Dell Inspiron 1150 Problems - Plz Help! :-(

Greetings All,

I have a 4 y.o. laptop with Windows XP Home. I turned on the pc & got
the black screen saying Windows has shutdown & it gave me the option of
starting in normal mode, safe mode, the last known good configuration
that worked, etc. Then I got the blue screen of death saying Windows has
shutdown due to an unmountable boot volume with the following error
code:

STOP: 0x000000ed (0x81ac4588, 0xc0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

No matter which mode I chose to start Windows in, the blue screen popped
up with the unmountable boot volume.

I called Dell & spoke with a technician. He had me run the diagnostic
test holding down the FN key while pressing the power button.

Here's the result:

Pre-Boot System Assessment Build 3009

Device: Hard Drive
Test: Start DST Short Test
Status: Error detected!
Test Results: Fail
Error Code: 1000-0146
Msg: Unit 2: DST Log contains previous error(s).

According to the Dell technician my hard drive is broken. He said my
option is to get another hard drive or computer. He also said I can
extract files from the old hard drive & have them saved on a disc.

Is he correct? I want to make sure it's unfixable before doing anything.

Thanx!
C.A.

P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few seconds...

if the diagnostics find that the hard drive is defective then it means it no
longer is reliable to use and must be replaced. however, you may or may not
be able to recover some or all of your data. recovery would involve either
taking the drive to someone to try to do the recovery for you or you
purchasing a $20 usb hard disk enclosure and fitting your dubious laptop
drive into the enclosure and copying files off of the disk. laptop hard
drives are pretty cheap, well under $100 for a 160gb laptop drive from
newegg.com. what is costly is the time it will take for you to rebuild the
drive with the operating system, drivers, updates, and all of the
application software... and the time invested in trying to recover your data
from the old drive.
procedure to remove/install the hard drive...
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...dd.htm#1084976
entire users manual with chapter on removing/replacing parts...
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/F7573a01.pdf
suggested drive replacement... $83 delivered for 160gb drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136114
usb hard disk enclosure to attempt recover of data from current/defective
drive...
$17 delivered. there are cheaper, but you get what you pay for.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146605

"Caramel Amazon" <Mfl4@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net...
>
> Greetings All,
>
> I have a 4 y.o. laptop with Windows XP Home. I turned on the pc & got
> the black screen saying Windows has shutdown & it gave me the option of
> starting in normal mode, safe mode, the last known good configuration
> that worked, etc. Then I got the blue screen of death saying Windows has
> shutdown due to an unmountable boot volume with the following error
> code:
>
> STOP: 0x000000ed (0x81ac4588, 0xc0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
>
> No matter which mode I chose to start Windows in, the blue screen popped
> up with the unmountable boot volume.
>
> I called Dell & spoke with a technician. He had me run the diagnostic
> test holding down the FN key while pressing the power button.
>
> Here's the result:
>
> Pre-Boot System Assessment Build 3009
>
> Device: Hard Drive
> Test: Start DST Short Test
> Status: Error detected!
> Test Results: Fail
> Error Code: 1000-0146
> Msg: Unit 2: DST Log contains previous error(s).
>
> According to the Dell technician my hard drive is broken. He said my
> option is to get another hard drive or computer. He also said I can
> extract files from the old hard drive & have them saved on a disc.
>
> Is he correct? I want to make sure it's unfixable before doing anything.
>
> Thanx!
> C.A.
>
> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few seconds...
>

"Caramel Amazon" <Mfl4@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net...
>
> Greetings All,
>
> I have a 4 y.o. laptop with Windows XP Home. I turned on the pc & got
> the black screen saying Windows has shutdown & it gave me the option of
> starting in normal mode, safe mode, the last known good configuration
> that worked, etc. Then I got the blue screen of death saying Windows has
> shutdown due to an unmountable boot volume with the following error
> code:
>
> STOP: 0x000000ed (0x81ac4588, 0xc0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
>
> No matter which mode I chose to start Windows in, the blue screen popped
> up with the unmountable boot volume.
>
> I called Dell & spoke with a technician. He had me run the diagnostic
> test holding down the FN key while pressing the power button.
>
> Here's the result:
>
> Pre-Boot System Assessment Build 3009
>
> Device: Hard Drive
> Test: Start DST Short Test
> Status: Error detected!
> Test Results: Fail
> Error Code: 1000-0146
> Msg: Unit 2: DST Log contains previous error(s).


<snip>


Yes, it appears your hard drive has failed or is failing.

could also be overheating.

S.Lewis wrote:
> "Caramel Amazon" <Mfl4@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net...
>> Greetings All,
>>
>> I have a 4 y.o. laptop with Windows XP Home. I turned on the pc & got
>> the black screen saying Windows has shutdown & it gave me the option of
>> starting in normal mode, safe mode, the last known good configuration
>> that worked, etc. Then I got the blue screen of death saying Windows has
>> shutdown due to an unmountable boot volume with the following error
>> code:
>>
>> STOP: 0x000000ed (0x81ac4588, 0xc0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
>>
>> No matter which mode I chose to start Windows in, the blue screen popped
>> up with the unmountable boot volume.
>>
>> I called Dell & spoke with a technician. He had me run the diagnostic
>> test holding down the FN key while pressing the power button.
>>
>> Here's the result:
>>
>> Pre-Boot System Assessment Build 3009
>>
>> Device: Hard Drive
>> Test: Start DST Short Test
>> Status: Error detected!
>> Test Results: Fail
>> Error Code: 1000-0146
>> Msg: Unit 2: DST Log contains previous error(s).
>
>
> <snip>
>
>
> Yes, it appears your hard drive has failed or is failing.
>
>

given the specifics you stated, dell suggests to boot your system with the
dell provided windows cd and start the recovery console and then run chkdsk
/r.
follow the step by step instructions form dells web site here...
http://tinyurl.com/588ysm

"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:ZP-dnXOnxefg6rbVnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> if the diagnostics find that the hard drive is defective then it means it
> no longer is reliable to use and must be replaced. however, you may or
> may not be able to recover some or all of your data. recovery would
> involve either taking the drive to someone to try to do the recovery for
> you or you purchasing a $20 usb hard disk enclosure and fitting your
> dubious laptop drive into the enclosure and copying files off of the disk.
> laptop hard drives are pretty cheap, well under $100 for a 160gb laptop
> drive from newegg.com. what is costly is the time it will take for you to
> rebuild the drive with the operating system, drivers, updates, and all of
> the application software... and the time invested in trying to recover
> your data from the old drive.
> procedure to remove/install the hard drive...
> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...dd.htm#1084976
> entire users manual with chapter on removing/replacing parts...
> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/F7573a01.pdf
> suggested drive replacement... $83 delivered for 160gb drive.
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136114
> usb hard disk enclosure to attempt recover of data from current/defective
> drive...
> $17 delivered. there are cheaper, but you get what you pay for.
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817146605
>
> "Caramel Amazon" <Mfl4@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net...
>>
>> Greetings All,
>>
>> I have a 4 y.o. laptop with Windows XP Home. I turned on the pc & got
>> the black screen saying Windows has shutdown & it gave me the option of
>> starting in normal mode, safe mode, the last known good configuration
>> that worked, etc. Then I got the blue screen of death saying Windows has
>> shutdown due to an unmountable boot volume with the following error
>> code:
>>
>> STOP: 0x000000ed (0x81ac4588, 0xc0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
>>
>> No matter which mode I chose to start Windows in, the blue screen popped
>> up with the unmountable boot volume.
>>
>> I called Dell & spoke with a technician. He had me run the diagnostic
>> test holding down the FN key while pressing the power button.
>>
>> Here's the result:
>>
>> Pre-Boot System Assessment Build 3009
>>
>> Device: Hard Drive
>> Test: Start DST Short Test
>> Status: Error detected!
>> Test Results: Fail
>> Error Code: 1000-0146
>> Msg: Unit 2: DST Log contains previous error(s).
>>
>> According to the Dell technician my hard drive is broken. He said my
>> option is to get another hard drive or computer. He also said I can
>> extract files from the old hard drive & have them saved on a disc.
>>
>> Is he correct? I want to make sure it's unfixable before doing anything.
>>
>> Thanx!
>> C.A.
>>
>> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few seconds...
>>
>
>

In news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net,
Caramel Amazon typed on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:21:34 -0400:
> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few
> seconds...

In news:Y7GdnWPRlf9hg7HVnZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@earthlink.co m,
Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:31:04 -0400:
> given the specifics you stated, dell suggests to boot your system
> with the dell provided windows cd and start the recovery console and
> then run chkdsk /r.
> follow the step by step instructions form dells web site here...
> http://tinyurl.com/588ysm

How can Caramel do that, when the DVD drive doesn't WORK?

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:482c308b$0$30635$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere .com...
> In news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net,
> Caramel Amazon typed on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:21:34 -0400:
>> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few
>> seconds...
>
> In news:Y7GdnWPRlf9hg7HVnZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@earthlink.co m,
> Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:31:04 -0400:
>> given the specifics you stated, dell suggests to boot your system
>> with the dell provided windows cd and start the recovery console and
>> then run chkdsk /r.
>> follow the step by step instructions form dells web site here...
>> http://tinyurl.com/588ysm
>
> How can Caramel do that, when the DVD drive doesn't WORK?
>
> --
> Bill

have no idea what caramel means by it 'dosen't work. it shuts off after a
few seconds' perhaps refering to a spining noise as the system check the
optical drive during post. if the instructions in the link are followed
then the system should be able to boot from the optical drive with the
original windows media.

In news:xtidnUKoWJ6l2rHVnZ2dnUVZ_sbinZ2d@earthlink.co m,
Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 10:22:44 -0400:
> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
> news:482c308b$0$30635$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere .com...
>> In news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net,
>> Caramel Amazon typed on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:21:34 -0400:
>>> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few
>>> seconds...
>>
>> In news:Y7GdnWPRlf9hg7HVnZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@earthlink.co m,
>> Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:31:04 -0400:
>>> given the specifics you stated, dell suggests to boot your system
>>> with the dell provided windows cd and start the recovery console and
>>> then run chkdsk /r.
>>> follow the step by step instructions form dells web site here...
>>> http://tinyurl.com/588ysm
>>
>> How can Caramel do that, when the DVD drive doesn't WORK?
>
> have no idea what caramel means by it 'dosen't work. it shuts off
> after a few seconds' perhaps refering to a spining noise as the
> system check the optical drive during post. if the instructions in
> the link are followed then the system should be able to boot from the
> optical drive with the original windows media.

I got the impression that it spins up for a few seconds and then
nothing. This is common during the self test of a CD/DVD drive and it
finds a fault. The most common fault is having the laser burn out.

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:482c4bd6$0$30636$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere .com...
> In news:xtidnUKoWJ6l2rHVnZ2dnUVZ_sbinZ2d@earthlink.co m,
> Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 10:22:44 -0400:
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
>> news:482c308b$0$30635$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere .com...
>>> In news:18456-482B65EE-966@storefull-3114.bay.webtv.net,
>>> Caramel Amazon typed on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:21:34 -0400:
>>>> P.S. The DVD-Rom drive doesn't work. It shuts off after a few
>>>> seconds...
>>>
>>> In news:Y7GdnWPRlf9hg7HVnZ2dnUVZ_vninZ2d@earthlink.co m,
>>> Christopher Muto typed on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:31:04 -0400:
>>>> given the specifics you stated, dell suggests to boot your system
>>>> with the dell provided windows cd and start the recovery console and
>>>> then run chkdsk /r.
>>>> follow the step by step instructions form dells web site here...
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/588ysm
>>>
>>> How can Caramel do that, when the DVD drive doesn't WORK?
>>
>> have no idea what caramel means by it 'dosen't work. it shuts off
>> after a few seconds' perhaps refering to a spining noise as the
>> system check the optical drive during post. if the instructions in
>> the link are followed then the system should be able to boot from the
>> optical drive with the original windows media.
>
> I got the impression that it spins up for a few seconds and then nothing.
> This is common during the self test of a CD/DVD drive and it finds a
> fault. The most common fault is having the laser burn out.
>
> --
> Bill


It will also do this with non-bootable media. Perhaps the OP has overlooked
something or not timed pressing the F12 hotkey exactly right.

I'll clarify about the optical drive problem.

When I put a music cd in, the light on the drive flashes & I can hear it
spin for a few seconds, then the drive just shuts off. No more flashing
light or spinning.

During the diagnostic test of the drive, the prompt will say to put in a
bootable media. I'll do that but the pc doesn't see that it's in the
drive so it'll keep telling me to insert a bootable media in the drive
although there's one in there.

I picked up an external optical drive before speaking with the Dell
tech. So if I can use it to access the recovery console to get rid of
the unmountable boot volume problem & get Windows to boot up perhaps I
can then save my files on removable media...