Sigh .. X50v malfunctioning, BIS gone

dr g · 07-26-05, 09:52 AM

And everything was going so well ...

First sign of trouble was when I tried to install a large game and was informed I was out of space in BIS. Then tried to install a smaller game and was told it was unable to write to BIS at all (I had enough free space to install either program). Concurrently two pieces of trial software expired (Smallmenu and iLauncher). Uninstalled smallmenu and replaced with Vbar.

Soft reset and system kept hanging up because smallmenu was still being called and the resources couldn't be found. Tried to hard reset and troubles began ... took extremely long to come out of the boot screen, screen alignment exercise was extremely slow, when I finally got to the today screen, everything was extremely slow.

Occasionally the system runs near proper speed and during one of these times I checked it out via ACtivesync -- sure enough, no BIS. I have read several threads reporting almost identical problems, so am very bummed. Looks like I will have to contact dell for a replacement. The unit is just over 1 month old.

I really, really hate talking to their outsourced reps, but it tells me I can't use chat ... anyone have any other suggestions for avoiding the inevitable? Or any other thoughts on things I can try to resurrect my Axim?

I am extremely distressed that this happened to a practically brand new unit. There is really no excuse for such a complete failure, especially when it seems to be fairly common. Dell really needs to fix this.

More background information: 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.

Jogga · 07-26-05, 12:19 PM

Maybe searching for a ROM update on the Dell website and flashing the unit will restore it. Backup first.

07-26-05, 01:07 PM

Did you try a hard reset? Start fresh?

07-26-05, 04:25 PM

Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a way to resolve this, short of getting a replacement. I started a new thread on this the other day to try to get all of these BIS issues grouped together and see if we can discover a pattern. My BIS has become very sluggish and I'm concerned that I may be about to lose it too. It would seem that almost everything including a hard reset has been tried by different people but I am not aware of anyone who has been able to recover the missing BIS. The link to the thread is:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=91894

By the way, I also had trouble using the Dell chat feature. Somehow my customer number was changed so that they thought I was a business user instead of a home user. When logging on to chat, do not include your customer number but instead use the order number. You only have to include one or the other. That worked for me. I would much rather use chat than to try to explain it over the phone. Also you can copy (cut and paste) your chat session and save a copy for your records. Good Luck.

dr g · 07-26-05, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jogga

Maybe searching for a ROM update on the Dell website and flashing the unit will restore it. Backup first.

Tried re-flashing with A04, but it already has A04 and refuses to flash.

dr g · 07-26-05, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by twmiller

Did you try a hard reset? Start fresh?

Yup. No joy. Argh!

Quote:

Tried to hard reset and troubles began ... took extremely long to come out of the boot screen, screen alignment exercise was extremely slow, when I finally got to the today screen, everything was extremely slow.

Jogga · 07-26-05, 04:48 PM

Have you tried using Explorer to locate the BIS and then deleting all of the contents? It might get messy, especially if the system has created registry entries, but if you can clear the BIS and then hard reset, you may get some luck that way.

dr g · 07-26-05, 05:02 PM

Contacted support via email and explained in general terms what was going on and what I did to correct it. In their response email they immediately recognized that the solution was replacement, and have dispatched a replacement unit to me. It seems like this is a known problem with a standard solution.

Right now I can't see my return status under Support History, hope they didn't lose me.

I am not looking forward to reinstalling my Brando protector!

dr g · 07-26-05, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Jogga

Have you tried using Explorer to locate the BIS and then deleting all of the contents? It might get messy, especially if the system has created registry entries, but if you can clear the BIS and then hard reset, you may get some luck that way.

It did not work via Activesync (see original message), but I did not try it on the device. The device is extremely slow and almost unusable. But I don't have anything better to do with it, so I'm gonna try.

EDIT: got control of the unit long enough to try -- no dice, BIS is missing under PPC file explorer as well.

07-26-05, 06:57 PM

Dell has obviously been through this a few times and I think they are aware of the problem. I would really like to find out what the root of the problem is. I know they are taking care of this via the replacement but it would be nice to know if it is a bad memory chip or if there is some sequence of things that happen to cause the problem. I think the BIS is built-in to the PXA270 (or PXA272, which ever we have) processor chip and is called strata flash. There have been similar stories on some Toshiba and Ipaq units and even some X3s or X30s but I think these were able to be fixed by the user instead of returning the unit. If it turns out to be some odd sequence of events that cause it to happen, we need to know what those things are so none of the rest of us do it. Normally if there is something wrong like an actual hardware defect, these seem to show up fairly soon. The disappearing BIS problem has occured with new units and units that have been in use for several months. It also seems to have occured with several different hardware revisions. Any ideas out there?

dr g · 07-26-05, 07:18 PM

I will say that this happened to be during a fairly intensive install/uninstall session, if that helps establish anything.

EDIT: just an update for anyone else dealing with this problem. The unit remains extremely slow at reset but if I hang in there through the lengthy waits, it eventually resumes more or less normal operation, just without access to BIS.

Any programs stored there are lost to me, however basic functionality of the PDA and any programs not in BIS is unaffected. I reinstalled TCPMP into RAM and re-sycned my data and can limp along with it until I get the replacement.

dr g · 07-27-05, 09:13 PM

Update: My replacement refurb X50v arrived today via DHL next-day air. Kudos for getting to to me in one day from New Jersey to Hawaii. It's in the cradle now as I write this, I wonder if I have to charge the full 8 hours again?

The unit comes pretty stripped down, no battery, battery cover or stylus, but it does come with both dummy memory cards and the screen has the original-style protective film on it. My unit was pretty dusty, but no scratches on the case and I think it will be indistunguishable from my original unit. In the Sena case it will be all the same anyway!

Vric · 07-27-05, 10:29 PM

you you have to wait 8 hours (well more 5 hours than 8) The backup battery in the Axim is the longest to charge.

dr g · 07-28-05, 12:08 AM

I just left it home and am using my (hobbled) old unit today ... tonight I get to rethink my program mix and start fresh, actually kind of a nice thought, quite different from with a desktop. The work involved isn't so prohibitive.

Jogga · 07-28-05, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by dr g

I just left it home and am using my (hobbled) old unit today ... tonight I get to rethink my program mix and start fresh, actually kind of a nice thought, quite different from with a desktop. The work involved isn't so prohibitive.

Hope that this one works out better for you. :approve: