My Dell resource Disks only contain drivers and applications, not the operating system...
Are you sure your resource disk is bootable?
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Browse All TopicsI have a Dell Dimension 8400 that will not boot up to the Resource DVD when turning on the computer. Details are listed below.
I replaced hard drive with a new one due to a system crash. When booting up the machine after install, the resource DVD will not start. I have gone to the boot menu and tried to manually do it with no luck. The machine is using two DVD devices (DVD Rom & RW DVD). I have disabled one of the DVD devices for testing and still no luck (I removed from Bios and cabling in the box). Then I thought of trying a work around method using windows 98 start-up disk and Im able to use the drive via the start-up disk, but the DVD wouldnt start (my guess something with the start-up disk doesnt support DVD). So, I thought Id install Windows 98 CD and do an upgrade from 98 to the copy of the Resource DVD (Win XP). I installed Win 98 without a problem. When I go to install the Resource DVD version, it goes though the first installation and everything works fine until the first reboot and then the system wont start the resource DVD to finish the install. Then I have to format the drive again and Ive tried this multiple different of ways. Ive even tried using a Windows XP upgrade disk to use with the Win 98 and I get the same results. I was also able to update the Bios with the latest version, so thats up to date. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Michael
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Hello Michael,
If Dell sent you the new hard drive they usually ask you if you want it with the system partition on it or not. If it is on it, all you need to do is to start the computer and to restore to factory settings Press on CTRL-F11 while on the Dell Logo screen.....
If you bought the hard drive somewhere else, you should have an Operating System CD with XP on it.....If you don't, usually a call to Dell will get them to send you one....sometimes, depending on the model, it's for free.... other times you need to pay for shipping and other times..... you need to pay for it full.
The resource CD is only for installing the drivers and other software.
Hope it helps.... :-)
I was assuming you meant you were using the disk that says Reinstallation CD, it should say Operating System clearly across the top. If this is just the Resource cd, you're not going to get very far...like everyone else indicated, the Resource CD typically only contains diagnostic software, drivers, and documentation...there is no OS on the resource cd.
If you didn't have a system crash you could simply transfer your OS from the old disk to the new with the drive manufacturers transfer program.
Now you need the Dell Restore or Reinstallation disk. If you have Dell support you can call them, but if you are not on support it might take you quite a while on hold to get to the right person who will help you. If you are willing to spend $20 or $30 you can try a place like PacificGeeks.com and get one of the Dell disks there. Make sure you get the same version as you COA (Certificate of Authenticity) on your computer.
Another problem you may have is just the size of the disk. Unless you have an install disk with Service Pack 2 (SP2) you cannot have a boot partition more than 137 GB. The original release XP install disk (and upgrade disk) has this limitation. This may be the problem you are having with the upgrade disk you are using. You could install XP with your upgrade disk onto a 137 GB partition and then use a partition expander to add the rest of your capacity to the boot volume. Or you can create a new "slipstreamed" version of the install disk. Slipstreaming is a process that allows you to add new drivers to an original installation disk.
It also sounds like you already have the most of the disks you need to create a new slipstreamed installation cd. You will need to have a working computer with a CD burner and download Windows XP SP2 (or SP3, which is newer) from Microsoft.com. Then Google "Windows XP Slipstream Paul Thurrott" and you will get beautiful instructions from the winsupersite. Follow them and you will have no more problems reinstalling XP. This solution may take some time, but you will have the latest version of XP on a bootable cd that you can use anytime.
I apologize for the delayed response, Ive been away from my computer yesterday afternoon. It used the incorrect term when posting on my post. The disc Im using is a Reinstallation DVD Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. I have tested the disc on other machines and it pulls up on boot-up just not on the computer Im trying to fix. The disc works on the machine if I loaded Win 98, but it only goes through the first part of the installation. When Windows installation reboots and tries to continue the install, it crashes due to the computer not booting the DVD. The only way I got Win 98 to install was from using a Win 98 Start-Up floppy disc to start the installation. Ive even tried using full versions of Win XP DVD or CDs and nothing pulls up from starting the computer. I only had success using the start-up floppy disc to use the CD drive, but it will not read DVDs.
Another note, when using the Windows XP CD via Win 98, I get the same results as using a DVD.
The problem is getting narrowed down. Your XP Media Center installation CD is probably OK, since it boots in other computers. Just to be on on the safe side, I'd clean it nicely with warm water and mild soap.
Your CD is not booting. Did you go into the BIOS and make it bootable? Power off, then press F2 while booting and go into the BIOS. Find the setting for "Boot Order" and make the CD the first boot device.
You didn't answer my question about the size of your new hard drive and the boot volume partition size. Just because you can format the drive with a larger partition doesn't mean it will boot with XP unless you have SP2 or later.
Ultimately, you need to resolve the problem of why the CD/DVD won't boot and make sure you have the right Service Pack if your boot volume is greater than 137 GB.
To trouble shot the CD boot issue, try disconnecting the hard drive and the floppy. Now, there is no way the computer can boot from ia drive so it should try the floppy, the CD, the network, etc... Don't assume it will do this automatically. Your BIOS setting may have disabled booting from CD.
One last comment on CD drives. They have jumpers for master/slave and can be pluged into the first or second receptacles on the cable. If this jumpers or plug position is incompatible with your bios settings the drive may not be bootable. Try making sure your CD/DVD is the only drive on the cable and is plugged into the last receptacle on the cable. If the hard disk is on the same cable be carefule that both the hard disk and CD don't have the jumpers set to Master. With some BIOSes only the Master drive will boot, but you can't have two masters on the same cable.
I should have posted a little more on Fdisk.... I'm not sure that you are familiar with it.
Startup your computer with the floppy startup disk.
run the following from the command prompt:
fdisk /mbr
fdisk
Once inside the program..... just delete all the partitions. Don't forget that NTFS is a non-DOS partition.
Lastly just create a new partition and test.
If you are using the Media Center features you will want to get that version re-installed.
If you install XP from the upgrade disk you can reinstall it again from the Media Center DVD.
Be sure to install Service Pack 2 or 3 BEFORE you make the boot partition larger or you will be back where you are..
You still have an unresolved problem with your CD/DVD. Since you have two DVD drives, try unplugging one (or just disable it in the BIOS.) If it will boot now then you have a conflict with the jumpers.
Well, here's the latest. I tried the FDisk and repartitioned the drive for 135GB and it still didn't work. The only thing I haven't tried was replacing the DVD drive and memory for testing. The owner of the machine has decided to go ahead and purchase a new one. Thanks for all the great ideas, but sadly I didn't get it worked out.
I am so sorry to hear that.
These new "netbooks" and cheap Micky Mouse computers are doing great damage in the market to the average consumer.
They initally feel that they are going to get a better deal to buy a new one than to repair the old one.They buy the cheap computer and only later realize that they got a terribly bad deal.
Just tell him to not trough it away.... he will probably want to fix it later.
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by: gikkelPosted on 2009-08-25 at 13:04:22ID: 25181646
I'd say to replace your resource disk, but with the amount of disks you've tried I'm not so sure that would do much. Are your cds in good condition?
Clean your drives...are these sata or ide drives?
Try the installation with different ram, or if you have two sticks, use just one. Its beginning to look like a hardware problem...