used 9100 won't boot

Ok, thanks on the Linux bit.  I tried loading XP, but when it began starting Windows I got a blue screen with:  pci.sys -address F748E0BF base at F7487000, datestamp 3b7d855c

Thanks for your help, Peter.

That means that Linux was installed but it can't boot.  Grub is the Linux boot loader.  Did you get the Windows discs?  Or if you want Linux you can just install your own.  It looks like you need to reinstall the OS.

Peter 

What is the stop code?  Is the SATA mode in the BIOS setup set to AHCI?  If so, you probably need to load the SATA drivers during the install.

Peter 

The stop code is:

0X0000007E (0XC0000005, 0XF748EOBF, 0XF78DA208, 0XF78D9FO8)

The SATA mode is set to AHCI.

If I need to install drivers, can you point me to a site to download them?  Also, which order do I do this in, SATA drivers, then XP?

Thanks for your help!

Ok, Peter, I tried combination mode and ATA mode--same stop error.  When the Windows files are loading I'm seeing RAID in the file names several times (this is a licensed copy of XP).  Don't know if that means anything.  :) 

Any other suggestions before I kick it....uh...I mean go out and buy a USB floppy drive?

If you aren't going to use RAID, you can set the SATA mode to Combination mode or if that doesn't work to ATA mode.  XP shouldn't need drivers for this mode.

If you want to keep RAID/AHCI, then download the drivers from support.dell.com and put them on a floppy (yes you need a floppy but it can be USB) and load those during the install by pressing F6 when you see the prompt.  If you get a new Dell Windows XP CD, it has the proper drivers on it already.

Possibly this SATA mode is also the problem with the Linux boot.  You could try changing it and then try to boot.

Peter 

Windows loads tons of stuff that are not necessarily used on your machine.  What is really missing are the drivers for the SATA controller (even if you aren't using RAID).  I'm surprised that ATA mode did not work; it is supposed to be backward compatible.

I would run the diagnostics before you buy anything just to make sure there are no obvious hardware problems.

Peter 

Ran diagnostics:

Drive 0:  Maxtor 7L250S0

Drive 1:  No Device

Drive 2:  No Device

Drive 3:  No Device

Drive 4:  HL-DT-ST DVD+/-RW GWA4164B - Diagnostics not supported

Drive 5:  No Device

OK, that means that at least the HD is functioning at some level.  You should be able to load Windows in the ATA mode.  I guess what is left is to get a floppy drive.

Peter