sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Toshiba Telephones & Systems Need advice: CTX100 System

Quick background, so you'll understand I'm a noob who needs help desperately! I'm a network admin, but inherited the phone closet in a package deal I have no formal training on the phone system, and most of what I know comes directly from reading this forum, and from hanging over the shoulder of a technician---when our vendor still had one.

The company we purchased our Toshiba system from is no longer a Toshiba dealer, and their certified tech left the company shortly before that. They referred us to another dealer who is about 150 miles away, and they charge arm/leg per on-site call, and we aren't equipped for the remote support functions.

We have a Toshiba Strata CTX100 system, which includes a Stratagy iES32 voice mail module (in slot #5). Some of the voicemail and automated features periodically fail, and the far-away technician says that it is because the hard drive in the unit is failing, and typically power-cycling the system is the only way to resolve the issue.

They tell us that repair is not possible due to the age of the equipment, although I see on the inside of the cabinet we are the proud recipients of a Toshiba Value Plus Certificate of Warranty that expires 8/09/2010. A sales rep from this company has provided a quote for a replacement system, but we would like to obtain a "second opinion" as to whether our existing system can be repaired, or if actual replacement is necessary.

Naturally, I'd be more included to believe one of you folks that this sales rep. If you tell me that it's not possible to repair this system, I'll feel comfortable in telling our operations manager that it's true. I don't understand why I can't just pull the hard drive and clone it over to a new notebook drive and pop it back in place, but that's the computer geek speaking out loud.

If I'm mistaken in this idea, feel free to educate me, because I really need to know. Any suggestions, opinions, advice, happy thoughts and such are most welcome.

Also, if you are within a reasonable distance of Farmington, MO, PM me if you have experience with this type of thing and would like arrange a service call.

Thanks in advance!

What are the automated features that periodically fail ?

To help with the confusion factor please just start topic in one location. Thanks.

If the hard drive fails and you have the extended Toshiba warranty, try to get it transferred to another dealer and get the card replaced.

Typical complaints are:
1. that when a user attempts to retrieve a message, there is a fast-busy tone, and they cannot access their mailbox until after I've power-cycled the system.
2. that when a message is recorded in a mailbox, the message lamp will SOMETIMES light, but when the user attempts to retrieve it, they get a prompt of "no new messages available" (or something to that effect.

Those were the reasons that the tech gave for his theory being a failing hard drive, in addition to it being noisy (sounds like a light growling/grinding noise, louder than a hard drive typically should be, and the level of noise is slowly increasing by the month).

Will do. Sorry for failing to follow protocol. I wanted to be sure I put this in a place where it would be seen. Thanks for making the correction for me.

The most recent tech stated that those cards are unavailable, and that's why they sent a sales rep out to discuss upgrade/system replacement. I'm not savvy enough to know whether they're being straight-up or not. Thus far, none of the 3 dealers I found in my state (listed on the Toshiba locater) have responded to my calls or emails, so I'm very grateful for the input here!

The symptoms are not typical of a hard drive crash. It sounds more like a programming issue with line disconnects, busy ports and user-enabled message waiting. Well, a hard drive failure can also cause the Stratagy program to stop, which will also emulate a busy-port scenario.

By the way, IES voicemail cards are readily available from Toshiba. Toshiba's dealer list may not be up to date. I'm surprised no dealers have responded considering the economy these days...

I have seen where the hard drive is failing and the system has those symptoms..

In your case it sounds like it could be the processor over heating from the fan failing...

had same problem once replaced the fan and all was good

a quick fix might be to get a fan blowing directly on the system

The noise could be the fan or the hard drive. If the system locks up periodically, then it could be the hard drive failing. Luckily a reboot still helps. If it is the hard drive, you may not have long to go before a total crash.

The VM system can be sent to Toshiba for repair, but you will be without a voicemail system for a while. They would replace the hard drive and return it defaulted (messages/greetings wiped out), so you would need to have it backed up.

Both the voicemail and the CTX can be programmed remotely. The Stratagy IES has remote access built-in, while the CIX needs a modem attached to the processor. If you pick up a phone and dial INT "#19" you would hear modem tones if you have a modem installed on the CTX.