Thread for all built-in-storage problems

07-24-05, 02:09 AM

I really hated to start a new thread but thought it would really be great if we could get all of the BIS problems grouped together in one thread.

I have searched the threads and there are a few people who have had problems with the BIS disappearing. Many times this issue seemed to come up after the BIS was loaded at or near maximum capacity. In each case it seems that the problem was never resolved and Dell has had to replace the unit. There was mention of a similar problem on some X30s and in some cases the person was able to fix the problem but no one seems to have been able to repair this on an X50 or X50v. Someone mentioned a similar problem with one of the Toshiba PDAs, although I can't remember which one, and it too could be fixed.

Users have posted a couple of thoughts on why this might be happening. One is that when the built-in-storage is loaded at or near capacity, it begins to encroach on the area where the operating system is stored. Removing the files doesn't solve the problem and the BIS is still not visible after it disappears. Another idea is that it has something to do with the fact that this type of memory has a limited number of times it can be written and re-written to. I think the number is very large, something like 100,000 times but it may be related in some way. I suppose it could be a defective memory chip or possibly a bad area on the memory chip. I'm not certain but I think the 128MB of rom (part of which is used to store the operating system and the remaining amount of which is available for storage) is built-in or a part of the Intel PXA270 processor. Again, I am not certain about this but I think this is correct. I believe Intel calls it Strata Flash. I went to Intel's site to see if anything was mentioned about how many times this can be written to but was unable to find any reference to this.

The problem I am having is as follows:
I had my BIS loaded up with mp3 files and actually was at the point where the available memory in BIS was at zero. I removed most of the files and my BIS was still visible in file explorer. After this, I begin to notice that my programs, which were installed in BIS, took longer to load. I also noticed that after performing a soft reset, it took longer to boot than it used to. I also noticed that during the boot process, the little clock icon or whatever it is called would show up on the screen. I'm not sure what to call this little clock icon but it seems to be the same thing as the hour glass that you see in Windows when you are waiting on some process to complete or waiting on something to load. My concern is that this may be an indication that my BIS is about to go. Has anyone else noticed anything like this? I am also interested in how many people have had BIS problems or have had their BIS completely disappear. We need to find out if this is a hardware problem or if it is related to software. Since this issue was able to be resolved on the X30 and the Toshiba, it seems logical that it is a software problem. Has anyone been able to fix this on an X50 or X50v? Has anyone ever had the BIS disappear and it reappear? Any thoughts or input would be appreciated.

kitzj0 · 07-25-05, 08:05 AM

My BIS is gone after having my replacement unit (had defective headphone jack) less than a week. I had about 60 Mb free in BIS. I turned on bluetooth and then got an error and the unit did a soft reset and all the programs in BIS were gone and then did not see BIS in file explorer. I think from reading some of the posts this is a problem related to the new ROM update A04.

07-25-05, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by kitzj0

My BIS is gone after having my replacement unit (had defective headphone jack) less than a week. I had about 60 Mb free in BIS. I turned on bluetooth and then got an error and the unit did a soft reset and all the programs in BIS were gone and then did not see BIS in file explorer. I think from reading some of the posts this is a problem related to the new ROM update A04.

I wish that the A04 rom upgrade was the problem but one of the people who had this happen was using A02. He even restored back to A01 but still could not see the BIS. Your situation also eliminates the cause of the problem being the BIS being completely full since you had 60Mb of free space left.

The following is a link to the thread where the person was using A02:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=80044

I am hoping that this is not a hardware problem. It has not happened to me yet but I am concerned that it might. Have had your Axim replaced yet?

kitzj0 · 07-25-05, 01:34 PM

My replacement should be here in the next couple of days. I will be holding my breath every time I soft reset. I hope Dell figures out what is going on.

07-25-05, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by kitzj0

My replacement should be here in the next couple of days. I will be holding my breath every time I soft reset. I hope Dell figures out what is going on.

Did you get a refurbished? That is my concern. I know that it is Dell's policy to replace with refurbished units after the first 21 days but I have taken very good care of my Axim and it has no scratches and has never been dropped. I hate to end up with a unit that has been abused or even one that has scratches. Did your replacement unit have any cosmetic defects?

07-25-05, 02:24 PM

I got a pretty good looking refurb back after sending mine in.. Just dont carefully examine everything and you wont notice. ^_^ nah mine was in perfect condition with the exception of a few finger prints and refurb sticker in the battery...

kitzj0 · 07-25-05, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by LHBALESJR

Did you get a refurbished? That is my concern. I know that it is Dell's policy to replace with refurbished units after the first 21 days but I have taken very good care of my Axim and it has no scratches and has never been dropped. I hate to end up with a unit that has been abused or even one that has scratches. Did your replacement unit have any cosmetic defects?

My refurb unit was in great condition. I had the same concerns as you.

07-25-05, 06:41 PM

OK, I think we have eliminated two ideas as to the cause of the disappearing BIS so what else does everyone have in common? I don't think there is a particular hardware revision since this seems to have been happening for a while. My hardware revision(not my rom revision) is A04. Again, I need to restate that my BIS is not gone YET but it does seem to be much more sluggish than it was before.

I wonder if there is some particular operation or sequence of events that lead up to the BIS disappearing? Has anyone tried the hidden diagnositic test where you hold several buttons down at the same time. I'm not certain but I think it is the power button, the record button and the reset all at the same time. REMEMBER, THIS WILL CAUSE A HARD RESET so don't do it unless you have a backup. I don't know if this will do anything but it might be worth a try for someone who has lost the BIS and is considering getting a replacement from Dell. Actually I am going to restore my Axim to A03 and see if it makes a difference in how the BIS responds to reads and writes. I may try this diagnostic function before I reinstall my software and find out what happens. I will let everyone know what happens.

Update:
OK I tried the diagnostic as described above and it does not seem to test the BIS. It did a processor test, audio test, rom test, button test and a screen alignment test and everything passsed but I didn't see anything referring to a memory or BIS test. By the way, it is very difficult to hold down the power and record buttons while "quickly" pressing the reset button. It does, in fact, do a hard reset after you go through this procedure. I may try the A03 rom version for a while to see if this has any effect.

dr g · 07-26-05, 04:39 PM

Adding my experience to this list, see thread here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...d=1#post772504

My hardware revision is A06, ROM A04. Purchased in June. I was using a Sena case, in case that has anything to do with it (magnets!) Had between 20 and 30 mb free space in the BIS.

Heinous · 07-27-05, 03:49 AM

My problem is that my BIS gets "moved." It will happen after a soft reset, and none of my programs installed to BIS will work because they "cannot be found." When I have a look at file explorer, BIS is there, but it's blank, and there is a "Built in Storage 2" folder where everything is still there, just copied aside...wtf?

xrrrkrrkx · 07-27-05, 07:01 AM

Hey all,

Im new here....

Have a relatively new Axim x30 (high end) had ROM A05 on it when it came

started having Built-in storage problem (disappearing) about 2 months ago, it is there, it is not on a whatever it feels like basis

about 4 days ago i started having REAL problems with it, seems tht it is getting slower, and that the BIS problem is happening more frequently.

i have tried it all, ROM updates, ROM rollbacks, soft resets, hard resets.....nothing seems to be directly linked to it.. it still seems like its happening when it wants to...

im on ROM A06 now, still happens just like the others.....

i am trying to send my Axim back in for replacement but as i am travelling in Europe right now, Dell is giving me MAJOR problems.......

anyway, thats my input....

pottsbgstv · 07-27-05, 09:12 AM

With the BIS problems, has anyone ever tried taking out the main battery for 1 hour and let the backup battery drain?

I dont have any problems with my x50v, but i just thought i would throw in some thoughts.

dr g · 07-27-05, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by pottsbgstv

With the BIS problems, has anyone ever tried taking out the main battery for 1 hour and let the backup battery drain?

I dont have any problems with my x50v, but i just thought i would throw in some thoughts.

Yeah, doesn't fix the problem. I left mine out for like 8 hours and it took quite a bit to charge it all back up again to restart it.

Vric · 07-27-05, 10:31 PM

Some people had this problem before, but more and more reports since A04.

So it's might not be A04 exclusive, but it seem to have more people that have this problem since A04.

I stay with A03 until WM5 :D

07-28-05, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Vric

Some people had this problem before, but more and more reports since A04.

So it's might not be A04 exclusive, but it seem to have more people that have this problem since A04.

I stay with A03 until WM5 :D

To me this would indicate a software issue rather than a hardware defect. But if it is a software problem it looks like Dell would have come up with a better solution than just replacing a bunch of Axims.

I am using A04 and I am guess I should consider restoring to A03.