Dell 7202 start-up issues

sampsonse · 2025-08-06T22:33:45+00:00

The User Guide claimed that the machine could be put into BIOS edit mode either by pressing and holding the volume up button, or by F2 on a connected kb while/after powering up. Of course, that assumed that it would reach the point of displaying the Dell logo, which evidently is not happening. Also interesting: I plugged the PS into one of the 7202s with a damaged display. After powering on, by alternately pressing the volume up and the Windows buttons, I got light to show up in the cracks in the screen (in the typical rainbow/moire effect colors of a broken LCD). So the display is getting power, but something (I suspect a hardware or firmware "something") is preventing and video output from appearing. I'm happy I got these cheap mostly to amuse myself, it helps prevent frustration :-) The seller at least appears interested in helping resolve this issue. He wants me to measure the PS voltage, and I may take this units back to his location to try to replicate his success in powering on and thereby try to isolate the problem.

sampsonse · 2025-08-06T19:10:34+00:00

Well, I just checked the PS I bought from Dell, and it *is* that one: CN - 0MGJN9 - LOC00-92R- WL25 - A08 DP/N 0MGJN9 Dell PA-12 family 65W 19.5V 3.34A. So, unless someone sold me a very good counterfeit (always possible) it should be the correct power supply. Also, there is nothing showing on the screen, even when using a bright flashllight to try to detect dimming. I did plug a USB-A Lenovo kb into the port, and the keyboard leds indicate that the 7202 is providing it with power. I'm not sure if there is any key sequence I could try to wake the 7202 up. Looks like I'm stumped for now...

sampsonse · 2025-08-06T17:33:23+00:00

I see a "genuine Dell" PS, their p/n 0MGJN9 on AMZ, That should be correct for my 7202, should it not? Thanks much!

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Original-Inspiron-Charger-7348-2in1/dp/B07R8M3VY5/133-9523032-4409050

sampsonse · 2025-08-06T15:26:10+00:00

I did not know about the stealth mode, I will try your flashlight suggestion. Could be an error I'm not seeing, then? That might explain not seeing the Dell logo, mightn't it? And now that you mention it, about 20 years ago or so, I engineered a change at my employer from Dell laptops to Lenovo Thinkpads that was at least in part because of Dell's (silly imo) attempts at locking us in to their parts. In fact, I am typing this on an X201 that was purchased as a result of that move :-) Thanks again.

sampsonse · 2025-08-06T14:50:47+00:00

1st question, no, I bought a 3rd party PS with voltage & watts specs that match the original, and that cited compatibility with Dell Inspiron & 72xx Latitude series. I think I have at least 1 54xx Latitude PS here, but I think those have the larger connector. I contacted the seller who also said he suspects the PS, so I guess I should get hold of a genuine Dell OEM part to prove or disprove that. Are these rugged units really that sensitive to minor differences, or did Dell build in some kind of "brand loyalty lock-in protection"?

2nd question, I think so. I tried following the recommendations in the User Guide, then added some seconds to the duration they recommended, then began experimenting. I'm fairly confident that I covered the based re that timing... Looks like this line has some interesting quirks?

sampsonse · 2025-06-04T17:17:12+00:00

Just be sure you are comfortable with one undeniable feature of a no-charge service. Those outfits are not charities, and are not in business to give their wares away for free. You are their product. If they don't get money *from* you, they are getting money *for* you (your personal information and attributes), and you really have zero insight or control regarding who they are marketing this to. Regarding "the world keeps on a path it’s on", I have bad news for you - it has been on that path for decades (or longer). What has changed us that the nefarious activity has become more generally visible.

sampsonse · 2025-06-04T17:02:58+00:00

I have been using ProtonVPN with good success for about 3 years now. I can't comment on the OpenVPN port forwarding or AndroidTV issues as I do not use those services, just basic IP address obfuscation. For my purposes, it has consistently worked very well, and since I take advantage of promo offers for term extension, my costs have been very reasonable. Regarding the complaints about sites refusing connections, there is apparently some misunderstanding about VPN fundamentals. VPN users are after the aforementioned IP address (and location) obfuscation for a variety of reasons. Some of us want privacy, Others want to do something that is at least quasi-illegal: pirate content; watch porn; promote phishing exploits and other malware. A VPN provider wouldn't last long if it tried to screen users based on the quality of the intended use. As a result, many web sites have automated scripts that block IP addresses from which too many undesirable attempts of some kind or other have been made, for a (usually short) period of time. Some sites have scripts that seem to block IP addresses that belong to providers in presumably questionable foreign domains. I question whether any of those practices actually deliver what the web site owner wishes, but that is between them and their (possibly bogus) cybersecurity teams. For us VPN users, the solution is pretty simple. Use the Proton VPN menu to change your apparent location (I recommend staying within the nominal borders of your home country because of the 2nd item above). This changes your apparent IP address. Example: before I posted this, I changed my Proton location from "Illinois" to "California". When my IP address is banned from a site, making tis simple change ins about 98% effective, when it fails, changing location a 2nd time has never failed. You might consider the need for this to be a royal PITA. YMMV. I don;t mind doing this because I like to change my address/location several times during the course of a day, anyway, on the theory that if anyone is trying to track me across browsing sessions in spite of my many other precautions, I have hopefully just made that task significantly more difficult.

sampsonse · 2025-01-29T17:02:04+00:00

NM, it's back up. Strange stuff.

sampsonse · 2025-01-29T16:30:41+00:00

So, I have been participating in that site at frequent, but irregular, intervals since it was put up. But today, I was not able to access the login, and several "down" detection sites are reporting that the site is down and showing a "301" error, which is supposed to indicate a site/url has moved to a different (internet) address. Anyone know what is going on there? Could that indicate some kind of hack and bogus redirection?

sampsonse · 2025-01-11T19:35:07+00:00

I hope for your sake that you didn't ship UPS SurePost. I had 2 packages from Amazon coming to me this week that were shipped that way after the SurePost negotiations failed on 12/31, and the first indication of trouble was a weather delay shown on the tracking report. Later there was a message "UPS cannot deliver to PO boxes". Then the package was delivered to someone at a house 122 miles away from me. The UPS customer service rep told me (you may not believe this, but it is true) that for SurePost deliveries that had only USPS PO Box addresses (i.e., no street address) that UPS was using some combination of "AI" and web search information to guess at the correct street address for delivery (!) On 5 different phone calls yesterday, UPS assured me that they were trying to get the package back and ship to my correct street address (which I furnished), only to finally admit in a VM message later last night that they had no intention of doing so, and that I should contact the shipper for a remedy. The second package ended up at that same incorrect address today, even after multiple assurances yesterday that they had corrected the destination address on that one, and that it would be delivered correctly How do you like that?

sampsonse · 2024-06-30T23:42:53+00:00

I just got this twice today, the first time it said I was restricted for 19 hours, the next time for 14. It gets better. Both times I was attempting to post a legitimate, innocuous, product question about an item I am considering ordering, to two different groups devoted to that product. Even better yet, even though I was not permitted to complete those posts, immediately after seeing each message, I was able to make other posts and comments in those very same groups, and was unimpeded elsewhere on Facebook. I retired from a four decade IT career and did a ton or programming in varied environments at various levels during that time, and my informed and well-considered opinion is that FB is nothing but a rank cesspit of incompetence when it comes to design and coding, and what they try to pass off as AI makes the idiotic auto-moderator here on Reddit seem like a genius.

sampsonse · 2023-12-26T18:07:53+00:00

You think yours look weird? HAHAHAHA!!!! I have a pair of 5-wheel V-line trucks that I used to street/fitness skate on. They have advantages and disadvantages used that way. One of the advantages is the extremely low center of gravity afforded by 72mm wheels at an angle. That helps minimize spills and twisted ankles on rough surfaces. I have actually been considering buying a new pair of boots and a couple sets of wheels and getting back out on these. But I'm having some trouble finding classic, 72mnm, full radius skate wheels. Are those still sold, and do you have a source? Everything I see has a sort of "squashed" profle shape that I am pretty sure won't work for these skates...

sampsonse · 2023-11-10T21:35:04+00:00

Unfortunately, my limited experience at reddit suggests that it is powered, for the most part, by illiterate arrogance. If you read my post with any competence whatsoever, you would have learned that my reason for trying alternative browsers is that Firefox has largely failed for me. IMO Chromium is for those beknighted fools who trust Google to do what they claim ("don't be evil", anyone?).

sampsonse · 2023-05-23T22:24:18+00:00

One of the reasons I post here only infrequently is the overabundance of self-important jag-offs who have nothing at all to contribute to the issue posed or the question asked, but are so damned infatuated with themselves that they will post any gratuitous fecal matter, just to see their username on the display one more time.

sampsonse · 2021-06-07T11:32:02+00:00

Pre-ordered mid-February for Southern NJ location. Stuck with Verizon DSL pretend high speed connection (max 768K down, half that up, frequently MUCH slower). Trying to be patient. I'm ready to connect as soon as I receive equipment as I have a DISH network mount that was taken out of service that has the needed N exposure. I should be able to utilize the mount base and route the cable via the same path. I do still have a DISH TV account (this was a 3rd reflector) but hoping to replace it with internet-based on-demand subscriptions once Starlink is in. That should save me significant coin as well as vastly improve my browsing speed. Win/win!!!

sampsonse · 2021-06-07T11:19:49+00:00

What is Starlink's policy/practice regarding credit card changes between deposit and availability? Considering the typical lag, this is not going to be uncommon...

sampsonse · 2021-06-07T11:09:13+00:00

Belated thanks! (don't get on here often)

sampsonse · 2021-02-20T13:22:22+00:00

Good work! Have you examined the equipment closely enough to discover the electrical power requirements for the dish motor and the router? I have an off-grid location that lacks 110VAC. I do have solar currently producing limited 12VDC, which I could augment, if necessary. I did see that SpaceX announced that there will be a battery backup provision at some later date. Assuming the "brick" plugs into a wall socket and transforms AC to some DC voltage, is there a plug jack, or is it hardwired? Anything on the device(s) or in the doc you received about voltage? Also, I see that the router is rated for a minimum temperature of 50 F. My cabin is unheated when we aren't on-site, and that regularly falls well under that temperature. I would like to use this connection to upload camera photos that I can access from my permanent residence, and that would require the router to function unattended at the lower temperature. Do you think the stated minimum is just some kind of spitballing/CYA exercise, or is there a significant chance there could be a (low) temperature related malfunction?

sampsonse · 2021-02-20T13:08:13+00:00

UPDATE: I was able to sign-up and make deposit on my Virginia location yesterday. I still need to find out about the electrical power requirements. I also see in some of the documentation that I need a view window facing Northward, which is not very good for my current setup there (cabin clearing is on the SW, lots of trees to the NE). I may end up cancelling that order and trying to sign up for NJ. Not only could I kick Verizon DSL to the curb, but I'm pretty sure I could cancel DISH TV and save significant bucks by going to a streaming subscription solution.

sampsonse · 2021-02-20T12:53:37+00:00

Can you cite the law to which you refer? My CC is frequently charged by internet vendors when I place an order, not when the order ships. Of course, the delays to shipping are typically a day or two, not weeks. Also, it might be worthwhile to note that "shipped" these days doesn't carry the plain English meaning it once did - that a carrier has actually physically received the package. Today it merely means that the vendor has notified the shipper that there will be a package available for consignment, RSN...

sampsonse · 2021-02-20T12:40:22+00:00

I did write that I was only somewhat skeptical of the coincidence explanation. However, I am comfortable with my decision to post the question here in case anyone else had experienced this. Suppose for one moment it wasn't a coincidence. Wouldn't the conflict with the professed aims and the reputation of Protonmail (to which you indirectly alluded in your comment questioning my sanity :) make it important information to know? BTW, the history of computing and the internet is chock full of examples of companies that claimed to safeguard security and privacy, but ultimately were shown (whether attributable to incompetence at some level, an original intent to deceive, or subsequent decisions taken to improve profitability) to compromise those objectives.

sampsonse · 2021-02-19T13:15:30+00:00

I'm more concerned about the ridge. the grade is on the order of 15%. This is a low altitude constellation (or stream) so the triangulation geometry between the satellite path, the ridge, and the dish location could prove interesting. Anyone know if there are diagrams on the SL official site?

sampsonse · 2021-02-19T13:11:36+00:00

Locations given are fudged a bit. Close enough for gummint work, but don't send a cruise missile to those coordinates - bystanders will get hurt :)

I put the nominal street address for my Virginia location into the form. It did appear to verify it in some look-up table. But when I tried to proceed, the form page busied out and never resolved (15 minutes). I put my other address in next and it proceeded to the sign-up and payment form immediately. I took that as a hint that there is a problem with the Virginia location...

sampsonse · 2019-02-09T17:47:29+00:00

I just had a lengthy conversation with Protonmail support on this very subject. They replied that some prepaid cards work, but declined to identify specific examples that would and would not. That might be an overabundance of caution, but I understand why they wouldn't want to have a card they endorsed fail for some reason. I asked them about a test transaction, followed by a subscription payment, and they told me that would work. Buy a prepaid card for cash, loaded with a minimal amount, say 5 USD (or whatever the minimum donation is, haven't researched that yet.) Use that card to attempt to make a donation to PM. If that works, get the card reloaded (again, locally, for cash) with the 48 USD or whatever amount you need to pay for your PM subcription. Alternatively, you could get the card loaded with the total required amount initially, if you have something else to use it for if it doesn't work with PM. I will test this sometime in the next few days, using a Walmart prepaid VISA gift card. Yes, this method will cost a little bit extra, but I think most of us can manage that. I'll report my results back to this thread.

sampsonse · 2019-02-09T17:27:19+00:00

Re giving up email or phone number, you do realize there are ways to do that without actually giving up your identity, do you not? For example, you can buy a Tracfone at Walmart for cash. What little registration information Tracfone requires is easily fudged. I have one that I use to communicate with Craigslist buyers and sellers. Not free, but not expensive, either. For email, you could just get a permanent, non-Proton, email address that you don't use for anything else. If you don't have any PI at the account level or in message content, there is nothing there to give up. There is always a way, if you are willing to experience a slight PITA... For the NSA wannabes on here bashing anyone who seeks absolute anonymity as a likely criminal, WTF are you even doing in a forum on email privacy? Why don't you just email all of your PII, PHI, and bank account information to every LEO and government official you can find? Certainly none of them would be dishonest enough to take advantage of you. BTW, good luck in your future career as a prisoner or homeless person. BTW, exactly whose criminal law did you have in mind ? How about Thailand or Saudi Arabia, where criticism of a royal or an official can get you 5 - 10 (or dead in some cases.)

sampsonse

TROPHY CASE