Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!rwp
From: rwp@cup.portal.com (Roger William Preisendefer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Packard Bell 286
Message-ID: <19222@cup.portal.com>
Date: 8 Jun 89 00:22:26 GMT
References: <1387@xn.LL.MIT.EDU> <18718@cup.portal.com> <43939203.190fc@gtephx.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 36

>> My new Packard Bell '286 machine is showing an odd flaw.  After it has been
>> off for a while (t > 6 hours) it will refuse to boot from the hard drive.
>> It will boot perfectly from floppy, and has no trouble accessing the
>> hard disk.  If on for more than 1 minute, it can be rebooted from the
>> HD without difficulty.

>Actually, I have been having the same problem with my Packard Bell
>computer (not a 286).   It came with a 30 meg.  hard disk drive.   I
>hadn't linked it to the greater-than-six-hours thing, but now that
>you mention it, that's what it  seems like, I think.   I was just
>going to call Packard Bell and insist that they replace it, but that
>might not fix the problem if other people are having that same
>problem.   Have you heard any more about it?  

I have been dealing with Packard Bell for the last month, trying to
get the problem fixed.  They are very helpful.  When you call
technical support, if the lines are very busy, they will call you
back!  They will lead you through different things to try to diagnose the
problem over the phone.  I have been led through checking the ROM'd
setup file (the computer was a store demo and the salesmen had it
configured wrong.)  I then tried reformatting the HD, following the
step-by-step instructions of the tech (though I had already done it
correctly.)  All to no avail.  Packard Bell suggested shipping it
back or taking it to a local service center, and provided the
numbers for all of these in my area.  Since it has a one year
warranty, I think I'll wait to see if it goes away (or more likely
gets worse.)  Moving the controller card seems to have fixed it, but
the problem is intermittent, so I'll wait and see....

I suggest giving them a call if you're having the same problem.  The
number is 1-800-733-4411.  They seemed very interested in making it
right...

Roger Preisendefer
rwp@cup.portal.com