several (D0,B1,D1 and DE) alleged errors. I have decided to simply ignore these messages because my 435MT has been running flawlessly for several months, with no freezes, blue screens, crashes or problems of any sort. It sleeps normally, wakes normally and starts up normally. I have to think this is a harmless glitch of some sort. At any rate, there doesn't appear to be any known way to solve the "problem", if indeed it is a problem. Certainly Dell Support has been unable to supply an explanation or solution.

Bob N.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

This is currently under investigation. We are sorry for the delay but this will take time to isolate the root cause.

As a test, if listed, remove the version of the IMSM 8.9.0.1023 (Intel Matrix Storage Manager) and reinstall the Vista IMSM 8.5.0.1032 . Restart the PC when done. Check for the Boot Error Checkpoint Messages.

robnich · Answer

Chris -

Can you expand on this a bit further? A search of my 435MT does not show any Intel Matrix Storage Manager or any file with IMSM in the name. The link you provided indicates that the BIOS SATA mode must be set to RAID to install Vista IMSM 8.5.0.1032, which makes me hesitate to try to install it without further explanation.

Bob N.

MyCompuerisDefe · Answer

I am getting the errors [333] and also [D0] therer was another one. I got my computer fixed and I don't think they fixed it right. I bought my computer a year or two ago with vista on it now it has windows 7. I has an os cuppting virus, that disabled the sound and crashed my computer. I got my computer back with windows 7 and five minutes after having it home it crashed and entered power save mode couldnt get it to turn on. After ten minutes it worked again. They had left 2 trojans and 16 infected files on my computer.. I am trying to back everyting up onto a hardrive but I keep gettign a VVs error. I know I shouldn't keeping getting that my hard drive im backing it up to (or trying to) is 3 times bigger then my computer's harddrive. I don't know why I kep getting those checkpoint errors everytime I turn on the computer but I'm afraid it's going to crash. Can anyone help me?????????????

idoitss · Answer

I got my computer back with windows 7 and five minutes after having it home it crashed and entered power save mode couldnt get it to turn on. After ten minutes it worked again.

MyCompuerisDefe · Answer

I have windoes 7 i only get the checkpoint 333 and the checkpoint D0 error.... at first i kept getting tgeh alrt!previous boot .... have have failed at checkpoint [333] but now everytime except for once yesterday failed at checkpoint D0

Brian511 · Answer

I also have a Studio XPS 435MT and I occasionally get the same messages: "Alert: Previous attempts at booting this sytem have failed at checkpoint [B1]. Contact Dell Technical Support." and the one referring to checkpoint [D0]. My Dell support expired some time ago so I haven't called them but it sounds like those who have called them encountered the same frustrations I experienced when I did call them in the past.

In the last few years, Dell technicians don't seem very knowledgeable or resourceful and the help they offer is often useless. I was having more serious problems with my Dell Studio XPS 435MT at one point and Dell sent someone to fix my computer but all they did was replace the fan and the power supply without doing any diagnosis at all. Why? Because I said my fan was making a loud noise, running at full speed for up to 20 minutes sometimes when I shut my computer down. The power supply they replaced mine with was a refurb and it died a couple months later. Of course, my computer was out of warranty then and I didn't want to have to pay Dell tech support when they do such a poor job, so I had to pay a local technician to have the problem diagnosed and to have the new power supply installed.

Regarding the B1 and D0 checkpoint errors, it sounds like they are common to this model so one can deduce that it's a flaw in the design, hardware or software used to create this computer. If there are a few people trying to find solutions here you can be sure there are a lot more having the same problem. I call Dell Technical Support about the same problem back when I still had the support account and they ran me through the bios fix and, once, even accessed my computer and did it for me and I got the same result described here - it didn't fix the problem. I read the Dell representative's response and 1) it's too technical for me to know what they're talking about and to do anything useful with it, and 2) I don't see any responses saying that if fixed the problem.

This may be a 2 year old machine at this point but it's certainly not obsolete and this problem has been recurring since year one. It's nearly impossible to restore a company's reputation once it has been destroyed by producing flawed equipment and providing useless support for the problems. If you doubt that, take a look at what happened to Gateway.

Brian511 · Answer

I need to correct one part of my previous post:  I went back and clicked on the BIOS revision 1.1.4 link and followed the instructions.  It didn't save to desktop but I did a search and found the file and updated the bios.  Now I will wait and see it the error message occur again.

ragalove · Answer

i am having the same issue with my Studio xps 435. It started early one when I first got it and I would just restart my machine and it went away. Now 3 years later still having the same problem but now restart does not work. It goes into a constant reboot. I have also gotten B1 and BO codes. Not sure what to do since I cant even access safe mode. Cant run any diagnostics and off course my machins is out of warranty.

Need help please.

Brian511 · Answer

Were you able to try the Bios revision 1.1.4 from the link above?  I used it and I don't remember the last time I saw those error messages.  I also replaced my power supply with one that's more powerful so I'm not sure if the bios or the power supply or both are what made the difference.  Updating the bios is worth a try if you can.

ragalove · Answer

no have not tried updating bios.  which order did you do your?  Psupply then bios or bios then Psupply?  which Psupply did you go with?

Pbode · Answer

I had the same problem (B1checkpoint failure) and I had to power up my computer repeatedly befor it started to work. On another forum I found references that it might be related to badly installed RAM modules. I removed the RAM modules and than installed them again one by one trying each time to start the computer. This worked fine. I have all RAM installed again and the computer is working. Fingers crossed that it won't reappear. (DELL Inspiron 580s desktop)

shesagordie · Answer

This thread has been locked due to it's age, if you have a similar issue, please use the 'New Post' feature at the top of this page and start a new thread.   Bev.

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Boot Error Messages Checkpoint B1, Cheeckpoint D0 - Studio XPS 435MT

Was this post helpful?