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44894
Mass Storage Controller/Dell Update failure
Hi all,
I've ended up going the rabbit hole since I tried to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 (1903). It wouldn't install. A troubleshoot showed that my Mass Storage Controller isn't working, and probably not even installed.
Windows couldn't identify the device or find a driver, so I came to DELL.
'Dell Detect' identified my Laptop but can't suggest a single driver.
So I tried downloading a 'Dell Update' from one of the pages (maybe an old 2017 one). It downloaded and installed but failed to run.
What can I do? Is this 9 year old Vostro 1720 laptop just impossible to sort out?
Thanks
John
U2CAMEB4ME
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August 30th, 2019 09:00
@Johniwhite
Have you tried installing this.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=88kn0&oscode=w764&productcode=vostro-1720
Regards,
U2
NOTE: What version OS are you running???
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 18th, 2019 02:00
OK, the website did eventually suggest a download. A BIOS update or something.
I tried to manually install it, and that failed too.
This really isn't looking too good.
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 18th, 2019 02:00
I also just tried installing and running Dell's Support Assist.
It installed, ran and failed. Now it won't even run at all.
U2CAMEB4ME
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August 18th, 2019 03:00
Welcome to the Dell Community @Johniwhite
Do you receive any error when the install fails???
Bet regards,
U2
U2CAMEB4ME
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August 18th, 2019 10:00
@Johniwhite
Try copying the file to your desktop and run it from there.
Regards,
U2
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 18th, 2019 10:00
Hi There,
Thanks for the response.
Do you mean when the controller/driver, Dell Assist, or the BIOS thing fails to install?
John
Johniwhite
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August 19th, 2019 04:00
Hi U2,
I'll give that a go, thanks
john
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 19th, 2019 04:00
Hi Again,
I copied the BIOS file set-up to the desktop and ran it. Same error as before unfortunately.
I just ran another system detect from the DELL drivers page. It's now suggesting a different file to download. Perhaps because I successfully updated to the 1903 version of Windows 10 yesterday?
The file I downloaded yesterday and can't install is:
V1720A08-32_64
The new one that I'm now downloading is:
V1520A08-32_64
Which counter-intuitively, looks older.
John
Johniwhite
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August 19th, 2019 07:00
Nope. That didn't install either. 'BIOS is not flashable' error -144 Same as before
I realise now--d-uh--that the filename refers to the Laptop model: 1720. The DELL drivers page is recommending both BIOS downloads for some reason. Neither works.
If it did indeed install earlier, is there anyway that I can check within the system if it did? It's just that I tried to do it this morning and left it alone. When I returned the PC was on, and there was nothing to show if it had successfully installed or not. All that was there was the desktop.
---
This page recommends 2 different ways to install:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/ie/en/iebsdt1/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=r262294&oscode=ww1&productcode=vostro-1720
"To use it, download the file and copy it to a DOS-bootable USB flash drive, then boot the system to the USB flash drive and run the program."
Sounds complicated for a non-techie. Then further down it says to install it from the desktop (which hasn't worked for me)
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 23rd, 2019 02:00
Trying this again in a different way. I added my 'product' to my account.
The website has detected that I need the 1520 BIOS update (even though my laptop is a 1720).
I clicked the 'Download 7 Install' button. And it's just not downloading. All night it was stuck, like the attached screenshot.
Maybe because I'm out of warranty, the site is deliberately making it difficult?
John
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 30th, 2019 06:00
UPDATE
I was forced to reformat my Laptop and reinstall windows. At least Dell's Support Assist now works.
But I still can't download the BIOS file. It freezes in the browser like before.
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 30th, 2019 09:00
Ok, I downloaded the 1720 BIOS from another part of the site. I assume it's installed (who knows?).
I still can't seem to do anything about this missing 'Mass Storage Controller' which is where this all started.
I uninstalled it in the Device Manager, then restarted the machine, and its back again with its yellow exclamation mark.
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 31st, 2019 00:00
Hi U2,
Thanks
I'm on OS v. 1903. I finally managed to update to it.
I'll try that download now,
John
Johniwhite
21 Posts
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August 31st, 2019 01:00
Success!
Thanks U2, that driver worked. That was my original problem in this post--the little yellow exclamation triangle!--but I'm glad that I ended up wiping this old laptop and reinstalling everything.
It's still quite a slow, unresponsive machine, and Microsoft Edge browser crashes a lot, and videos on news sites don't necessarily always play, but I think it's a leaner machine now and better than it was.
I might see how much an optical drive and memory would cost to boost it (could be a false economy of course).
Thanks again,
John
U2CAMEB4ME
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August 31st, 2019 04:00
@Johniwhite
You could also try this.
Go to “Advanced System Settings”
In the “Performance” box click on “Settings”
Click on “Adjust for Best Performance”
Then click on “Apply”
Next click on the “Advanced” tab.
Make sure “Programs” is selected in the “Processor Scheduling” box.
In the “Virtual Memory” box click on “Change”
Click on “Custom Size”
Set “Initial Size (MB)” larger than the “Recommended:” size.
Then set the “Maximum Size (MB)” larger than the “Initial Size (MB)”
Click on “SET” and then “OK”
REBOOT:
Best regards,
U2