xps m1730 bsod on startup

Hey guys,

I have had my xps now for almost 2 years without a single issue, other than software screwups here and there. Now without any indication I am having a problem with my xps. After POST I get the awesome blue screen stating the usual run CHKDSK blah blah and this little gem:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xBACCB524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I restarted and ran the full diagnostic suite, passed everything just fine. I then checked the HDD by pulling it and putting it in a spare D830. It started up fine. I even put the D830 HDD in the xps to see if anything different would happen; same error.

I took it all apart to check dust and connections, everything looks great.

So, I gave in and called Dell Tech Support. I told him it was running fine that morning, I went to work, came back and bam...nothing. After some probing questions I informed him that I am currently deployed in Iraq and the tech stopped all support there and said he could not help me.

So, I am asking here for any help possible.

-John

 

The error you mentioned usually pertains to a problem with the Hard Drive.

INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

See this page:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

Possible way to get back into Windows would be to try this:
*WARNING: System may become very glitchy and unusable - best to backup any data and reinstall after this*

Change the SATA Operation Setting From RAID Autodetect / AHCI to RAID Autodetect / ATA in System Setup

1. Restart the computer.

2. Press F2 immediately at the Dell Logo screen to enter the BIOS (System Setup).

3. In the System Setup screen highlight the Drives section, and then press Enter.

4. Highlight the SATA Operation section, and then press Enter.

5. Highlight RAID Autodetect / ATA, and then press Enter.

6. Press Esc to exit the System Setup.

7. Highlight Save/Exit, and then press Enter. The computer will restart.[/QUOTE]

If this works and you are able to get back into Windows without issue, there are ways to re-enable AHCI however I need to know the following before suggesting a course of action:

1. What OS?
2. RAID Array?

Hope this helps.

 

Ok, let me try that. I just need to slap it back together first.

OS is WinXP x64
no raid config just 0 and 1

OS is on 0
games and media are on 1

 

ok...that actually worked. should I go back into the BIOS and turn it back to AHCI and see if it works?

 

You can reinstall the AHCI driver and then set it to AHCI via the BIOS.

Do you have an Intel Turbo Memory card installed? If so, use this version of the Matrix Storage Manager:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17574/eng/INVM19ENU.exe


If no Turbo Memory Card, use this one:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17412/eng/IATA88ENU.exe

 

When I run IATA88ENU.exe I get a prompt stating my computer does not meet minimum requirements for installing this software.

Sorry for the time in between posts. It took 17min to download that 6mb. Duststorm is interfering with our sat shot.

 

Hmmmm... it could be the installer isn't seeing AHCI as active. Try turning AHCI back on and see if you can boot into windows. If so, run the installer then.

My theory on the BSOD is your AHCI drivers were somehow hosed which caused the BSOD. Hopefully, this will correct the issue.

 

No go on turning AHCI back on.

Is there a benefit of AHCI over ATA? I'm not running any kind of raid config. just a primary and storage HDD.

***
I think I just found a work around.
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=444831
going to try it out.

Thanks for your help!!

 

Yep - thats the right track (link). You can use the IATA88enu.exe as well. (the one I linked you to is the current version).

Hope it works out. Be safe out there.

 

FOLLOWUP:

After trying and failing the registry trick to install the AHCI drivers I took a step back and tried an easier route.

First, I ran "R154200" SATA Controller drivers from Dell XPS driver/support page

Next navigate to the DM

IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller
Right click on Primary IDE channel and choose Update Driver


Choose No, not at this time
Install a list or specific location (advance)
Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install

Click on Have Disk
navigate to c:\dell\drivers\R154200\iaStor.inf

Select 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller
Click Next

Restart
Enter BIOS
Change your SATA Mode to Raid Autodetect / AHCI
Save and exit.
Done

I hope this helps anyone who is having the same issue.

 

Glad to hear you worked it out. So now you are again running in AHCI mode using the dell driver. Have you thought about running the current version installer to update - or not going to risk it?

Either way its great your are up and running again.

 

Thank you very much for posting this information, it has fixed the same problem which just occurred on one of our M1730 machines.

While it may be unrelated, I have also found that the battery is dead in this machine and the onboard battery may be dead too because it was losing the BIOS time setting.

Thanks again.