Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 08:55:07 +0800 (HKT)
From: Anthony Green <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Libretto 30 *now* "blind" to fitted Hard Disk(s)
1st June 2001 @ 08:46 in Hong Kong.
At 09:20 AM 5/31/01 -0700, you - Digby Tarvin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - wrote:
>Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 17:13:42 +0100 (GMT/BST)
>From: Digby Tarvin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: Libretto 30 *now* "blind" to fitted Hard Disk(s)
>
>Are you absolutely sure that your Windows BSOD was not a result
>of a hard disk or other hardware failure?
That *is* a difficult one to answer : At the time I was trying to get a
PCMCIA card & SmartMedia to be continually recognised as an "external HD"
which is identified as an IDE/ESDI controller and HD in the device manager.
Many times the computer would crash as it found this plug-in - a BSOD which
would sometimes allow one to proceed, and other times the only cure was to
remove all power and start again - a frequent procedure.
It was DIRECTLY after switching off and then restarting that the RAM - all
20MB of it - was checked [as normal] but then the computer stalled and
didn't boot up - even though I heard the HD "twitch" and was already
spinning. I did, after some difficulty, get to the BIOS screen & saw that
it said "NODRIVE" in the HD section and I was never, ever, able to get the
hi-lite to settle on that bit of the screen.
Finally, I reset the BIOS to first check for FDD & reset it and switched
off. Plugged in the FDD and restarted..... it checked the RAM, but did NOT
immediately boot from FDD, it waited several minutes before doing anything
more. Finally, it accepted the boot disk but would not accept a change to
C: drive - and this even after rewriting the CMOS data from a back-up I'd
made to a floppy several months before.
So, to put it in a nutshell : Libretto can't find HD, can't rewrite CMOS
info, can't even boot from a floppy unless prepared to wait around 3
minutes - then can't use the PC-Card slot 'cos it is occupied by FDD - and
my progs wouldn't even fit on a 1.44MB floppy!
Personally I *do* not believe that the Libretto's failure to find the HD is
not caused by the BSOD I experienced, I mention it solely because others
might take a different view.
>
>I would do the following:
>
>Boot a version of Unix from floppy, and use the autodetect diagnostics
>(which don't use the BIOS) to see if the disk hardware is working.
>
>If it is, either there is something wrong with your BIOS, or something
>written to your disks which convinces the BIOS to ignore it.
>
>In either case, try and borrow another hard disk so see if you have a
>failed disk, in which case your remedy is obvious - buy a new one.
>They are very cheap.
I have TWO Libretto sized HD - and both have been tried in the Libretto.
Both work okay when in a USB adaptor & connected to my mains powered
'puter, so it certainly isn't a HD failure.
Also, this Libretto was examined by the Toshiba agents here in Hong Kong
who also tried several of their repair dept's HD's and they couldn't get
the HD to be found by the rotten circuitry in the Libretto either. They
can't do any repairs to it since it was a "grey market" import and they
never handled this model & have no schematics or spares for it - so I'm
"stuffed" unless I get it to Japan - and prepay all (an open-ended
commitment) charges- however much they turn out to be!
To have the computer actually have to search & find an attached HD is
pretty damned stupid a design fault - after all, who's going to buy a
portable with no HD inside! That there is such a circuit involved is
maddening - it is just one small thing which totally wipes out the Libretto
when that circuit fails!
>
>If Unix can see the disk, but the BIOS can't, even with a different
>disk installed, then you could either try re-installing the BIOS,
>or toss windows altogether and stick with Linux - though you
>would have to floppy boot. You could still run Windows under
>VmWare if you need it.
Well, I'm open to suggestions, but I've never used UNIX, or any of it's
flavors, but I rather suspect that even that O/S could not force the
Libretto to take its blindfolds off and "see" that there really is a HD
fitted. I reckon that there is some circuitry that has failed - a
flip/flop device of some sort that isn't flipping or flopping when it ought
when a HD is/is not installed.
It is a stupid situation, in many years of computing I've never before seen
a BIOS that I couldn't set the HD params to some crazy figures, or add
non-existing HD's if I was silly enough to want to try! Damn these Jap
designers!
>Finally, if it is some other hardware fault, your motherboard
>is probably shot and your only hope is Toshiba Japan - but the
>cost will probably be prohibitive so it would probably be better
>to look for a replacement on e-bay or some other second hand
>source.
Yeah, Tosh/Jap will fix, but seem very averse to shipping it back to Hong
Kong - where I am!
I've no desire to go to some place or location called "Chiba" to deliver it
- or collect it. I don't like risking earthquakes, strange English [as she
is spoke there], and the high co$ts of hotels/transportation and not being
able to read most of the signs. Even my Chinese wife has a struggle to
comprehend what the Chinese characters they've "imported" into their
version of "Drunken Spider with Inky Legs" writing actually means when
mixed with Kanji and other flavors!
Ain't life hell! <Grin>.
>Regards,
>DigbyT
>
>> Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 23:31:21 +0800 (HKT)
>> From: Anthony Green <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Subject: Libretto 30 *now* "blind" to fitted Hard Disk(s)
>>
>> 31-05-01 @ 23:32
>>
>> I've a now useless Libretto 30 :
>>
>> I wrote & FAXed the following to : Toshiba Japan from my home in Hong Kong.
>>
>> I've edited it a bit before send in it to you for any thoughts / possible
>> fixes :
>>
>> Reference Libretto CT30 - serial number 11621803
>>
>> The Libretto has a fault - it will NOT detect that any Hard Disk is
>> inserted. This happened immediately after Win98 crashed with "blue screen
>> of death". The computer checks the RAM, and then does nothing at all for
>> several minutes before looking for the Floppy Drive.
>>
>> I have done several tests before taking it to Chevalier, your Hong Kong
>> distributor - and they confirm that they can not get it to "find" any Hard
>> Disk inserted into the computer, and the BIOS screen can not be changed to
>> show a Hard Disk is there.
>>
>> Chevalier can not try to repair it since they have never handled this model
>> and have no spare parts. [It was a "grey market" import]
>>
>> I suppose that *only* your repair shop in Japan could fix it, or is there
>> anything I (an electronics engineer) can do to repair it here?
>>
>> My Libretto is a treasured friend - I don't want to have to buy a
>> competitor's portable, so PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY.
>>
>> I **NOW add the following :-
>>
>> Since it seems remarkably stupid to have made this computer **HAVE** to
>> detect the presence of a Hard Disk - whoever heard of a portable computer
>> being sold WITHOUT a Hard Disk being installed - *AND* have the BIOS
>> option of booting from Floppy *OR* HD, the circuit designer ought to get
>> castigated for this ridiculous situation!
>>
>> NOW : Is there any way of FORCING the BIOS / Computer to recognise that a
>> HD **IS** fitted - even if this means soldering a wire from one point to
>> another?
>>
>> As an Electronics Engineer, that is something I am perfectly capable, and
>> equipped to do - if I am provided with the correct information and circuit
>> diagram and a picture of the physical layout of this computer showing what
>> link(s) I would need to make / break.
>>
>> Just because of the stupidity of the original designer, an otherwise
>> excellent portable - which I have used extensively for storing digital
>> camera pictures on my travels - is NOW totally UNUSABLE.
>>
>> I'm taking a trip in three weeks time, and really **NEED** an urgent fix
>> for this computer. <UNQUOTE>
>>
>> Tonight I received this rather unhelpful response out'a Toshiba Japan :
>>
>> (again, edited lightly for brevity).
>>
>> Thank you for using our product and also sending us a letter regarding
>> repair of Libretto 30CT.
>>
>> I am afraid that you PC is Japanese domestic model ( officially sold in
>> Japanese market only) and not covered by International repair
>> warranty.Therefore it can be repaired in Japanese authorized repair center
>> only. In addition, we do not sell any repair part to the customers. As
>> reasons above, please send PC to following repair center.
>>
>> Atten; Mr. Hagiwara
>> Toshiba PC repair center
>> Add; 5-20-7, Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba, 261-0011, Japan
>> Phone; 81-43-278-8122
>>
>> Before send PC to Japan, Please understand several limitation as below.
>> 1. All repair costs must be borne to you. Remit amount to our account
>> before start repairing or pay it by cash on delivery after repaired is
>> preferable. Accept Japanese Yen Only.
>> Cost is such as repair part and labor fee, customs fee, and shipping cost
>> back and force between Japan and Hong Kong.
>> 2. Tell us which address we should return PC after repaired. It limits
>> Japanese address only, since strict export control and it's notion of that
>> your PC is not just a product but your property, it makes very hard for us
>> a company to ship your PC to your place, Hong Kong directly.
>>
>> +++++++++++ end of message from Japan.
>>
>> Well, I have to ask, has anyone had this problem of the HD *NOT* being
>> found - it is impossible to set the BIOS to show the HD is fitted - the
>> hi-lite just "jumps" over the HD specification. likewise, a previously
>> captured CMOS backup file with a "restore" mode can NOT force the setting
>> of the HD.
>>
>> ............and if so, did they find a cure for this problem. It seems
>> absolutely ridiculous to "jump thro' hoops" to get it fixed in Japan.
>>
>> Regards : Anthony Green.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ...I used to have a handle on life, but it fell off.
>>
>Digby R. S. Tarvin
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>http://www.cthulhu.dircon.co.uk
++++++++++++++++++
Learn from the mistakes of others, you can never live long enough to
make them all yourself. - John Luther
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