The following is an e-mail respons from Tech Support.
Since the problem is intermittient I am not sure how conclusive
any of the tests they suggest will be.
Sorry its so long but I wanted to give out all the data incase it helps someone or sparks an idea to the problem in someones head.
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Dear XXX XXX,
I appreciate the opportunity to assist you in order to resolve the
situation. As I understand the issue correctly, it seems that the issue
is with the Parity Check error. I would request you to perform the
following trouble shooting steps:
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if a hardware component malfunctions, or if
there are damaged or incompatible drivers installed.
RESOLUTION
To try to resolve this behavior, use the following troubleshooting
techniques. Because Windows can display only basic error messages when
hardware malfunctions occur, troubleshooting can be difficult. Most
equipment problems center around the motherboard, the RAM on a
motherboard or on an adapter, or the cache memory on a motherboard or on
an adapter.
To troubleshoot basic hardware problems, try one or more of the
following:
Check the Memory
Remove any extra memory modules that are in the computer, leaving only
the least amount that is required for the computer to start and run
Windows. Restart the computer to see whether the error messages persist.
If the error does not reappear, the issue is isolated to one or more of
the RAM modules that you removed from the computer. Continue to remove
and replace the minimum amount of RAM required, using the memory modules
that you removed. When the error returns, you have isolated the
individual memory module that is responsible for the problem.
This process may require you to restart your computer several times to
pinpoint the specific memory module that is not working correctly.
Or take out the memory module(s) and put one module ( If the system is
having more than one memory module ) in the any of the two memory
sockets . Then restart the system , verify whether the issue persists.
Again put the same memory module in the other socket and verify whether
the problem is there . If not then please take out the first memory
module from the system and put the other memory module in any of the
memory socket and repeat the same procedure as that of the first memory
module. Please let me know the exact results for further troubleshooting
to get the issue resolved .
Also attach a know good memory module from some other system and verify
whether the issue persists with the known good memory module .
Microsoft has released a software memory diagnostic tool, Windows Memory
Diagnostic. Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory
(RAM) on your computer for errors. To download this tool, visit the
following Microsoft Web site:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
Check the Adapters
Remove any Ac adapters that are not required to start the computer and
run Windows. In many cases, you can start your computer with only the
drive subsystem controller and the video adapter.
If the error message does not appear, one of the adapters that you
removed is the source of the problem. Reinstall each adapter separately,
restarting after each adapter is installed, to see whether the error
returns. If the error does not return after you reinsert all of the
adapters, it is possible that one of the adapter cards just needed to be
reseated. After your computer is running again, monitor the computer to
make sure that the error does not return.
Solution
If reseating the adapters does not solve the problem, replace the
adapter that is causing the error.
Check the Computer BIOS/Configuration. Restart your system and once you
see the Dell logo press F2 key continuously to enter the BIOS.
Verify that you have installed the latest revisions for your computer's
BIOS or firmware configuration software. Go into the BIOS and set load
Fail-safe defaults or BIOS defaults, disable any antivirus protection in
the BIOS, and then set Plug and Play OS to No.
Download the latest BIOS version with the help of link given below:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=123191
The type of hardware that your computer uses and the design of the
motherboard determine what part of your computer's firmware can actually
be updated. Various manufacturers provide diagnostic tools for
troubleshooting.
If none of these procedures isolates or resolves the issue, the problem
can be narrowed down to the motherboard, drive subsystem controller,
hard drive, or the video adapter. Advanced RAID or other caching
controllers can have RAM, processor chips, or both that could also be
the problem. If the simplest configuration contains one of these
advanced adapters, resolving the problem may require use of additional
troubleshooting or diagnostic software, possibly using duplicate
hardware.
Check For Updated Drivers
For additional information about updating drivers and managing devices
in Windows XP, click the link below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283658/EN-US/
You need to tell me the results of the troubleshooting steps as it will
assist me to resolve the issue in hand. However, please feel free to
write back to me.
If you require additional help on this issue, please reply to this
e-mail (without modifying the subject line) so we can continue to assist
in a resolution. If your issue is urgent and requires immediate
assistance, please utilize our 24 hour phone support at 800-822-8965.
Thank you for contacting Dell. Have a nice day.
Respectfully,
Alyssa
Dell Rep # DF8188
Dell US Technical Support
http://support.dell.com
If you have any new issues with this system, or need assistance with
another Dell system, please submit a new request via our web site -
http://support.dell.com
by clicking on Contact Us - E-mail Technical Support. Submitting a new
request will help ensure that your support request gets properly routed
to a technician that can best assist in resolving your issue.
Original Message Follows:
------------------------
Installed Adobe Photoshot 7.0: Installed Adobe Photoshot 7.0
Installed Yahoo Messenger: Installed Yahoo Messenger
Installed Cannon A80 Digital Cammera drivers and software: Installed
Cannon A80 Digital Cammera drivers and software
Installed Microsoft Office 2000: Installed Microsoft Office 2000
Setup Microsoft Outlook Express: Setup Microsoft Outlook Express
Installed World of Warcraft: Installed World of Warcraft
X-Attachments:
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X-SubjectLine: #Inspiron#PUB##17# eTrack#=XXXXXXXX - Operating
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X-CS_dellserv_case_number: XXXXXXXX
X-ProfilerStart:
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FILETIME=[A4F8B7E0:01C53B90]
* * * PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT WHEN REPLYING * * *
*** This is a feedback Message from the Dell Online Communications
Center. ***
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K_C_H_R_C_01
Customer Information:
***********************************************
Name: XXXXX XXXXX
Primary Contact Address:
XXXX
XXXX
Phone: XXXX-
Pager/Cell: XXXX
Company: XXXX
Email: XXXX@XXXX
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Secondary Contact Address:
, -
Phone: ---
Pager/Cell:
Company:
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Service Tag =XXXXX
Case ID: XXXXXXX
eTrack: XXXXXXXX
System Label =Inspiron XPS Gen 2
System Product Family=Inspiron
System Ship Date=3/28/2005 12:00:00 AM
Operating System: Windows XP
OS Version: Media Center Edition
Problem: Operating System
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Problem Description:
Blue screen:
*** Hardware Malfunction ***
call your hardware vendor for support
NMI: Parity Check/Memory Parity Error
*** The System has halted ***
Blue screen:
I/O card parity interrupt at F000:AFE6
Type (S)hut off NMI (R)eboot other keys to continue.
Black screen:
The last attempt to restart the System from its previous location
failed.
Attempt to restart again?
Delete restoration data and proceed to system
Continute with system restart
Problem 1: RESOLVED (but worth mentioning)
Upon delivery DVD(+RW/-RW) drive was physically not sliding in and out.
When pressing Eject button I hear a click but no movement. If i used a
butter knive to pry it out gently it would open. It was functional and
used it in this state to install many programs.
Called Tech support. He was about to send me a new drive when he asked
me to pop it out and look at it. I had to pry it out a little after
taking the screws out. It looked perfectly new and not bent anymore. He
said put it back in and I did. It worked flawlessly. Turns out whoever
put it in the last time did not get it in square and this cause the
metal casing to bend. That caused friction on the plastic of the tray
which made it not eject properly. I am happy with it.
MAIN PROBLEM:
The following are error messages I have recevied on my XPS2 less than a
week old. I have received them several times. All upon startup I think
some if not all at wake up from hibernate.
Blue screen:
*** Hardware Malfunction ***
call your hardware vendor for support
NMI: Parity Check/Memory Parity Error
*** The System has halted ***
Blue screen:
I/O card parity interrupt at F000:AFE6
Type (S)hut off NMI (R)eboot other keys to continue.
Black screen:
The last attempt to restart the System from its previous location
failed.
Attempt to restart again?
Delete restoration data and proceed to system
Continute with system restart
I believe (not 100%) these issues occurr upon startup after the system
has hibernated due to Inactivity.
Also sometimes after it boots I get a message "New Hardware Found" and
the hardware wizzard pops up. If I go to the Device manager I see the
attached gif images (here are links to them) also.
After rebooting the Exclimations go away.
http: img34.exs.cx/img34/7254/devicemanagerexclamations9ss.gif
http: img34.exs.cx/img34/7972/devicemanagerexclamations27yq.gif
If these exclimations are present and I try to hibernate I get an error
message stating something like "A Device is preventing System Hibernate.
OK"
Through tech support we ran the Dell hardware diagonstics program from
hte CD that has XPS2 drivers and utilities on it. All tests passed. Tech
Support guy figured it had to be software. We went throught msconfig and
removed just about everything non microsoft startup to see if that woudl
help. Today I had the same problem again.
Installed Microsoft .Net Developement Studio
Installed Adobe Photoshot 7.0
Installed Yahoo Messenger
Installed Cannon A80 Digital Cammera drivers and software
Installed Microsoft Office 2000
Setup Microsoft Outlook Express
Installed World of Warcraft
---
Setting machine to Idle hibernate
under Display Properties- Screen Saver- Power
Seems to cause the system to have theese issues when it is started back
up.
XPS Tech had me remove many items from the msconfig Startup and Services
tabs. This moring I had "New hardware Detected" message again happend
again when I booted.
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Sent To:
US_AR_GTS@dell.com
Referring URL: XX.XX.XX.XX
Date Submitted: 4/7/2005
Date Received(K): 4/7/05 11:42:31 AM
K_C_F_R_C_01
, so i can compare) and the rep even told me to swap or get a tech support guy to swap pieces between machines so i get exactly what i want(they are both configured the same, but lets say ilike the samsung screen, but like the keyboard better on the 1 i have now, i could tell or switch myself the keyborads and stay with the one i like more. 
