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Install XP on SATA system with no floppy
Hi, I am wanting to reinstall WindowsXP on my new Dimension 8400. However, I noticed that in order to do so, Windows needs the raid drivers to see my SATA Hard Drives. I consulted Dell's site and found an article on how to do this easily with a floppy drive.
However, my 8400 did not come with a floppy drive. Furthermore, there is not a floppy driver controller on the motherboard (except maybe via usb). Surely there is some other way to provide the Windows setup these drivers other than wasting $40 on a usb floppy drive...
I have an external USB Hard drive if this will work, or could I burn the drivers to a cd instead? or even add the files to the XP install cd (and reburn it, similar to the slipstreaming of sp2)?
I can't imagine that I would be the only one with this problems, since SATA is standard on the 8400s and so is not having a floppy drive.
Thanks for any help/ideas you many have
However, my 8400 did not come with a floppy drive. Furthermore, there is not a floppy driver controller on the motherboard (except maybe via usb). Surely there is some other way to provide the Windows setup these drivers other than wasting $40 on a usb floppy drive...
I have an external USB Hard drive if this will work, or could I burn the drivers to a cd instead? or even add the files to the XP install cd (and reburn it, similar to the slipstreaming of sp2)?
I can't imagine that I would be the only one with this problems, since SATA is standard on the 8400s and so is not having a floppy drive.
Thanks for any help/ideas you many have
criz8426
4 Posts
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February 2nd, 2005 11:00
I am looking for any method other than using a usb floppy drive.
simpswr
3.2K Posts
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February 2nd, 2005 11:00
Pat1
176 Posts
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February 2nd, 2005 12:00
criz8426
You may not need a floppy drive. I just did a fresh install of Windows xp on a XPS Gen 4 using the Dell supplied cd and the sata drivers were on the cd. I did the F6 to add the drivers but the install informed me that I did not need them so I chose to use the drivers from the Win xp cd. The install went great on the Raptor hard drive I was adding to the system. Dell can be smart every once in a while. Give it a go and see what happens.
Pat
simpswr
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February 2nd, 2005 12:00
wrs
Message Edited by simpswr on 02-02-2005 08:34 AM
reclinemusic
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February 2nd, 2005 13:00
Pat!
You are doing exactly what I'm thinking of doing with my Gen3. I would like to get a raptor 74 GB and replace my current SATA hard drive with it. But the thing is, I would like to use my fresh, non-dell copy of windows XP to do it, because I'm afraid of all the non-essential stuff that dell puts on their copies of windows.
Are you noticing a lot of speed increases after installing the new raptor?
I'm mainly concerned with my RAM bandwidth right now. I have a friend with an AMD 64 3500, DDR400 - Dual Channel, and a raptor, and he is getting higher Memory Bandwidth scores with sandra than I am with a 3.4 GHz P4, DDR2-533 Dual-channel, and a 7200 SATA HDD. I know the hard drive wouldn't really be the problem here, but I think a fresh install of windows would really clean things up - memory usage-wise. And why do a fresh install of windows on the old HDD when I can get a spiffy new raptor (its just money after all : / )
So I guess I'm asking, do you think I would get any benefit from using a fresh, non-dell copy of windows to do my re-install? as opposed to using the copy that dell sent me? Also, is the raptor worth it? And any thoughts you might have on the memory bandwidth issue would be nice.
simpswr
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February 2nd, 2005 15:00
I saw on one of the Boards, that a slipstreamed SP2 disc includes the SATA drivers . . anyone know if that is true?
wrs
Pat1
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February 2nd, 2005 15:00
reclinemusic
I don`t think there is much difference between a retail version fo Windodws xp and a oem copy that comes with a Dell computer. Maybe some drivers but that is about it.
The Raptor is fast. I really notice the speed during the install process and when launching apps. When I installed windows it said it would take approximately 39 min but finished in 11 min. Am I pleased with it? You bet I am.
Pat
TTetpos
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February 2nd, 2005 19:00
That is true. It will require a bit of work on your part though. Here's a link you can follow to get the document and see how it's done. Once you do this, you won't need a floppy drive when installing XP.
Slipstream XP w/ SATA Drivers
Note: your SATA drivers should be in the Dell Resource CD that came with your system.
Message Edited by TTetpos on 02-02-2005 04:19 PM
shesagordie
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February 2nd, 2005 21:00
criz8426 wrote :
"however, the Dimension 8400's do NOT have a standard floppy driver controller (there is nowhere to even plug a floppy cable into the motherboard). Therefore I cannot use a conventional floppy drive without a usb conversion.
I am looking for any method other than using a usb floppy drive."
That is incorrect, the D8400 has both a floppy drive connector on the motherboard and the controller.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/techov.htm#wp1052739
Bev.
Shadowrunner
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February 3rd, 2005 21:00
TTetpos
211 Posts
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February 4th, 2005 02:00
Shadowrunner
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February 6th, 2005 13:00
dannylu88
1 Message
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February 12th, 2005 00:00
LehighBri
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April 15th, 2005 18:00