Utility Partition after HDD replacement / Debug process

Can this be done at any time or just when the drive is new or freshly formatted before you install a OS on it?????????????

If this can only be done on a NEW or freshly formated drive before you install the OS on it you should edit your post to include this. Otherwise there are some that will try this on a drive that already has a OS installed end up with a none working/none booting PC.

Thanks

NOTE

It seems this only works with newer "Drivers & Utility" CD disks that come with a i8500/D series Latitude and above. I have a D & U disk for my i8200 and a special "For Dell techs only" CD from 10/20/04 that the blast command only give a error " Bad command" "File not found". And after doing extensive searches of each disk I could not find anything like blast.

Message Edited by Ed C on 07-06-2004 07:32 PM

Please some one teach me how to delete this post.

Thanks

 

Message Edited by rapco on 07-04-2004 12:09 AM

Message Edited by rapco on 07-04-2004 12:10 AM

NOTE

It seems this only works with newer "Drivers & Utility" CD disks that come with a i8500/D series Latitude and above. I have a D & U disk for my i8200 and a special "For Dell techs only" CD from 10/20/04 that the blast command only give a error " Bad command" "File not found". And after doing extensive searches of each disk I could not find anything like blast.

Ed C

Actually i do it on my old Latitude C400, so this process should work with both of your computers.

You cannot find the file as is as boot file under bootimg and the other on the root, they only open up when you boot up from the CD, that why you have to open the Diags in order to get access to this files.

Thanks.

Robert

Latitude C400, 1.2 GHZ, 20 GB, 1024 MB Ram

Inspiron 5100, 2.8 GHZ, 20 GB, 512 MB Ram

Message Edited by rapco on 07-06-2004 11:16 PM

I'll give it another try tonight but I did boot off both of the CDs I have and entered then exited the diagnostic program.

Was the disk you used for your C400?? Because I tried it on a C600 with a CD for a i8200, just a thought.

ed c,

i couldn't get it to work on my i8200, got the same as you. my buddy just got a i8600c and will try it with his cd.

Message Edited by boppo on 07-07-2004 08:41 PM

Let me see if i can make a copy for you guys.

 

I booted from my Drivers and Utilities CD.  I then switched to the A:\ prompt and there was no blast file there.  It must be on certain CD's and not all.

I too would like to get a copy of your CD.  A lot of people have asked me through my web site how to get their partition back.  I haven't had an answer until I saw this thread.

 

 

HELP!  My Dell Diags CD that came with my 8500 (A02) doesn't has the blast program.

If any of you could send it to my email: nabpr@msn.com

Iaccidentally deletad the partion and I really want it back.  thanks a lot. :)

NOTE for everyone looking at this thread.

You really don't need the partition or the program on the HDD. And if for some reason the HDD fails that partition and program will do you no good.

Burn a copy of the Drivers & Utility CD disk and keep it in your notebook bag. Then all you have to do in put it in the CD drive and boot off of it to run the diagnostic program.

I have come to the conclusion it is not needed and the space for it, although small, is better used for something else. Of course I started using a PC when 100MB was a BIG drive.

Hi, help me please I have a problem with my Drivers and Utilities CD it doesnt boot to the diagnostic, i dont know why please help me its urgent. Thanx in advance

My notebook is a Inspiron 8600 bought on january, please help me

Message Edited by dantrigger on 08-21-2004 04:40 AM

I've had a little trouble figuring out how to restore the Dell Diagnostic Partition on my Inspiron 9100, but I'm here to tell you that it can be done. After numerous conversations with Dell Technical Support who told me that it was IMPOSSIBLE to restore the partition I guess I have managed the "impossible" :P. Here's how I did it:

I assume that you are starting out fresh (i.e. installing Windows XP again):

1. Find a Linux boot disk/cd that has cfdisk (or fdisk) on it
2. Boot to Linux and get to a command prompt (i.e. ALT + F2 usually gets you to a free terminal while in the install program)
- Run cfdisk
a. Delete all of your partitions (after you back-up what you want to save!)
b. Create the first parition; make it 32MBs (or more... the original is 32MBs, so I stuck with that)
c. Change the type of the partition just created to 0xDE (the Dell Utility Partition type... this will make Win XP leave it alone when you re-install the OS)
d. Write the partition table & quit
4. Install Win XP (make sure you leave the "unknown" first partition alone when you install the OS and create its partitions and file systems)
5. Boot to Linux and get to a command prompt again
- Run cfdisk again
a. Change the type of the first partition from 0xDE (Dell Utility partition) to 0x0B (Windows FAT32); this will allow you to format it
b. Write the partition table & quit again
7. Boot to the Dell Diagnostic CD that came with your notebook
- Select the DOS prompt option
a. Go to the D: (the RAM-disk that the Dell Diagnostic CD creates)
b. Format the C: (which should be the 32MB partition you created) with the /s option to copy the system files and make it bootable
c. Copy the contents of the E:\DIAG\...\ directory to the C: (the Dell Diagnostic program & support files)
d. Optional: Copy the contents of the D: to a directory on the C: just formatted (these utilities could come in handy ;P)
e. Create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the C: (this should be nostalgic for some of you) and type in the path to DELLDIAG.EXE you copied (I put a "pause" command before it to correct a video glitch I found)
- Optional: Add the path RESTART.COM (which you would have copied over in the previous step) to the end of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to restart the machine after you exit the Dell Diagnostic software
8. Boot to Linux and get to a command prompt again
- Run cfdisk again
a. Change the type of the first partition from 0x0B to 0xDE to change it back to a Dell Utility partition
b. Write the partition table & quit again
9. Reboot and hit F12 to boot to Diagnostics
- When it finishes the pre-boot diags and says "press any key to boot the Dell Utility Partition" (and you press a key) Windows 98 should boot and run the AUTOEXEC.BAT you created, starting the Dell Hardware Diagnostics

Congratulations, you too have done the "impossible"! :P

Note: These steps are more of an outline than an exact step-by-step procedure. Only someone who knows what I've been talking about thus far should attempt this!!!

I've tried this with an inspirion 5150 cd version A01 and it works fine. At least the commands and all. It does require a reboot after the first issue of the 'blast' command. After issuing the 2nd command, it copies from the cd quite a few files and does something to the partition once its done. I will know more once i get windows reloaded back on it.

Message Edited by ohmyamonster on 11-28-2004 07:45 PM