Author Topic: Software- corrupted .cab file (Read 568 times)

VAQ · « **on:** December 27, 2003, 12:58:02 PM »

Experienced unresolveable errors with backup machine running WinME (cringe). Decided to reformat and start "clean." Boot from ME boot disk w/ME reinstallation cd in drive, select option 2 (boot with cd-rom support), loads cd driver(s) fine, scandisk shows no probs, setup initializes, setup fails when a corrupted .cab file is detected.

Over and over again.

WinME reinstallation cd is pristine, no surface scratching. I am able to access the directory just fine, just that corrupted .cab file is screwing me bigtime. Debug, fdisk, partition, restart, cross fingers...nope, corrupted cabinet file.

Throw hands up, call manufacturer support (Dell). On phone for 4 hours (four hours, no kidding) with a person who uses English as a secondary language and spells "Sally" with a "C" ("type in C as in Sally") running debugs and fdisks over and over. Finally Dell support person tells me that my WinME reinstallation cd is "no good" and I will have to buy another one. Dell support person says that "they just go bad."

I am not knocking Dell, btw. I have 2 Dell computers at home and 2 at work. Would I purchase another Dell? No. I assembled my newest system via NewEgg; it is more fun that way.

If I am going to have to purchase another operating system, it sure as heck isn't going to be WinMultipleErrors...err...Win ME. Strange thing is, XP Home, XP Pro, and even Win95 will not install on the same machine for the same reason (trying different OS's as a desperation troubleshooting method)- .cab file corrupted.

What am I missing here? I have a backup box with an A prompt (or E and D if I want variety) but no OS and apparently no way to install one?

715 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2003, 01:17:48 PM »

If multiple different operating systems on different CDROM discs all fail I would suspect a bad or marginal CDROM drive or bad IDE interface chip. I would suspect they aren't reading the discs right and getting a checksum error, which shows up as a bad CAB file.

CDROM discs don't go "bad" with time, and even if they did, Dell would owe you a new one anyway.

By the way: I believe Dell support is in India or Bangledesh, you're phone call is actually forwarded there. That is why English is a second language. Tech support cuts into profits, so the main purpose of tech support these days is to make you go away.

VAQ · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2003, 01:43:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 715
If multiple different operating systems on different CDROM discs all fail I would suspect a bad or marginal CDROM drive or bad IDE interface chip. I would suspect they aren't reading the discs right and getting a checksum error, which shows up as a bad CAB file.

CDROM discs don't go "bad" with time, and even if they did, Dell would owe you a new one anyway.

By the way: I believe Dell support is in India or Bangledesh, you're phone call is actually forwarded there. That is why English is a second language. Tech support cuts into profits, so the main purpose of tech support these days is to make you go away.

I failed to mention this- first thing I did (couple days ago when I started messing with it) was swap out the cd-rom drive with a known good one. No joy. A bad IDE interface chip? Out of my depth here, have to read up on that one.

CD-ROM discs AFAIK do not go bad, I agree. Scratched up it might not read, but go bad? I reported that little gem of wisdom because I thought it was, well, funny.

And yes, the support person's accent would probably place her in India or Bangledesh. Not that I mind, it just takes concentration to carry on a conversation ("Kya aap angrezi samajhte hain?").

zmeg · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2003, 04:10:22 PM »

Try flashing your bios, if that doesn't work you need a mobo.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2003, 04:39:39 PM »

ive switched and swaped parts and had a similar problem befor ... but i dont quite remember what fixed it ..

i ended up switching the cdrom 3x's
i changed the cable on the cdrom from 66 to 100 to 133 ata types ...i think i changed the hd cable also
i also swaped out the ram .. ( i think it was the ram )

as for "flashing the bios " that would be a last resort if you mess it up ... were ya gonna get another bios chip for it ???

reset the bios shure .. but flash... not yet

you could have a bad startup floppy disc also ...

715 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2003, 06:13:13 PM »

Quote

A bad IDE interface chip? Out of my depth here, have to read up on that one.

[/B]

Sorry, I think I mislead you there- the IDE interface chip is on the motherboard. It's not replacable. If it is bad it means you need a new motherboard, which is what I should have said.

VAQ · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2003, 07:12:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 715
Sorry, I think I mislead you there- the IDE interface chip is on the motherboard. It's not replacable. If it is bad it means you need a new motherboard, which is what I should have said.

I appreciate the gesture, but you did not mislead me in any way. I simply said I would "have to read up on that one," so I did:

The Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) is the primary interface used to connect a hard disk drive to a PC and refers to the fact that the interface electronics or controller is built into the drives themselves (these include CD-ROM, DVD, CD/RW, high-capacity floppy and tape drives).

Did you think I was going to attack the mobo with my trusty soldering iron?

Wouldn't be a first.

Fixed it, btw, thanks.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2003, 07:57:11 PM »

so ... what was it ??? (Curious minds want to know )

VAQ · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2003, 08:58:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Roscoroo
so ... what was it ??? (Curious minds want to know )

To tell the truth I am not sure right now. In frustration I gutted the box. Removed all devices/peripheral components (except for the PS and mobo), replaced IDE cables, replaced cd-rom drive again, replaced RAM, generally spent some time messing around inside the box, and it booted up fine. Reinstalled OS. Installed replacement devices/peripheral components (one at a time) and other software as necessary. I really hate not knowing, so tomorrow I will start installing the original components in another machine (one by one) to do a sort of fault analysis.

Will be pissed if it was a bad IDE cable.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2003, 12:11:31 AM »

lol ... thats about what i did ... swap the mess out with known working stuff ..

Ghosth · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2003, 09:52:12 AM »

Sometimes you just have to show the uppity POS *****'s who's boss, no?

Rip everything out of the box, put it all back & ohhh, feeling like cooperating are you now? Allrighty then.

ps seems to happen more often that way with my wifes machines than any other.

VAQ · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2003, 06:54:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ghosth
Sometimes you just have to show the uppity POS *****'s who's boss, no?

Rip everything out of the box, put it all back & ohhh, feeling like cooperating are you now? Allrighty then.

ps seems to happen more often that way with my wifes machines than any other.

While I had it gutted I did clean it up, add a fan and reroute the cabling (I like cable management). Funny you should mention your wife's machine-the WinME box is the one my wife uses to play strange Internet games on. Seems I have to fix or reformat it like twice a year.

Strange Internet games like solitaire and pop-it, not a strange Internet game like Aces High.