Trouble loading OS!

[JoeySpills]

So, here I am with my first post and I guess I'll ask for some advice loading a Dell Win XP SP2 Reinstallation CD (green) onto an older Dell Optiplex GX300 (white tower).

Seems I can't get the BIOS to recognize this disk for anything. I've tried to up the BIOS and anything else the Dell site would allow me to update. I've had this same problem with a Dimension 4100 also. Upon posting, the system is treating the disk as if it weren't present. Can anyone get me flying with this?

TYIA

 

[jessicatechy]

the machine is to be cd-abled first. try this:

get a 98 floppy boot disk from

http://www.bootdisk.com

start your pc with boot disk in the machine with cd-rom support
after win98 comes up, enter fdisk
display partition(s) (if any)
delete partition(s)
create new partition
restart
format the hard disk
turn pc off
take win98 boot disk out
put xp cd in the cd rom drive
turn pc on
get into bios
go to boot sequence and choose "boot from cd first"
save bios, exit.
let xp install.

 

[chipk]

Try this:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1035127

 

[linney]

Welcome to the site.

I assume "the Dell Win XP SP2 Reinstallation CD" and "the older Dell Optiplex GX300" are a matching pair and belong to each other?

Have you entered the Bios and configured it to boot from CD ahead of the hard drive?

Are you having problems with the CD drive itself?

 

[JoeySpills]

Wow!

Pretty timely with the responses. Actually the tower and CD are not a matchin pair. The CD comes from the newer GX2xx series. I'll try the boot disk and see if that gets me going...sheesh, been so long, I forgot all about the ol boot disk method.

Thanks for the help!

 

[captaincrunch00]

I dont think this will work.

I tried this at my work as well, had an Inspiron 8100 laptop that I grabbed the CD from, went to put it on an older Optiplex model and I couldnt make it work.
I had another CD laying around somewhere, so I used that, but I really didnt try very hard.

I think that CD says on it somewhere (written INTO the CD, not the normal writing) "I am only supposed to work with type XXXX computers, this isnt the right computer type so I'm not going to run!"

Good luck though, as I said, I didnt try very hard before getting the correct CD.

 

[BadBigBen]

@CaptainCrunch00 - he is stating that the CD is not being recognized, and for that to happen like you described, it would need to be recognized and at least give some indication that it is running...

now if he forgot to state that it does run but bungs out, then I am with your explaination...

@JoeySpills -
Possible causes:

1.) as described the boot order...

2.) CD-ROM defective, or IDE Cable defective, wrong jumpering, try another one CD ROM or Cable, and check the jumpering of the drive...

3.) CD itself defective... try another install CD...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[electronicsfreak]

Here is another way of trying to load from the cd. Download and make a windows 98 boot floppy disc from the link below.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Then set your bios to load from floppy. When it does, tell it to load with cdrom support. When it finishes put the cd in the drive if you havent already and then type

E:setup.exe (or whatever drive letter it is)

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[BadFrog]

In addition to what Linney posted, I'm pretty sure those recovery CD's are model specific. Meaning they have chipset drivers and such that are unique to the components installed on that models motherboard. That being said even if you were to get the OS loaded from that CD, you would still have some work to do to get XP to recognize all the hardware on the MB. I'm not saying it can't be done, just more hassle than its worth imo.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[JoeySpills]

So, I finally FOCUSED and got this thing resolved. Seems the boot disk did it. I was then allowed to just push the install from the SP2 XP cd and I'm all fine n dandy now. Thanks for all the responses everyone.

 

[electronicsfreak]

n/p Glad to hear you got it solved.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[jessicatechy]

kewl!
i knew the 98 boot disk would work. i've tried it a few times.