Dell i8200 Continuous Start-Up Problems

[MC Webster]

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop and I am having the problem whereby my computer freezes during start-up everytime time I turn it on. In fact, it will freeze four, five or six times before it will finally load into Windows.

Normally most of the freezes take place at the Windows XP logo screen (suddenly the blue bar will stop moving and I will have to shut down). The rest of the time my computer won't make it to the Dell Bios Blue screen before freezing, or will freeze at that screen. (One time my laptop froze four times at this screen before getting any further.)

I have talked to Dell technical support. They first got me to run the repair off the Windows XP cd, but this did not solve the problem. I have also run the diagnostics cd and it says there is no problem with my hardware. Dell says that it is a software problem and that I will have to reformat.

I am not convinced it is a hardware problem though because the laptop is sometimes freezing before it posts (eg-before the Dell BIOS blue screen). I would prefer not to reformat if I don't have to. What is your opinion?

 

[LiLithTecH]

There are 2 things to try.

It seems a lot of the 8200 (produced in Mexico) inherited the
same problem as the Latitudes of a few years ago.

Check all the screws to make sure they are snug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN them.
(I've seen screws almost completely backed out or misssing entirely)
A bad ground is the results of the screws being loose, which can cause your problem.

Also, while your at it, reseat the ram module(s).

If neither clears up the problem, I would suspect the Hard drive is failing.

 

[Links4me]

The lockup could be caused by a number of things and if it is not even making it past the logo screen sometimes, then that would suggest hardware.....the tightening of the screws used to help the older latitude cpi and cp because there is a power board right where the center keyboard screw goes in and the connector used to become unconnected and just tightening the screw (center keyboard screw) would pull that connector together. Usually the machine wouldn't boot at all when that came loose. The 8200's power board is up at the top in the center and is screwed in and doesn't come out that I've seen. Anyway, sorry about the long explanation, but I've been working on Dell laptops since early '98.....the easiest thing to do would be to test the hard drive...even though it could be memory or a memory slot or even the motherboard. On dell's support website there is a download called 90/90 hdd diagnostics or something do a search for it and download it and it should be a self extracting file that makes a bootable diskette, then shutdown the laptop and boot to the diskette. The test should run...if it shows no errors, that doesn't mean the drive is good, but it does detect some problems and it's easy. It may also say: drive tested non-funtional at the end but if there are no other errors that doesn't mean anything.....wheh....i would try that first then let me know what happens....

 

[Links4me]

btw....just because dell diag doesn't find any problems, doesn't mean there aren't any....as you have probably surmised.....

 

[MC Webster]

I tried reseating the RAM modules. After I did that, my computer wouldn't turn on for four tries. The power light would go on, and then go off again. At the same time I made sure that all the screws on the bottom of the laptop are tight.

I also tried running that Dell hdd diagnostic. However, when I tried running it, the program wouldn't run. It told me something about my computer not being right for the program.

What should I do now?

 

[LiLithTecH]

Is the image (OS) on the machine the one that came with it?

When you ran the DIAG Prog, did you boot from the internal
CD/CDRW/DVD drive?

Are you using a Docking Station?

 

[Nemmeh]

If you are having the problems before you even get to bios, then it's not a software problem. I'm taking it you bought that through home/small business and not a public or corporate account.

Public/Corporate, called " Relationship " at Dell are actual techs that know their stuff, if you are talking to home/small business you're most likely talking to some outsourced idiot that doesn't know anything about troubleshooting.

The tightening of the screws only helped on the older models.
The image on the hard drive has nothing to do with this problem.
The dell diags are a joke.

Try pulling everything out of it and see if you can get the same problem, pull the hdd, cdrom/dvd, fdd, battery also. I've seen bad batteries cause very strange problems.

Also flash the bios to the latest version. If you still have the problems, call up tech support and be calm when you talk about it.

Give the tech a brief explanation of what is happening, tell him you've done all the troubleshooting (and tell them what you did), flashing bios, pulling all the drives, battery, reseating memory, etc. and that your problem is still occuring.

If the tech still seems to dumb to send someone out to repair it, then ask to speak with a manager. Don't be rude, just ask to speak to one. If the manager doesn't want to do something to resolve it, ask to speak to their manager and so on. I can not stress enough how important it is to remain calm and not get all mad. If you get mad, they are less likely to help you. Keep a record of when you called and who you spoke with.

Even though all the techs are supposed to log their calls, problems/solutions etc some don't if the customer was very mean to them and they ended up hanging up on the customer. So make sure you take down names.

If all else fails and they don't want to blindly throw parts at your system trying to correct the problem then ask for them to depot the system. That basically means they'll have fedex come pick it up and return it for depot repair where they will diagnose the system.

When you send it in to depot, write a note very thorough explaining exactly what it does and doesn't do. Explain that it is a random problem and doesn't happen everytime.

I've also seen loose connectors on the lcd cause problems similiar to what you're experiencing. My guess would have the tech send out a motherboard and have that replaced.

They send out so many parts/techs a day it's pitiful. They can send out another to make you happy.

 

[MC Webster]

Nemmeh, thanks for that post. First off, yes, I did buy my computer through home/small business. Is there anyway I can speak to a "relationship" tech?

Second, what do you mean when you say I should try "pulling" all the parts out? Simply remove unhook them and then insert them again? Will this cause any problems?

I'll see how speaking with tech support goes. They seemed pretty intent on me reformating (ugh, always the solution...), but perhaps, as you've suggested, a manager might make something different happen.

 

[Nemmeh]

Well, if you spoke with a relationship tech they wouldn't be able to issue service out to you at all. They don't have the permissions on their software to handle customers outside their public/corporate accounts.

When I say pull all the parts, I mean everything in the system. Pull everything out of it except for the memory and boot it up. It won't hurt anything, kind of like booting up a desktop with only mem/vid/mb/cpu installed. It just won't do anything cept sit there at the bios page.

Mainly why I suggest that is to see if you have any lockup problems when all the components are removed from the system. I would definitely flash the bios first, you can get the latest update from the support website.

Dell Support

If they give you a load of crap about reformatting will fix your problem that is just utter BS. If you are having the problem before you ever even start to load windows then it has nothing to do with the operating system.

Just remember when you talk to them, to be calm but firm when you tell them what it's doing. Mention to them that it does it right when you turn the system on, before windows ever begins to load.

If it truly is hanging at the bios screen as you've said, then it's not software causing the problem. Just talk to a manager, they'll be reluctant to let you speak to one, but they will if you ask them a few times. Remember a manager isn't very technically advised, they just manage the techs. So some of the issues you tell them about they may not understand, they just go by what the tech says.

If they continue to want you to reformat, then do it. Then if the problem keeps occuring they have it noted that you've already tried that and now it's time for something else.

My suggestions before you call them.
Download latest bios, flash it.
Remove all components (memory, battery, harddrive, dvd/cdrw, any pcmcia cards) The hard drive is on the side, held in by one or two screws. Just push the black piece down once you remove the screw and the drive will pull out. Don't break anything, although I doubt you will.

After you've done that, even though this doesn't have anything to do with your problem on the newer notebooks, make sure all the screws on the bottom are tightened, probably 12-13 screws in total. Then put the memory back in, make sure it's seated real good. Then hook it up to a ac adapter and turn it on. Do that a few times, see if it hangs up at all.

If it doesn't, then turn it off and put the hard drive back in. Boot it up a few times, see if it has any problems with hanging.

Then so for each component. The point in doing this is to see if any one component shows itself to be the problem.

Another thing, but since you said it does it at bios this doesn't apply. Would be to boot into safe mode on windows. Hit F5 or F8 (boot screen) right before windows starts to load. Just hit a few times and it'll go into safe mode. The only point in this is to make sure possibly a driver isn't causing windows to hang. However, since you stated it does it in the bios, there is no way a driver issue is causing this problem.

I'd try all these steps and when you call support, tell them what types of problems you've been having, that you've tried all the steps above and tell them what they were. When you tell them all that, it cuts them off from being able to blame it on software and forces them to issue service on the system. If they ask you if you've ran dell diags, make sure you tell them yes. If infact you have, if not even though they rarely turn up problems, especially inconsistant ones I suggest running diags on the system a few times. See if any errors occur.

You can download the latest version of dell diags from their website.

Url is below
Dell File Library

Trust me, I know how these things can act up. I was a Level II tech for Dell Relationship (which is the techs tech, basically). You'll never talk to one of these people, when a tech has a problem they can't resolve they ask Level II techs if they know a solution for it. After which I was promoted to a SAM (Service Acct Manager) for Dell Relationship. Home/Small Business have different policies than Relationship, so just be polite/calm when you speak to them. If you are, you're a lot more likely to get your issue resolved quickly.

Try the things I said, if you still have problems. Call support and tell them what you did, then ask if they know anything else that could cause the problems besides hardware. New issues come up with these systems all the time, I haven't worked for them since Aug 2001. The latest system out back then was the I8000. Depot service wouldn't be a bad thing, if they don't want to issue service for a motherboard replacement. This is however, if flashing the bios and removing all the components still turns up with the problem.

Good luck.

 

[MC Webster]

What would the most likely reason be that most times my laptop will only freeze during start-up at the Windows XP logo screen, but sometimes it will freeze at the BIOS screen before going on to freeze at the logo screen?