WellingtonIS
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Strange Issue
I have new Dell machines 790's out of the box. I have created an image and I've imaged about 150 machines. The machines are in various locations. The issue I'm having is if the machine is off and it comes back on it doesn't find the hard drive? However, if you shut it down again it boots up and wants to run a repair. If you run the repair it finds nothing wrong, you shut it down again and its fine? I've run diagnostics on the machines and I can't find anything wrong. It's not happening on all the machines just some of them and they all have the same image. Windows 7 32 bit.
Has anyone ever encountered anything like this? Is this a software issue or a hardware issue???
Has anyone ever encountered anything like this? Is this a software issue or a hardware issue???
Why not carry out the repair. It may give you a clue what was wrong & corrected. How many machines though?
ASKER
So far it's about 10 machines, however, I should have said that I have done the repair it stays for a bit then it happens again.
Try running the chkdsk /f from the command prompt. The last resort would be to reinstall the OS on the 10 computers if no documents were created and saved.
ASKER
Nothing on the machines. I'll try that too thanks.
Did you use sysprep on the base machine before creating the image?
Here is a how to on sysprep:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preparing-an-image-using-sysprep-and-imagex.aspx
Here is more info on building a Win7 standard image:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee523217(v=ws.10).aspx
Here is a how to on sysprep:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preparing-an-image-using-sysprep-and-imagex.aspx
Here is more info on building a Win7 standard image:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee523217(v=ws.10).aspx
ASKER
Yes I did. I used sysprep for windows 7 and ghost
Hmm, I would check to see if the HDD is seen in the bios. The systems could need a bios update if one is available. It seems odd that the OS would magically not see the HDD unless there was a controller change or revision difference among the machines. In that case it could need a newer storage controller driver.
This sounds identical to what happened to me on a similar Dell box. Dell ended up sending a warranty replacement HDD for me.
See if the storage controllers are all the same on the machines. It's possible that the same model might have a different chip controlling the HDDs.
ASKER
So you think it maybe the hard drives? I kinda thought it couldn't be the image because then it should be all of the images not some of them. The only thing is I don't find anything when I run tests.
The easy test to see if its the HDD is to swap a known good one into a PC that is having issues.
or run the manufacturer's diag on the disk; long test
i use the UBCD for that :
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ultimate boot cd
http://ubcd.mirror.fusa.be/ubcd511.iso direct link UBCD
i use the UBCD for that :
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ultimate boot cd
http://ubcd.mirror.fusa.be/ubcd511.iso direct link UBCD
ASKER
that's for windows 7 thx will try that too. so far still have the problem. Wierd.
What all suggestions have you tried?
ASKER
OK I think I figured this out. I think this is related to the power settings on the machines. It was set to turn off the hard drives after 30 minutes of inactivity. I'm trying a different power scheme. Will keep you posted.
strange that it would loose the drive for that?
ASKER
Maybe not since I just found another machine same issue???? I think Dell needs to get called on this one. I've run every test you can imagine and nothing comes up strange.
Have you determined if it's a HD or MB issue by swapping drives?
Dell is going to want to know. You will save time on the phone if you find out before calling them.
Dell is going to want to know. You will save time on the phone if you find out before calling them.
Power settings wouldn't keep it from finding a drive when you first turn on the machine.
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ASKER
I have nothing to switch out the disks with, however, some are working which makes me think that it's a hard drive issue.
You have 150 Dells.
Put a non-working HD into a working machine and see if the problem follows the HD or the MB.
Put a non-working HD into a working machine and see if the problem follows the HD or the MB.
ASKER
I called dell and they gave me a patch for the problem. So far so good. Thax for the suggestion.
good to see it is working..