you can boot off the dell utilities cd & do a diagnostic on the hdd.
IMO from your description, suggest you back up your important data asap & get a new hdd!
I have the same problem, same hard drive. It seemed like the problem kept getting worse and worse. Now the thing constantly locks/crashes.
I called Support. Rather than authorize a new HD, they told me to download new firmware (filename: BR52437.exe). I downloaded the driver, but noticed it was firmware for a 60 Gb IBM HD, not 30 Gb. I am now going to email Support to make sure this is a fix for the 30 Gb drive.
I have the same problem, same hard drive. It seemed like the problem kept getting worse and worse. Now the thing constantly locks/crashes.
I called Support. Rather than authorize a new HD, they told me to download new firmware (filename: BR52437.exe). I downloaded the driver, but noticed it was firmware for a 60 Gb IBM HD, not 30 Gb. I am now going to email Support to make sure this is a fix for the 30 Gb drive.
if you run the diagnostic & get an error code, dell will be obligated to replace it if you're still under warranty.
thanks, bacillus. i'm still under warranty. i'll see what they say about the firmware. in meantime, will run the diagnostic to see what i come up with.
I recently had the same problem with my 8100. After being turned on for two hours, the clicking and whirring sounds started, the hard drive access light would remain on and the computer would become unresponsive. I ran the Dell Diagnostics on the entire system and every component passed. I wiped the HD and reinstalled the OS, drivers and all my apps and data. Problem still exists.
Dell is sending an new hard drive to replace the exisiting one. I do not relish rebuilidng the syswtem from the ground up again, but I hope that the HDD replacement will correct this nasty problem.
i have not tried the firmware as of yet. i emailed Dell to ask whether it was appropriate to run the firmware geared to the 60Gb drive on a 30 Gb drive. i did not get a response to that question. instead, they suggested to run the diagnostic to rule out (or in) a mechanical problem. i suspect a mechanical problem will be found and a new HD will be heading this way, but we'll see. i'll update on this thread.
perhaps no matter....i ran the diagnostics per Dell's last instructions. the hard drive failed with 2 errors, it did not pass the initial confidence test. the error description indicated it was such that a replacement drive may be necessary. i emailed the results back to Dell...i'm hoping that they just send a new drive. we'll see...
bacillus
2 Intern
•
14.4K Posts
0
January 1st, 2004 14:00
IMO from your description, suggest you back up your important data asap & get a new hdd!
berkeleybob
5 Posts
0
January 1st, 2004 15:00
I have the same problem, same hard drive. It seemed like the problem kept getting worse and worse. Now the thing constantly locks/crashes.
I called Support. Rather than authorize a new HD, they told me to download new firmware (filename: BR52437.exe). I downloaded the driver, but noticed it was firmware for a 60 Gb IBM HD, not 30 Gb. I am now going to email Support to make sure this is a fix for the 30 Gb drive.
bacillus
2 Intern
•
14.4K Posts
0
January 1st, 2004 15:00
if you run the diagnostic & get an error code, dell will be obligated to replace it if you're still under warranty.
berkeleybob
5 Posts
0
January 1st, 2004 16:00
thanks, bacillus. i'm still under warranty. i'll see what they say about the firmware. in meantime, will run the diagnostic to see what i come up with.
naqoyqatsi
260 Posts
0
January 1st, 2004 22:00
breakfastchef
1 Message
0
January 2nd, 2004 12:00
I recently had the same problem with my 8100. After being turned on for two hours, the clicking and whirring sounds started, the hard drive access light would remain on and the computer would become unresponsive. I ran the Dell Diagnostics on the entire system and every component passed. I wiped the HD and reinstalled the OS, drivers and all my apps and data. Problem still exists.
Dell is sending an new hard drive to replace the exisiting one. I do not relish rebuilidng the syswtem from the ground up again, but I hope that the HDD replacement will correct this nasty problem.
brokengecko
9 Posts
0
January 2nd, 2004 23:00
berkeleybob
5 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2004 02:00
i have not tried the firmware as of yet. i emailed Dell to ask whether it was appropriate to run the firmware geared to the 60Gb drive on a 30 Gb drive. i did not get a response to that question. instead, they suggested to run the diagnostic to rule out (or in) a mechanical problem. i suspect a mechanical problem will be found and a new HD will be heading this way, but we'll see. i'll update on this thread.
brokengecko
9 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2004 03:00
berkeleybob
5 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2004 05:00
was unable to find the 30Gb firmware.
perhaps no matter....i ran the diagnostics per Dell's last instructions. the hard drive failed with 2 errors, it did not pass the initial confidence test. the error description indicated it was such that a replacement drive may be necessary. i emailed the results back to Dell...i'm hoping that they just send a new drive. we'll see...
berkeleybob
5 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2004 06:00
brokengecko
9 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2004 06:00