8200 help

My uncle has a Dell 8200 computer from about 4 years ago that recently quit
working. He took it to Best Buy and they told him it "lost it's memory"
which I have not heard before.

When I power it up it warns that the hard drive is operating outside normal
parameters and asks if I want to continue the boot process.

I put it's HD in one of my computers and it worked fine. I was able to
salvage everything he ad on the HD. I tried putting a new HD in his computer
and get the same warning. After reformatting his HD I tried
to start from scratch and everything starts to load normally, but when I
more the curser on the screen it jumps all over the place.

I replaced the mouse and everything seemed to load fine, but when I reboot
it says there is an I/O problem.

Is the motherboard ****, or is something else likely the problem?

Can I fit an aftermarket MB in this case?


Mike


--
ANYONE but Hillary in 2008!

Mike wrote:
My uncle has a Dell 8200 computer from about 4 years ago that recently quit
working. He took it to Best Buy and they told him it "lost it's memory"
which I have not heard before.

When I power it up it warns that the hard drive is operating outside normal
parameters and asks if I want to continue the boot process.

I put it's HD in one of my computers and it worked fine. I was able to
salvage everything he ad on the HD. I tried putting a new HD in his computer
and get the same warning.

New as in 'different" or new as in still shrinkwrapped? As this is a
s.m.a.r.t warning. A hard drive failure prediction mechanism.

Download everest and get the smart status report for that hard drive.
Both of them.


After reformatting his HD I tried
to start from scratch and everything starts to load normally, but when I
more the curser on the screen it jumps all over the place.

I replaced the mouse and everything seemed to load fine, but when I reboot
it says there is an I/O problem.

Is the motherboard ****, or is something else likely the problem?

Yes, it does sound like the motherboard is gone. But try a new cmos
battery and see if it helps.

To test RAM download memtest86+ form www.memtest.org.






Can I fit an aftermarket MB in this case?

Not likely, but maybe another 8200 MB. You may be able to order one
from Dell.



Mike


--
ANYONE but Hillary in 2008!

Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy. Honestly,
the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its memory" is, well... really
dumb.

The hard drive is failing, which is what the motherboard BIOS is warning. To
be really sure, download and run the drive manufacturer's diagnostic software,
but mentally chalk up the drive as history and not worth using ever again.
Fortunately, you were able to recover the important data from it before it bit
the dust completely.

All the other symptoms you've seen derive from problems with the failed drive.

As another poster suggested, you can also run MEMTEST-86, an excellent memory
diagnostic, possibly the best one available at any price. It is free. If
MEMTEST-86 runs through several cycles error-free, I would tend to trust the
motherboard, CPU and memory.

Dell Dimension 8200 motherboards work only in Dell cases, notably Dimension
8200, 8250, 8300, Precision 340, 350, 360, Optiplex 240, 260, and maybe some
others. The motherboards all require the proprietary connectors that come
along with these cases, among which the motherboards are largely interchangable.

Don't even think of using an aftermarket P4 or AMD Athlon board in the case. Too
much work, rewiring and jury-rigging for this to make any sense. The only
thing that makes sense with this case is to upgrade with a newer Dell
motherboard from the list above... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:14:34 -0600, "Mike" wrote:

My uncle has a Dell 8200 computer from about 4 years ago that recently quit
working. He took it to Best Buy and they told him it "lost it's memory"
which I have not heard before.

When I power it up it warns that the hard drive is operating outside normal
parameters and asks if I want to continue the boot process.

I put it's HD in one of my computers and it worked fine. I was able to
salvage everything he ad on the HD. I tried putting a new HD in his computer
and get the same warning. After reformatting his HD I tried
to start from scratch and everything starts to load normally, but when I
more the curser on the screen it jumps all over the place.

I replaced the mouse and everything seemed to load fine, but when I reboot
it says there is an I/O problem.

Is the motherboard ****, or is something else likely the problem?

Can I fit an aftermarket MB in this case?


Mike

"Ben Myers" wrote in message

Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly, the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its
memory" is, well... really dumb...

Well not necessarily. As what that means to me is that the CMOS has lost
its memory. Which is almost always caused by a low or dead CMOS battery.
Does the clock keep the date and time if you unplug it from the wall?
You may have to unplug it 10 minutes to a few hours to see. If it can't,
then they were correct. Although not very likely from my experience.

--
Bill

wrote in message
ups.com...


New as in 'different" or new as in still shrinkwrapped? As this is a
s.m.a.r.t warning. A hard drive failure prediction mechanism.

New out of the box.

Download everest and get the smart status report for that hard drive.
Both of them.

Everest?



Yes, it does sound like the motherboard is gone. But try a new cmos
battery and see if it helps.

To test RAM download memtest86+ form www.memtest.org.


Thanks.


Can I fit an aftermarket MB in this case?

Not likely, but maybe another 8200 MB. You may be able to order one
from Dell.


Probably cheaper to get a new computer I imagine. Thanks.

"Ben Myers" wrote in message
...
Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly,
the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its memory" is, well...
really
dumb.

It was one of the Geek Squad guys I guess. He bought a new computer as they
said it was not worth fixing. I thought I'd take a peek and see. If it's
only a new HD I'll have to play with it a while

Thanks.


Mike

And if it's a new CMOS battery, as suggested by another poster, these cost only
a few bucks... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:15:53 -0600, "Mike" wrote:

"Ben Myers" wrote in message
.. .
Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly,
the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its memory" is, well...
really
dumb.

It was one of the Geek Squad guys I guess. He bought a new computer as they
said it was not worth fixing. I thought I'd take a peek and see. If it's
only a new HD I'll have to play with it a while

Thanks.


Mike

"Mike" wrote in message
"Ben Myers" wrote in message
...
Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly,
the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its memory" is,
well... really
dumb.

It was one of the Geek Squad guys I guess. He bought a new computer
as they said it was not worth fixing. I thought I'd take a peek and
see. If it's only a new HD I'll have to play with it a while

Oh I haven't heard if those guys are any good. I suppose some of them
are and some of them aren't. But anybody should know whoever worked on
computers know about a dead CMOS battery.

If it is the controller on the motherboard, you can buy PCI controllers.
This is a desktop, right? That is what I would do to get more life out
of it.

--
Bill

NO! Only a dumb ass would describe the symptoms as "lost its memory", and not
suggest a simple resolution to the problem. Given the age of the 8200, you are
probably 100% spot on in your conjecture that the CMOS battery needs replacing,
especially if it had never ever been replaced. Why is it that some of us
perhaps thousands of miles away can figure out problems tha the Geek Squad or
Best Buy cannot solve with statements in clear plain English? Answer: The
primary criterion for becoming one of the Geek Squad is that you pony up your
money for a Geek Squad franchise. No practical experience required, just show
them the money.

If the CMOS battery needs replacing, that could also explain the detected SMART
failure, which may be a false indication caused by the dying or dead battery.
When the CMOS battery goes, it can cause all manner of symptoms.

I stand corrected. First, replace CMOS battery. If SMART failure persists
after replacing battery, replace the drive... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:00:21 -0600, "BillW50" wrote:

"Ben Myers" wrote in message

Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly, the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its
memory" is, well... really dumb...

Well not necessarily. As what that means to me is that the CMOS has lost
its memory. Which is almost always caused by a low or dead CMOS battery.
Does the clock keep the date and time if you unplug it from the wall?
You may have to unplug it 10 minutes to a few hours to see. If it can't,
then they were correct. Although not very likely from my experience.

Oh, yeah. Best Buy does not pay well enough to have some real hardware wizards
working in their stores either... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:15:53 -0600, "Mike" wrote:

"Ben Myers" wrote in message
.. .
Wow! So much for depending the high quality service by Best Buy.
Honestly,
the dumb ass who said that the computer had "lost its memory" is, well...
really
dumb.

It was one of the Geek Squad guys I guess. He bought a new computer as they
said it was not worth fixing. I thought I'd take a peek and see. If it's
only a new HD I'll have to play with it a while

Thanks.


Mike