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New drive in Dell XPS 600

I had to install a new 160 GB SATA drive into a Dell XPS 600 PC. PC will not boot; keeps giving BSOD even in Safe Mode. I have the resource/driver CD the machine came with, but when I insert it, it simply goes into a diagnostics mode which offers no option to load drivers. When booting up, I press F6 to load 3rd party drivers, but the PC only offers the option to load drivers from a floppy drive, something this PC does not have. I have researched the issue here on EE, but it seems the only fix was to load an IDE drive, copy the drivers to the new SATA, then load onto the SATA drive, and then reimage the machine.

Is there any other (easier) way to get this PC running again?

Thank you.

DOElight

Enter the bios and change the settings of the harddrive sata interface. There should be 3 options to choose from. Use the one that works for you.

David

Disable the RAID mode in the BIOS. The RAID mode requires special drivers, while the IDE mode does not.

LionelR2D2

ASKER

RAID Mode disabled; still no dice.

David

So problem is something other than what you are reporting. If RAID is disabled, then you must not do the F6 thing. All storage drivers will be there.

If this is what you are doing, then there must be something else going on that you are not posting. What happens, exactly, after you load the O/S? Does it fail to boot the first time the installer boots the windows kernel, or does it fail after this stage? Please provide more information.

LionelR2D2

ASKER

The crash occurs a few seconds after the Windows XP logo screen appears. BSOD is as follows:

STOP: 0X0000007B (0XF88B9524, 0XC0000034, 0X00000000, 0X00000000)

Thanks.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

deroode

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noxcho

Is there enhanced mode in BIOS? Also, does your mobo support AHCI mode? If yes then make sure it is not enabled.
If you use Windows XP then upgrade to latest SP3. To load the SP3 you will need to set the HDD mode to IDE in BIOS first.

LionelR2D2

ASKER

Nox, forgive me for being a little technologically challenged here. I pressed F2 during boot and went into system setup. I don't see anything that can be changed with regard to BIOS settings. It only says BIOS version A03; fields are not changeable. Again, this is a Dell DXG051. From what I read on some tech boards, it is a bit tricky getting this model to recognize a new hard drive.

As far as if the motherboard supports AHCI mode, if you can tell me how to find that out, I will look into it.

Thanks.

noxcho

Last time I worked with Dell BIOS was 2 months ago. Hard to recollect where was it. But in normal BIOS the HDD mode changes are available via Advanced tab.
Can you take a picture of BIOS screen and post it here?

LionelR2D2

ASKER

Nox, I don't have a camera today, but will bring one tomorrow and post a picture. Thanks for trying to help out, man.

Have a good one!

deroode

What was the result of installing with the nLite CD?

LionelR2D2

ASKER

There is a known problem with the Dell XPS600 desktop and using the XP Install disc for a new SATA drive. The install disc does not contain the NVIDIA motherboard drivers. Download them, get your XP install disc ready, then use Nlite to merge them. Very easy to do.

LionelR2D2

ASKER

Thank you to you all for your helpful suggestions. It's good to know there are decent people like you out there willing to lend a hand.

All the best,
Reggie