"Delayed Write Failed"

[Johan]

Hi,



I'm trying to restore a Dell Insipiron 8500 notebook. The unit is about 4
years old, designed for and delivered with XP Pro. It´s always been kept up
to date and run fine with XP SP 2 until a few month ago, when it was
replaced with a newer system.



Conditions:



1. 60 GB ATA HDD, partioned 35 + 25 GB. 512 MB RAM.

2. Installation media; CD created from downloaded Technet ISO file. XP PRO
/w SP3.

3. System specific drivers and latest BIOS, all downloaded from Dell Support
and Downloads.



So far everything goes according to the book. It´s when I try to personalize
the system the problems start. I repeatedly get the following error message:

"Windows - Delayed Write Failed: Windows was unable to save all the data for
the file File_path\File_name. The data has been lost. This error may be
caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.
Please try to save this file elsewhere."



After installing the OS I visited Windows / Microsoft update and run an
Express Install. 16 out of 17 updates installed nicely - only IE 7 failed,
giving the error. The same error keeps popping at me when trying to install:
Live messenger, Office 2007, AVG free edition and others....



I've Googled my brains out and searched MS for a solution, and there are a
few. None of them fully complies to my conditions but rather to problems
with SCSI hard drives or external, USB devices. It was suggested to disable
write caching on the disk; done that at no use!



I don't think I have any hardware or controller problem as I can partition
and format the HDD and the OS as well as drivers installs fine? I have also
succeeded to cut / paste very large files and folders between partitions and
mapped network drives, without any problems what so ever.



Please, somebody, advice?



Regards;



Johan

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm trying to restore a Dell Insipiron 8500 notebook. The unit is
about 4 years old, designed for and delivered with XP Pro. It´s
always been kept up to date and run fine with XP SP 2 until a few
month ago, when it was replaced with a newer system.

Conditions:
1. 60 GB ATA HDD, partioned 35 + 25 GB. 512 MB RAM.

2. Installation media; CD created from downloaded Technet ISO file.
XP PRO /w SP3.

3. System specific drivers and latest BIOS, all downloaded from
Dell Support and Downloads.

So far everything goes according to the book. It´s when I try to
personalize the system the problems start. I repeatedly get the
following error message:
"Windows - Delayed Write Failed: Windows was unable to save all the
data for the file File_path\File_name. The data has been lost. This
error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or
network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere."

After installing the OS I visited Windows / Microsoft update and
run an Express Install. 16 out of 17 updates installed nicely -
only IE 7 failed, giving the error. The same error keeps popping at
me when trying to install: Live messenger, Office 2007, AVG free
edition and others....
I've Googled my brains out and searched MS for a solution, and
there are a few. None of them fully complies to my conditions but
rather to problems with SCSI hard drives or external, USB devices.
It was suggested to disable write caching on the disk; done that at
no use!
I don't think I have any hardware or controller problem as I can
partition and format the HDD and the OS as well as drivers installs
fine? I have also succeeded to cut / paste very large files and
folders between partitions and mapped network drives, without any
problems what so ever.
Please, somebody, advice?

Download and utilize the hard disk manufacturer's diagnostics utility to
fully test the hard disk drive.

 

[smlunatick]

Hi,

I'm trying to restore a Dell Insipiron 8500 notebook. The unit is about 4
years old, designed for and delivered with XP Pro. It´s always been kept up
to date and run fine with XP SP 2 until a few month ago, when it was
replaced with a newer system.

Conditions:

1. 60 GB ATA HDD, partioned 35 + 25 GB. 512 MB RAM.

2. Installation media; CD created from downloaded Technet ISO file. XP PRO
/w SP3.

3. System specific drivers and latest BIOS, all downloaded from Dell Support
and Downloads.

So far everything goes according to the book. It´s when I try to personalize
the system the problems start. I repeatedly get the following error message:

"Windows - Delayed Write Failed: Windows was unable to save all the data for
the file File_path\File_name. The data has been lost. This error may be
caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.
Please try to save this file elsewhere."

After installing the OS I visited Windows / Microsoft update and run an
Express Install. 16 out of 17 updates installed nicely - only IE 7 failed,
giving the error. The same error keeps popping at me when trying to install:
Live messenger, Office 2007, AVG free edition and others....

I've Googled my brains out and searched MS for a solution, and there are a
few. None of them fully complies to my conditions but rather to problems
with SCSI hard drives or external, USB devices. It was suggested to disable
write caching on the disk; done that at no use!

I don't think I have any hardware or controller problem as I can partition
and format the HDD and the OS as well as drivers installs fine? I have also
succeeded to cut / paste very large files and folders between partitions and
mapped network drives, without any problems what so ever.

Please, somebody, advice?

Regards;

Johan

Follow Shenan's recommendation. The hard drive is failing and you
need to test it completely or replace it. Do not rely on it as is.

 

[Johan]

Download and utilize the hard disk manufacturer's diagnostics utility to
fully test the hard disk drive.

Thanks for the reply; it was just the boost I needed to accept the disk
being the most probable cause. It´s been replaced and the system is now up
and running, seemingly better than ever (the new drive is slightly bigger
but also significantly faster

By the way - I did download the Hitachi Disk Fitness Tool. It gave a dubious
result; first it identified the drive correctly but after running a scan it
claimed it to be a non Hitachi drive and disabled all tools. Not too
helpful...

Johan

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thanks for the reply; it was just the boost I needed to accept the
disk being the most probable cause. It´s been replaced and the
system is now up and running, seemingly better than ever (the new
drive is slightly bigger but also significantly faster

By the way - I did download the Hitachi Disk Fitness Tool. It gave
a dubious result; first it identified the drive correctly but after
running a scan it claimed it to be a non Hitachi drive and disabled
all tools. Not too helpful...

Personally - I'd recommend Seagate drives - if for nothing else than their
confidence in providing a 5 year warranty.

(Although I have had great success with them over the years, personally and
in business. Western Digital's a close second. IBM and Samsung (for hard
disk drives) are in a tie for dead last.)

 

[Anteaus]

IBM drives are made by Hitachi, and I've probably replaced more 2.5" notebook
drives of this make than any other. Their reliability is none too good.

There is one worse 3.5" drive, and that is ExcelStor. Avoid like plague.

Only had one recent Seagate failure, and that was when a joiner decided to
hammer a row of nails in right alongside the equipment cabinet. (Idiot!) They
replaced it without question even though I told them it was probably excess-g
damage. Which I thought was very generous.