Dell and Vista together killing me…
So my Vista installation died on me. It died after I installed the latest released patches which the system was practically forcing me to install asap. I gave up despite facing issues with them in the recent past.
After rebooting, Vista showed the famed BSOD. Like last time I tried fixing the problem with System Restore. It failed on me. Doomness.
Now, there is just one way to get the data from the system considering it is a laptop. I tried using the Ubuntu Live CD. The 7.04 version failed on the Dell machine. Luckily 7.10 version worked and I was able to retrieve most of my data.
But, the Dell machine started giving me trouble now. It just would not boot using the three different media discs I have of the Vista operating system.
Strangely, the same discs worked fine on my desktop.
This is weird considering the system booted well with the Ubuntu Live CD…
So, I used the system’s own recovery option to get the default boot stage. Luckily it worked and I got a clean Vista installation with none of my settings and software.
I tried testing the DVD Drive with the Dell’s own tool and it reported some problem with the drive. I have the screenshot here.
It took me around 15 minutes to find out a way to send the Dell Customer Care an email with the problem. I cannot call them as the support only works on week days. I am hoping to see some positive response from Dell though I have my doubts.
This laptop would become a very crippled version if it continues to give me problems with media discs. I need it to boot through the Vista installation discs and I cannot get it to. I see no future for this machine.
February 17th, 2008 at 09:11 am
I hav my mobo, keyboard, harddisk, battery & power adaptor replaced, u can too. Mistreat ur laptop and make it brand new.
February 17th, 2008 at 09:26 am
Facing the same problem here with the media disks. The best way out is to sell your laptop to a sucker and buy a new one….
May 8th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I fully agree with all the comments about “What a hunk of Junk I purchased” Laptop with (Intel, Pentium Windows Basic Vista. To a beginner, such as myself, it all sounded good. I am going insane trying to just get on the Internet! When I first received it, my Sister help me get on-line, the next day I was off line. I blamed Microsoft IA. Called them everyday for Months, each Support gave me another method & still no internet. At great expense I called in a Man who builds Custom Computers, he got me on line after three attempts & then it was gone again. He said, this system can’t Sync with Network Folders, not enough MB of Ram. It truly is Crippleware. Spoke with MSNia in India this evening, he tried to connect me from there & they keep telling me it’s connected, but I still can’t get on. Nothing is in Sync with my folders. As you can see I have a Web-TV & have used it for years & gives me great pleasure & can do almost all that a Computer can do, without all this hassle, but unfortunatly it’s being fazed out a little every year & not enough room to write a book & can’t burn disks. Thank you! All I did want to say, these write ins are all correct as my private Wizard says also! Sandi