cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com (Chuck Bishop) (12/04/90)
About 5 weeks ago, I received a Micro Express 386SX with 100 Meg HD, 2 Meg of memory and color SVGA monitor. Last night I bought a Microsoft mouse and Windows 3.0 and installed them. They both installed OK, however, after I rebooted the machine like Windows says to do and typed "WIN" to start Windows, the Microsoft logo came and went and the machine hung with the HD light on. The only way to get Windows to run on this machine was to do so from the option at the end of the installation of Windows. Exit Windows and try again and no luck. A soft reboot couldn't even be performed, I had to use the reset button. I called Micro Express today to ask WHY??? The technician told me it was either that the AWARD BIOS was preventing it or the a controller on the mother board was not fast enough. They want me to send the machine back to them to fix it. What really irks me is that they are shipping computers that will not run one of the hottest pieces of software on the market today. If it was something that broke and shipping the machine back was the best way to fix it, I would be more understanding. But it seems like they are shipping these hoping that the customer won't run Windows 3.0. I am thinking of send it back and telling them to KEEP it. There are plenty of good vendors out there with good products. If anyone else out there has had the same experience, I'd be interested in hearing about it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chuck Bishop Internet: cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com GE Aerospace Burlington, Mass USA "Just Do It" - Nike ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com (Chuck Bishop) (12/05/90)
In article <7012@ge-dab.ge.com>, cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com (Chuck Bishop) writes...
Several people have sent mail making suggestions and asksing to be kept
abreast of what I've been doing about trying to get Windows 3.0 up and
running on my Micro Express 386SX SL.
Amoung the suggestions, one from Jim Hodgers told me to try starting
Windows with the /S qualifier (Standard Mode). That plus the /R qualifier
(Real Mode) worked. It's when I try 386 mode that the machine hangs. When
Windows IS running, it seems pretty good so far. During my exploring and
learning (about 3 hours so far), speed has been no problem nor have I come
across any unexplainable errors.
I called Micro Express back and talked to a different technician. He
sounded confident that the AWARD BIOS was causing the problem. He says that
the AWARD BIOS has problems with a hard drive over 80 meg when Windows is
installed. I have a 104 Meg Connor drive (IDE?) He promised to UPS Blue
some QUADREL (sp?) BIOS out to me. I should get them this Thursday (12/6).
Answers to other questions asked: I am using MSDOS 3.3 and am not using
any disk manager.
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Chuck Bishop Internet: cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com
GE Aerospace
Burlington, Mass USA "Just Do It" - Nike
----------------------------------------------------------------------------cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com (Chuck Bishop) (12/20/90)
Awhile back I posted a problem that I was having getting Windows 3.0 to run on a Micro Express 386SX in 386 Enhanced mode. The HD kept on locking up. I called ME and they sent me QUADREL BIOS to replace the AWARD BIOS saying that the AWARD BIOS had trouble with HDs over 80 meg (Connor 104 meg). The new BIOS did get me running in 386 Enhanced mode but for only a couple of minutes then the HD would lock up again. I called ME back and they said that they would send a new Windows 3.0 video driver out to me that should do the trick. I got it, installed the driver but no go. Same problem. Calling back from work (my machine is at home) the technician said to call this other technician back that evening (4:30 PM their time) and talk to him. I did and was told that that technician goes home at 4. I asked for the original technician, he was on the phone so had a note left asking him to call me before he went home. 15 minutes later I called back and that technician had gone home. I asked for ANY technician and got one. After explaining the 2 week history of my problem, that technician told me that the driver would not have fixed the HD problem. I then got a return authorization number and returned the machine to Micro Express for credit at my expense ($60). The next week I ordered a ZEOS. Since they will be sending a mouse and Windows with it (still shrink wrapped), I will be selling the mouse/Windows for $120 (less than mail order prices) should anyone be in the market. (Mass/NH area) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chuck Bishop Internet: cbishop@zeus.dnet.ge.com GE Aerospace 617-229-3009 Burlington, Mass USA "Just Do It" - Nike ----------------------------------------------------------------------------