Hi!
I'm in desperate need of help. I've tried some of the suggestions given to others who have posted similar problems, but none have worked for us. Maybe our system is older or something.
We have a Dell Inspiron 1100 notebook that we purchased around 2000. It has Windows XP. Our son uses it for school and he has some things that he needs to finish - some looming deadlines - and now we can't get the computer to stay on.
I will say up-front that there is a slight bend in the power cable where it plugs into the back of the computer. It's as if there maybe a loose wire or something.
Days ago when we were using it, you almost had to hold the power chord in place or prop it up so the computer stayed on. Then, while running, messages kept popping up that we needed to plug into the A/C because our battery was dangerously low (even though the laptop was plugged in the whole time!)
Now as we turn on the computer after the screen with Dell, it quickly goes to a DOS type message:
Broadcom UNDI, PXE-2.1 (build 082) v1.04
Copyright (C) 2000-2002 Broadcom Corporation
Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
All rights reserved.
Intel Base-Code, PXE-2.1 (build 082)
Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM
Operating System not found
We can't get passed this. Even when we hit F2 at the boot, it goes to a screen asking for a password (we have no idea what they want as we never assigned a password)
Any ideas? Is there something we can do to get beyond this and/or do we simply need a new power cable? If so, can one be picked up somewhere rather than ordering it from Dell?
At this point, my first priority is to get to my son's schoolwork to back it up so we don't lose it and maybe load it onto our desktop so he can continue working.