You can't use a memory stick to boot. You must use the vista dvd and boot to that. Another option is to have Dell send you another hard drive with vista already installed. They will do that if you ask nicely and return the replacement drive when the new drive arrives. I'd go for that option.
@howyabeen wrote:
I've experienced this issue three times - the first two times I reinstalled Vista
Well I ran a system repair first and that cleared things up. I did get a SATA/USB cable and was able to back things up properly just in case the wipe/reload was in order.
However I am very very disappointed in the Dell tech support. I checked the recovery partition and lo and behold
Volume in drive D is RECOVERY
Volume Serial Number is 4233-443F
Directory of d:\dell\fist
01/18/2008 05:48 AM DIR .
01/18/2008 05:48 AM DIR ..
01/12/2000 06:07 PM 231 AUTOEXEC.EBT
...
12/22/2007 01:31 PM 200 NOBFAIL.BAT
03/27/2002 10:18 AM 1,706 NOBFAIL.TXT
11/01/2005 01:01 PM 81,920 Nobulate.dll
10/11/2007 09:42 AM 7,677 nobulate.exe
...
10/20/2006 11:15 AM 16,384 WTFIMLFN.exe
87 File(s) 8,022,319 bytes
3 Dir(s) 10,031,190,016 bytes free
IT IS THEIR SOFTWARE AND TECH SUPPORT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT???
I do server support for a day job. Which means if I am calling tech support I have tried the obvious and a web search is coming up with lacking info.
A search of these forums told me it was Dell factory software and I had to get the techline lackey to go look it up and they were still clueless.
If this was supposed to be removed then they should have info on how to
1. Fix it.
2. remove it as I can not be the first user to have this (a simple search of the web with google will tell me I am not the first user with this issue) and I doubt I will be the last user with the problem. I mean outside of the hardware physically breaking I dunno why I should bother to go to the Dell support again if the first line techs don't have any info on the company installed software.
I've experienced this issue three times - the first two times I reinstalled Vista as they've directed you to do. On the third time, I mistakenly had my laptop on battery power while running repairs/considering my options, and the battery juice ran out. I rebooted and voila - I was back in business for the time being. Dell hasn't been able to figure this out so I'd suggest trying my solution as a stopgap. Needless to say, hopefully they have a team on it because it appears to be Dell-centric.
if memory serves correctly, nobulate is supposed to set up the partitions on the drive (dellutility, recovery, w/e). i don't know how this will help you but from reading the nobulate log files in the past that's what i can think of.
Mary G
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20.1K Posts
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January 18th, 2008 19:00
mombodog
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12.7K Posts
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January 18th, 2008 19:00
TobinLathrop
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January 18th, 2008 20:00
TobinLathrop
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January 18th, 2008 21:00
TobinLathrop
17 Posts
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January 23rd, 2008 03:00
Well I ran a system repair first and that cleared things up. I did get a SATA/USB cable and was able to back things up properly just in case the wipe/reload was in order.
However I am very very disappointed in the Dell tech support. I checked the recovery partition and lo and behold
Volume in drive D is RECOVERY
Volume Serial Number is 4233-443F
Directory of d:\dell\fist
01/18/2008 05:48 AM DIR .
01/18/2008 05:48 AM DIR ..
01/12/2000 06:07 PM 231 AUTOEXEC.EBT
...
12/22/2007 01:31 PM 200 NOBFAIL.BAT
03/27/2002 10:18 AM 1,706 NOBFAIL.TXT
11/01/2005 01:01 PM 81,920 Nobulate.dll
10/11/2007 09:42 AM 7,677 nobulate.exe
...
10/20/2006 11:15 AM 16,384 WTFIMLFN.exe
87 File(s) 8,022,319 bytes
3 Dir(s) 10,031,190,016 bytes free
IT IS THEIR SOFTWARE AND TECH SUPPORT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT???
I do server support for a day job. Which means if I am calling tech support I have tried the obvious and a web search is coming up with lacking info.
A search of these forums told me it was Dell factory software and I had to get the techline lackey to go look it up and they were still clueless.
If this was supposed to be removed then they should have info on how to
1. Fix it.
2. remove it as I can not be the first user to have this (a simple search of the web with google will tell me I am not the first user with this issue) and I doubt I will be the last user with the problem. I mean outside of the hardware physically breaking I dunno why I should bother to go to the Dell support again if the first line techs don't have any info on the company installed software.
howyabeen
1 Message
0
January 23rd, 2008 03:00
Hydralisk00222
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2.4K Posts
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January 23rd, 2008 04:00
Strapp Rockwell
1 Message
0
February 24th, 2008 01:00
I got the "failed to Nobulate" error too.
I called Dell and they fixed it--it was a pretty simple fix even though the tech had never heard of the problem before.
Here is what I did
Turned off computer
Turned on computer and started in safe mode by tapping F8 as soon as the blue Dell logo appeared
This started it in safe mode
Then did a System Restore
Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->System Restore
The System Restore did its thing and it works fine again.
Hope this helps