PXE-E61 : Media Test Failure, check cable - help please?

Hi

My daughter's Dell Studio 1558 laptop running Windows 7, won't start.

We get as far as a screen with the message:

PXE-E61 : Media Test Failure, check cable

PXE-MOF : Exiting PXE ROM

Operating System not found

I tried pressing F12 at start-up and running diagnostics, but after running for a few minutes, the screen just goes blank.

I can remove the hard drive and using an external cradle, am able to access it on the desktop PC I'm typing on now, so the HD is accessible.

Any suggestions on how to get the laptop running again will be gratefully received!  

Thanks

This error can be caused by a bad CMOS battery. If a new CMOS battery is installed, reset the BIOS to defaults. If this does not solve the problem and the hard drive is accessible on another computer, it could be motherboard related.

When you tap <F12> on boot do you see multiple boot choices as shown in the example below... or something similar?

ex. CD/DVD Drive

      Hard Drive

      Network Boot

      USB Drive

If yes and you see Hard Drive, use the up/down arrow keys to toggle (select) it and press <Enter>

Did the system boot?

This error can be caused by a bad CMOS battery. If a new CMOS battery is installed, reset the BIOS to defaults. If this does not solve the problem and the hard drive is accessible on another computer, it could be motherboard related.

Thanks for the suggestion. I swapped battery with another working laptop but no joy.

When you tap <F12> on boot do you see multiple boot choices as shown in the example below... or something similar?

 

ex. CD/DVD Drive

      Hard Drive

      Network Boot

      USB Drive

 

If yes and you see Hard Drive, use the up/down arrow keys to toggle (select) it and press <Enter>

 

Did the system boot?

Thanks for the reply.

Tried that, but no change.

Inveryes Hi

just checking you understood JohnC_21 its the CMOS battery not the Power battery

 

This error can be caused by a bad CMOS battery. If a new CMOS battery is installed, reset the BIOS to defaults. If this does not solve the problem and the hard drive is accessible on another computer, it could be motherboard related.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I swapped battery with another working laptop but no joy.

 

It just seems odd that you would go to the trouble of swapping CMOS battery's when thay are pence/cents

Just a concern 

Good luck 

Hedge

Inveryes Hi

just checking you understood JohnC_21 its the CMOS battery not the Power battery

 

 

 

This error can be caused by a bad CMOS battery. If a new CMOS battery is installed, reset the BIOS to defaults. If this does not solve the problem and the hard drive is accessible on another computer, it could be motherboard related.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I swapped battery with another working laptop but no joy.

 

 

It just seems odd that you would go to the trouble of swapping CMOS battery's when thay are pence/cents

 

Just a concern 

 

Good luck 

 

Hedge

Hi Hedge

It was just for convenience. We had two laptops sitting here so swapping them was a quick way to check if that was the problem instead of driving into town.

Put the hard drive back into the laptop. If you still have it attached to the other computer I would copy any important data off of it first. Go to BIOS at boot. Is the hard drive detected? Being that you can access the hard drive in another computer but if it is not detected in BIOS, I would think it is the motherboard.

If it is detected I would run a memory test using memtest+ and let it run for a minimum of 6 passes.

Edit: I did a Google on this error and the Dell 1558. It's seems a common problem for this computer.

Edited by JohnC_21, 09 August 2014 - 07:47 AM.

The point that was trying to be made...the CMOS battery is NOT the normal laptop battery.

Your CMOS battery is listed as Coin-Cell Battery in service manual.

After you change the CMOS battery...generally, you should then enter the BIOS and reset the default settings, after ensuring that date/time data is correct and the boot options have been corrected.  Save the changes or you will likely continue to get the same error.

Louis

"I can remove the hard drive and using an external cradle, am able to access it on the desktop PC I'm typing on now, so the HD is accessible."

The hard drive may be accessible in another machine but not recognized in the machine you are trying to boot.

Please install the hard drive in the offending system and power it on. Make sure it is properly seated and fastened (even though it may be temporary)

At the Dell screen...

1.Press <F2> to access the System Setup (BIOS Settings)

What is the System Time? Does it match your Time Zone?

If yes... Leave it. If No... Set it.

3. What is the System Date? Does it match Today's Date?

If yes... Leave it. If No... Set it.

4. Find the Boot Section.

5. Do you see the Hard Drive Category with a + sign?

If yes... Toggle the + sign and make sure it has your hard drive displayed. then make Hard Drive the First device in the list.

If No... Your Hard Drive is not being detected and most likely needs replacement. Remove it and install in your desktop and recover your important information.

6. Save your changes (if any) and Exit.

Please post back. It's not the end of the world

Put the hard drive back into the laptop. If you still have it attached to the other computer I would copy any important data off of it first. Go to BIOS at boot. Is the hard drive detected? Being that you can access the hard drive in another computer but if it is not detected in BIOS, I would think it is the motherboard.

 

If it is detected I would run a memory test using memtest+ and let it run for a minimum of 6 passes.

 

Edit: I did a Google on this error and the Dell 1558. It's seems a common problem for this computer.

I'd like to post a screen shot which may show the problem, but "it's not allowed in this community" ?

It looks like the hard drive is not detected.

The point that was trying to be made...the CMOS battery is NOT the normal laptop battery.

 

Your CMOS battery is listed as Coin-Cell Battery in service manual.

 

After you change the CMOS battery...generally, you should then enter the BIOS and reset the default settings, after ensuring that date/time data is correct and the boot options have been corrected.  Save the changes or you will likely continue to get the same error.

 

Louis

Thanks Louis. It was the CMOS battery which I swapped.

"I can remove the hard drive and using an external cradle, am able to access it on the desktop PC I'm typing on now, so the HD is accessible."

 

The hard drive may be accessible in another machine but not recognized in the machine you are trying to boot.

 

Please install the hard drive in the offending system and power it on. Make sure it is properly seated and fastened (even though it may be temporary)

 

At the Dell screen...

 

1.Press <F2> to access the System Setup (BIOS Settings)

 

What is the System Time? Does it match your Time Zone?

If yes... Leave it. If No... Set it.

 

3. What is the System Date? Does it match Today's Date?

If yes... Leave it. If No... Set it.

 

4. Find the Boot Section.

 

5. Do you see the Hard Drive Category with a + sign?

If yes... Toggle the + sign and make sure it has your hard drive displayed. then make Hard Drive the First device in the list.

If No... Your Hard Drive is not being detected and most likely needs replacement. Remove it and install in your desktop and recover your important information.

 

6. Save your changes (if any) and Exit.

 

Please post back. It's not the end of the world

I have managed to back up all important files on the hard drive.

Does the fault lie with the hard drive or the laptop?

You said you have access to another laptop.

If the hard drive type IDE/SATA is the same you could install it in the kaplunk system and see if it is detected.

Don't expect or try to Boot To it.

Just Power it up and press <F2> and see if it is detected.

If yes the problem is most likely the hard drive.

Post back results...

Remember don't boot it just see if detected.

You said you have access to another laptop.

 

If the hard drive type IDE/SATA is the same you could install it in the kaplunk system and see if it is detected.

 

Don't expect or try to Boot To it.

 

Just Power it up and press <F2> and see if it is detected.

 

If yes the problem is most likely the hard drive.

 

Post back results...

 

Remember don't boot it just see if detected.

I swapped hard drives between the "good" and the "bad" laptops.

Both HD's were detected in the "good" laptop.

Neither HD was detected in the "bad" laptop.

Sounds like we're getting warmer.

Is the Memory The Same
By same I mean DDR2/DDR3 etc. Not Necessarily Caring right now about the Memory Size.

See if the index slots on the modules line up.

If yes try swapping memory.

Post back results...