XP REINSTALLATION PROBLEM

  • Thread starter Thread starter CinciDave
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CinciDave

I was forced to reinstall the OS on my Dell DIM 9150 (dual core, 250GB SATA
HD) with XP PRO (it came with XP Home installed). The reason was that I had a
persistant malware that screwed up my internet security which I just couldn't
eliminate. My university has a MS site license so XP PRO was available
gratis. With the factory set up the install procedure failed to see the SATA.
In SETUP under DRIVES there are: DISKETTE DRIVE, DRIVE 0: SATA- 0, DRIVE 1:
SATA- 1, DRIVE 2: SATA- 2, DRIVE 3: SATA- 3, DRIVE 4: PATA- 0, DRIVE 5: PATA-
1, SATA OPERATION. In this last category there are 4 options: RAID Auotdetect
/AHCI, RAID Autodetect /ATA, RAID ON, Combination = SATA/PATA combinatin
mode. THe factory setting was RAID Auotdetect /AHCI. A colleague (allegedly
more knowledgeable) suggested that that I select the SATA/PATA combination
mode and switch back after installation was complete. I did so, but found
that the system would not boot with this change. So back to the setup with
SATA OPERATION set for SATA/PATA comb. I attempted to reinstall my
operational software. Unfortunately the system refused to recognize my
internet adapter and, moreover, all of the OTHER DEVICES (PCI DEVICE,
Parallel, Serial Ports, etc.) showed YELLOW ? marks in DEVICE MANAGER
indicating that no drivers had been assigned. Well I spent almost an entire
day trying to get the system to find the new hardware (Network adapter) and
to find drivers but nothing seems to work. So here I am with a PC that has XP
PRO and nothing else. Frustrated... you bet I am. Dell help is impossible to
get since the warranty ran out a few months ago. Clearly I need help from the
experts in the Windows forum.....Thanks for taking time to read through this
long sad tale. -- CinciDave
 
CinciDave said:
I was forced to reinstall the OS on my Dell DIM 9150 (dual core, 250GB SATA
HD) with XP PRO (it came with XP Home installed). The reason was that I had a
persistant malware that screwed up my internet security which I just couldn't
eliminate. My university has a MS site license so XP PRO was available
gratis. With the factory set up the install procedure failed to see the SATA.
In SETUP under DRIVES there are: DISKETTE DRIVE, DRIVE 0: SATA- 0, DRIVE 1:
SATA- 1, DRIVE 2: SATA- 2, DRIVE 3: SATA- 3, DRIVE 4: PATA- 0, DRIVE 5: PATA-
1, SATA OPERATION. In this last category there are 4 options: RAID Auotdetect
/AHCI, RAID Autodetect /ATA, RAID ON, Combination = SATA/PATA combinatin
mode. THe factory setting was RAID Auotdetect /AHCI. A colleague (allegedly
more knowledgeable) suggested that that I select the SATA/PATA combination
mode and switch back after installation was complete. I did so, but found
that the system would not boot with this change. So back to the setup with
SATA OPERATION set for SATA/PATA comb. I attempted to reinstall my
operational software. Unfortunately the system refused to recognize my
internet adapter and, moreover, all of the OTHER DEVICES (PCI DEVICE,
Parallel, Serial Ports, etc.) showed YELLOW ? marks in DEVICE MANAGER
indicating that no drivers had been assigned. Well I spent almost an entire
day trying to get the system to find the new hardware (Network adapter) and
to find drivers but nothing seems to work. So here I am with a PC that has XP
PRO and nothing else. Frustrated... you bet I am. Dell help is impossible to
get since the warranty ran out a few months ago. Clearly I need help from the
experts in the Windows forum.....Thanks for taking time to read through this
long sad tale. -- CinciDave
Click to expand...

1. The best solution is to install XP using the Dell-provided XP Home
install disk. This disk will have the SATA drive controller drivers
slipstreamed into it. If you have lost that CD, a local computer repair
company probably has one and can install Windows for you. This will not
be free, of course.

2. If you still want to use a different non-Dell XP install disk (like
the one for XP Pro), you will need to have the SATA drive controller
drivers on floppy disk or create a new XP Pro install CD with the
drivers slipstreamed into it. You will get these drivers from Dell's
website for your specific model machine.

Slipstream RAID or SATA controller drivers:
http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/01/how_to_slipstre.html
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/36/SESSID=8b0c51fd6eca712e465d2e6f79256fc8/

If you use the floppy disk method, press F6 very early in the
installation process and follow directions.

3. In either scenario, you will need to install the drivers for all the
hardware after the XP install is finished. These drivers can be found on
the Dell Resource CD that came with the system and also on Dell's
website for your specific model machine. Obviously you will need to have
these on hand because you will not have a working network adapter on the
newly installed operating system until you install the drivers.

4. You only have one hard drive so RAID doesn't enter into any of this
at all. You are missing the SATA drive controller drivers.


Malke
 
THanks Malke,
I was beginning to feel that reinstalling XP-H from the Dell Disk was the
bet aproach. Question: Is it necessary for me to manually change the SETUP
back to the factory settings before the reinstallation or will that occur
during the new install? Also I attempted to find the drivers on the Dell CD
but the PCI troubleshoot from Device Mgr could not locate
them......Again....Thanks....CinciDave
 
Another question about the installing of XP. I expect to do a clean install,
but I would like eventually to go to XP PRO since my wireless satellite PC
(from which I am communicating now) does have PRO. Question: Can I upgrade
from H to Pro by installing the latter over H? Or should I just be happy that
WIN-H is functioning? If the upgrade to PRO is recommeded then should I go
ahead and do that (making certain that everything is operational first)
before reinstalling all of the operational stuff to XP PRO)?
 
CinciDave wrote:

Combining your two posts:

You wrote:

"I was beginning to feel that reinstalling XP-H from the Dell Disk was the
bet aproach. Question: Is it necessary for me to manually change the SETUP
back to the factory settings before the reinstallation or will that occur
during the new install? Also I attempted to find the drivers on the Dell CD
but the PCI troubleshoot from Device Mgr could not locate"

I don't have the foggiest what you mean by change the SETUP. Put the
Dell XP CD in the drive and start the computer. As you are starting the
computer, press F12 (IIRC) and that will give you the boot order menu.
Boot from the CD drive, obviously.

The drivers are not on the Dell XP install CD. As I said, they are on
the Dell Resource CD - this is a separate CD clearly labeled "Dell
Resource CD". If you don't have this CD, download all the drivers from
Dell's support website.
Another question about the installing of XP. I expect to do a clean install,
but I would like eventually to go to XP PRO since my wireless satellite PC
(from which I am communicating now) does have PRO. Question: Can I upgrade
from H to Pro by installing the latter over H? Or should I just be happy that
WIN-H is functioning? If the upgrade to PRO is recommeded then should I go
ahead and do that (making certain that everything is operational first)
before reinstalling all of the operational stuff to XP PRO)?
Click to expand...

I really can't imagine why you want Pro when you only have two
computers, but that's up to you. I can't make the choice for you. I've
already told you what to do about installing Pro in my first reply and I
don't have anything further to add to that.


Malke
 
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