so many problems

rmc17 · 10-17-2009, 07:50 AM

I have a dell dimension 4550 - prob. 7 yrs old....

got home from work yesterday, found Windows updates rdy to be installed...went through those, restarted, had more Windows updates, did that, restarted... all ok, though PC seemed slow...hard drive was spinning away though no processes were running.....by evening, the computer was veryy slow....mouse dragged inconsistently, IE took forever to open....finally froze.

Had to power off and back on again...
1st time i got "Drive 0 on the primary EIDE controller is operating outside of normal specs..."
hit F1 to continue....got to Windows XP startup screen and bar going back and forth across bottom of screen then no further.
Power off and on again
This time I tried F2 to see settings which didn't help me....continued...got "A problem has been detected. Caused by PartMgr.sys....PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA with codes underneath...no further
Next reboot - hit f12 - chose boot from last successful setting (or something like that) - didn't work
Next Reboot - Safe mode - started to scroll commands down the screen then hung and got no further.
Next reboot - One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency message, which is currently running..

HELP! I don't know why I'm getting so many different messages...everything says to reboot in safe mode and Restore but I can't get it going at all...

I'm very grateful for any guidance you can provide...
Rob

**simpswr** · 10-17-2009, 07:52 AM

and welcome to the Forum

I would run the Dell Diagnostics cd you received with the pc . . If you do not have that you can download from Dell Support site.

You can also run diagnostics on the hard drive ( click here )

See this for how to make a bootable cd

rmc17 · 10-17-2009, 08:03 AM

thanks for your quick reply, Rich....
While i'm waiting for the CHKDSK to finish (or maybe it's hanging...), I went through my old disks... All i have from Dell are 2 Dell Dimesion ResourceCDs. One says Drivers and Utilities (which includes a "Diagnostics and utilities" bullet, and a Application disk "FOR reinstalling Dell Tools System Software" which has a "support software" bullet. Both disks say "already installed on our computer" so I;m not sure either qualifies as a Dell Diagnostic disk...

Also, I'm only online due to my Macbook... doesn't seem like i can run online driver test since i can't get my dell up and running

****Update - CHKDSK came back with File record segment 10838 is unreadable. everything else says "completed". computer isn't doing anything atm...same CHKDSK screen is up.

**simpswr** · 10-17-2009, 08:13 AM

Use the Diagnostics on the Drivers and utilities CD.

The Drive diagnostics are not run online . . you download and burn to a CD, which you then boot from. You will probably have to use a PC to make the cd

rmc17 · 10-17-2009, 08:38 AM

Ran the Diagnostic CD - chose Express Test to start...

During the IDE Disk Confidence test, got:
error code 0F00:1344
Msg: Block 161445: Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected
I hit continue test

During IDE DVD+RW Confidence test, got:
error code 0F00:133D
Msg: IDE device failed: incompatible CD for testing
I hit continue test and it finished.

Currently running test on Hard Drive...

rmc17 · 10-17-2009, 08:58 AM

Ugh - Hard drive Read test is at 20+ errors and counting....

Hard drive needs to go, huh?

ineedateam1 · 10-17-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmc17

Ugh - Hard drive Read test is at 20+ errors and counting....

Hard drive needs to go, huh?

Or maybe a High level format might help... ?

Im not a Pro But i think formating might help But this should be the last thing you do :l

**simpswr** · 10-17-2009, 09:36 AM

I would replace it . . very risk to tryto continue using it.

You can get a reinstallation guide specific to your Dell here

rmc17 · 10-17-2009, 11:18 AM

is it possible to use one of my external drives as my hard drive? i have a 500GB and an 80Gb externals....would be nice to just use one of those instead of installing a new internal...

**simpswr** · 10-17-2009, 12:04 PM

You could move it from the external enclosure I guess . . but the operating system will not install on an external drive

10-17-2009, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
rmc17 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 OS: XP	so many problems I have a dell dimension 4550 - prob. 7 yrs old.... got home from work yesterday, found Windows updates rdy to be installed...went through those, restarted, had more Windows updates, did that, restarted... all ok, though PC seemed slow...hard drive was spinning away though no processes were running.....by evening, the computer was veryy slow....mouse dragged inconsistently, IE took forever to open....finally froze. Had to power off and back on again... 1st time i got "Drive 0 on the primary EIDE controller is operating outside of normal specs..." hit F1 to continue....got to Windows XP startup screen and bar going back and forth across bottom of screen then no further. Power off and on again This time I tried F2 to see settings which didn't help me....continued...got "A problem has been detected. Caused by PartMgr.sys....PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA with codes underneath...no further Next reboot - hit f12 - chose boot from last successful setting (or something like that) - didn't work Next Reboot - Safe mode - started to scroll commands down the screen then hung and got no further. Next reboot - One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency message, which is currently running.. HELP! I don't know why I'm getting so many different messages...everything says to reboot in safe mode and Restore but I can't get it going at all... I'm very grateful for any guidance you can provide... Rob

10-17-2009, 07:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: so many problems and welcome to the Forum I would run the Dell Diagnostics cd you received with the pc . . If you do not have that you can download from Dell Support site. You can also run diagnostics on the hard drive ( click here ) See this for how to make a bootable cd __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

10-17-2009, 08:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
rmc17 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: so many problems thanks for your quick reply, Rich.... While i'm waiting for the CHKDSK to finish (or maybe it's hanging...), I went through my old disks... All i have from Dell are 2 Dell Dimesion ResourceCDs. One says Drivers and Utilities (which includes a "Diagnostics and utilities" bullet, and a Application disk "FOR reinstalling Dell Tools System Software" which has a "support software" bullet. Both disks say "already installed on our computer" so I;m not sure either qualifies as a Dell Diagnostic disk... Also, I'm only online due to my Macbook... doesn't seem like i can run online driver test since i can't get my dell up and running ***Update - CHKDSK came back with File record segment 10838 is unreadable. everything else says "completed". computer isn't doing anything atm...same CHKDSK screen is up. Last edited by rmc17; 10-17-2009 at 08:12 AM.*

10-17-2009, 08:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: so many problems Use the Diagnostics on the Drivers and utilities CD. The Drive diagnostics are not run online . . you download and burn to a CD, which you then boot from. You will probably have to use a PC to make the cd __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

10-17-2009, 08:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
rmc17 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: so many problems Ran the Diagnostic CD - chose Express Test to start... During the IDE Disk Confidence test, got: error code 0F00:1344 Msg: Block 161445: Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected I hit continue test During IDE DVD+RW Confidence test, got: error code 0F00:133D Msg: IDE device failed: incompatible CD for testing I hit continue test and it finished. Currently running test on Hard Drive...

10-17-2009, 08:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
rmc17 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: so many problems Ugh - Hard drive Read test is at 20+ errors and counting.... Hard drive needs to go, huh?

10-17-2009, 09:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: so many problems I would replace it . . very risk to tryto continue using it. You can get a reinstallation guide specific to your Dell here __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

10-17-2009, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
rmc17 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: so many problems is it possible to use one of my external drives as my hard drive? i have a 500GB and an 80Gb externals....would be nice to just use one of those instead of installing a new internal...

10-17-2009, 12:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: so many problems You could move it from the external enclosure I guess . . but the operating system will not install on an external drive __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?