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9581
June 2nd, 2004 15:00
Latitude xPi CD Hard Drive controller failure - now unable to boot or get to Setup!!!
I have a Latitude xPI cd 166MMX. Great machine; I'd hate to give it up despite the age and lack of modern tech.
Last night my daughter (computer-trustworthy) reported a "Hard Drive Controller Error" message after the memory check on boot, accompanied by an sound like a car alarm - repeating descending tone. Then, nothing.
I never saw the error message myself. Now when try to start it, I see the memory check, then NO error message, the floppy drive runs for a second minute as normal, then the 'car-alarm' noise sounds, I hear an occasional faint tick from the hard drive, and nothing.
I cannot boot from a boot disk, and I can't get to bios setup with any combination of the 'F2' during startup, 'FN+F1' or 'DEL' keys.
I tried reseating the hard drive with no effect.
Question: Is the Hard Drive Controller part of the Hard Drive? I have a resource for replacing the hard drive if this is the case. If not, any ideas on a diagnostic path or repair alternatives?
Thanks in advance, .........Bill
leduke30
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June 3rd, 2004 00:00
I would replace the drive. Some of the Controller functions are on the Motherboard,
but some are on the Drive Circuit Board;however, it sounds like a mechanical failure
of the drive. You need a 12.5mm or 9.5mm high drive of 8gb or less because of the
BIOS Limit on the XPiCD. Be careful not to buy a 17mm high drive, as they were the
most common 8gb drive. A 6-6.4gb is a good size to use in this computer and they
are plentiful on ebay.
Message Edited by leduke30 on 06-02-2004 08:46 PM
BillYellin
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June 3rd, 2004 01:00
Thanks for your answer. There are a few other things I've discovered:
- I can't start the laptop with a boot disk when the hard drive's removed, either. I don't get that 'alarm' noise, but nothing happens after the memory check and the normal initial floppy drive access. I know the boot disk's good because I tried it in my desktop PC.
- I removed my extra memory modules, in an attempt to remove any possible 'complicating' factors, and after the memory check I get the normal message that the amount of system memory has been changed, so it gets that far in the startup process, but that's it.
- Can't get to BIOS setup with the HD removed, either.
Now, I would think that if it were a HD problem, then things should work OK with it removed (unless it's not supposed to work without a hard drive?)
Is that alarm sound a normal thing? My kid's convinced she introduced a virus onto the machine. (Norton's installed.)
Any ideas?
BillYellin
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June 3rd, 2004 02:00
The floppy boot disk is the one that works elsewhere, not the HDD. Sorry if I was unclear.
leduke30
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June 3rd, 2004 02:00
leduke30
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June 3rd, 2004 04:00
BillYellin
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June 3rd, 2004 13:00
OK - Did these things, with no change. No battery, no HDD, no PCMCIA cards, no extra memory modules, floppy boot disk in place, no CD in the drive. I get the BIOS & Dell copyright messages, etc., memory check up to whatever's on the motherboard, message about 'amount of system memory has changed', floppy disk access, then nothing.
It's accessing the floppy, but no more than if the boot disk were not in it.
Cannot get to BIOS setup through any combination of keystrokes, either before the process stops or after.
leduke30
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June 3rd, 2004 22:00
BillYellin
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June 4th, 2004 03:00
leduke30
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June 4th, 2004 05:00
BillYellin
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June 4th, 2004 12:00
Thanks for trying! Any idea what repair avenues are like? If it doesn't turn out to be too bad, I'd be interested in trying. I know it's a 7 year old machine, but it's perfectly suited for what I need it for, and I really can't afford to replace it, unless there were something miraculous on ebay or something, which is unlikely.
...Bill
leduke30
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June 4th, 2004 15:00