I think I bricked my UJ-857C on my m1330!!

I have been the proud owner of a Dell m1330 since they have come out!
I just recently had the motherboard replaced for the display problems. I am not a huge fan of vista so I decided to run XP on my system in a dual boot configuration with Linux (Worked like a champ)! Well I decided to purchase a 500gb hdd for some more fun with the laptop. After I reinstalled everything I noticed that I did not have my original driver disk, so what did I do? I went to the Dell website for the drivers (I know they do not support XP, only Vista) I realized that I needed to update the Bios for that fan to run better so I did so! I then decided to upgrade the rest of the drivers necessary for my system to run. Well I got sound working, video, and everything else. I then clicked on the driver update that said "Recommended" for my CD/DVD Combo (Not paying attention to the fact that I did not have that Model( HLDS GSA-S10N)) So after the update all was well until I restarted the computer. The drive was not recognizable by the system at all (not in my computer, nor device manager) I tried to remove the upper and lower values, no joy!) I tried to re-patch the firmware back to the older firmware (No joy, software could not find the drive)
So I decided to give dell a call, they would not help because they said they would not support my OS (XP), I told them I had a hardware issue not an OS issue. They said that I needed to reinstall Vista to e able to assist me. The issue with that is If the drive does not work, and cannot be recognized by any OS, XP or Linux, I do not expect Vista to load it either. Plus If the drive does not work I cannot reload vista anyway!!

I was considering purchasing the newer cd/dvd combo ( HLDS GSA-S10N) for it. Being that the BIOS updates are already installed for that drive! And the fact that Dell No longer is supporting the UJ-857 Drive (The only firmware/drivers at the Dell site are for the newer drive) So I suppose that if I do not have the newer drive that I am out of luck.


If I purchase this drive will it work on Windows XP?


Sorry for the long post I just wanted to explain my situation and get some feedback on my next courses of action!

Thanks in advance!

 

no cross posting!!

 

if it is under warranty, don't buy hardware. dot tell dell you have xp on your machine. do you still have your old hd? if so install vista on that to go through the trouble shooting steps and have dell send you a new dvd rw. sounds like you bricked it...

 

What is cross-posting?

I already purchased the new drive ($94 bucks), The previous HDD I do not want to reinstall Vista because it is already set-up as a backup of the new one and it is the only drive I have. I hope the new drive works.......Ill post the results in a few weeks when the drive comes in.

 

well, just don't inform dell you have xp instead of vista because you will never get any help without vista if that's what your machine came with

 

oh, cross posting is when you post multiple posts on the same subject as far as i know???

only worry if a mod tells you something though, there are a lot of know it all types here who like to point out the rules as they understand them (I'm sure i am one of them too)

 

Just tell them you have Vista still on the computer. I mean seriously.

That's like a basic thing to know when you call Dell always tell them your computer is original configuration....ALWAYS!!!

 

Well, my new Model GSA-S10N Drive just came in today, I will be installing it in a few minutes I'll post results when I am finished with the install...wish me luck!

 

Would you give us an indepth reply about how your installation went because after reading what you have to take out just to reach the drive makes it seem complicated and if not done right risky ( This is coming from someone that destroyed an ipod mini trying to put a new battery in it ). The fact that the CD drive is the last thing to reach means everything has to come out and get disconnected and then reassembled. My Matash*%# drive went south, warranty expired, and I've been using an external usb drive as a temporary measure, but I might tackle my built in drive issue considering the GSA drive is a better drive and it's a pain now and then connecting a usb cord. In other words, if you've got anything to add about installation and reassembly of the M1330 when installing this drive, it would be appreciated.

 

I'll create a "How To"...But first be sure that you order the correct replacement drive.......After I installed the new drive and had everything back together I loaded up XP and it found the drive..(Yay), However I my machine BIOS Version was A10, and the drive firmware was BP-03 ( I assume this is an Apple Firmware). My eject button did not work properly on the M1330. So after some more research I realized that maybe...just maybe the drive needed to be updated to the correct Dell Firmware to operate on this machine. (I could eject the CD/DVD drive from "My Computer", by right clicking and hitting eject in the drop down). I decided that this was not a good enough solution for me! So I went back to the trusty Dell website and downloaded the firmware update tool to update it correctly, so I thought!! The tool recognized my drive and firmware, No problem...when I hit the update button it worked for approx. 1 minute or so then gave me an error "Failed to update....try again" (I tried like 5 times)...Well that's right guys you guessed it (I bricked the new drive!!!). The drive was now being recognized as a GSA-U10N firmware COR1 instead of the GSA-S10N A103 that I was trying to update it to. Once I restarted the computer it was no longer recognized...and back to square 1.

So to sum it all up....If your M1330 came with the UJ-857 M.a.t.s.h.i.t.a drive and you want to replace it with a GSA-S10N...make sure you get the Dell version with firmware (A103). I ordered my replacement from Hong Kong ($97) it was the Apple replacement for the UJ-857 drive not a Dell replacement...If you get an Apple drive do not attempt to flash it to a Dell....you will most likely brick it.

This has all been a great learning experience as I have taken my M1330 apart twice. The how to will be done shortly.

 

Wow, what rotten luck. thanks for the information and sorry that you've had a few setbacks, but on the upside I bet you could now take apart the M1330 with a blindfold on since you've done it so many times. I was originally going to buy one of the Apple drives because I thought they were compatible. You've saved me a headache.

 

This is why I don't modify any of my gears anymore. The more I do the more damage I seem to make and get frustrated. This is also an example where XP is being left behind by manufacturers. It's going to get harder and harder to find XP drivers on new computers.

 

You are both right...Callanish: I can honestly say that under XP the Apple Drive worked, but not correctly, My Dell Drive should be in Next week...hopefully that wil go better. I am almost done making my tutorial with pictures...I have broken it down into 3 parts..1)Remove the Screen. 2)Remove the keyboard and subfame 3)Remove the CD/DVD Drive. I could probably take the entire thing apart replace the drive and put it back together in about 1hr.

Kanehi: I am the same way Ill play with something and then Bam..its broken, but thats how I learn to do new things..hopefully you and others can learn a few things from my mistakes..lol. I am a firm believer that a computer should not be OS dependent...I should be able to put what ever operating system I want on my system...I bought the m1330 thinking it was OK..but found out later that It was made specifically for VISTA...never again will I buy Dell...I have never had this problem with HP. Or building my own computer. I just wanted the m1330 because it was so small and powerful, and XP runs Super fast on it!

 

Will it be different from:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/display.htm#wp1109848

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/keyboard.htm#wp1179891

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/palmrest.htm#wp1038494

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/optical.htm#wp999869

 

Wow it would have been nice to see that.......I had the Dell Tech Show me when he came to my house to replace motherboard and graphics card when I had the overheating issue. I think my pictures would have been better than the ones from the Dell site. lol

 

I have replaced the drive with the new one GSA-S10N firmware (BP10)

My questions for anyone who has done the replacement on a M1330:

1) Do you have to go to the control panel every time you boot windows and scan for changes in the hardware section for the device to be recognized?

2) Are you having problems ejecting the drive with the button..(Yes it is connected properly and is not broken)?

3) Did you have to update or downgrade the firmware to get it to function correctly with the M1330?

4) Did any registry settings have to be changed to get the drive to function properly?

5) Are you having any problems with the drive functioning at all?


Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

try bios A12. it fixed the eject problem.