How do I get rid of Win XP??

Question

We've had some BAD experiences with Win XP. It may be that Dell just sent us a lemon of a computer, but we've had nothing but trouble since we got this "new toy" for Christmas. Even *after* they replaced the hard drive.

We want out. We don't want to "fix" it. Please just tell me how in heck to get XP off the computer and start over with a *stable* system like Win2K. Don't tell me how good XP is or how bad 2K is. Just tell me how to get rid of XP.

I want to know the most efficient, effective way of reformatting a hard drive with the XP OS *factory installed* on it.

Everything is backed up and ready to go. I have the information I need to get the hardware drivers for 2K. All I need at this point are instructions for wiping the slate clean to start over with a different OS.

I've tried booting to XP, then loading the 2K setup disc. No luck. 2K is an older OS and XP disables the setup files.

I've tried going into BIOS and setting it to boot from CD so I could bypass XP and set up 2K. No luck. At that point I'm told 2K Setup can't find my HD and the setup is aborted. I went back in to BIOS and forced it to recognize the HD, but when I changed back to booting from CD it still couldn't locate the HD.

If there's any way at all to just reformat the HD and wipe the slate completely clean, I think that's the way I'd like to go.

Can any of you please help me out here?

lil

osprey4 · Answer

HERE is what Dell lists for Win 2K drivers. Hopefully, that's everything you need.

redwolfe_98 · Answer

'How To Install Windows 2000 Professional'   http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304868   it looks like, to install windows 2000, you boot from the cd-rom drive with the win 2000 cd, so, if you have not already done so, you will need to adjust the bios settings, moving the cd-rom drive up to 'first boot device' (or you could have the floppy drive as first boot device, the cd-rom drive as 2nd, and the harddrive as 3rd boot device)..   i think that you press the 'F2' key as the computer is booting up to access the bios settings, then use the arrow keys and the '+' (plus) and '-' (minus) keys to navigate in the bios settings..   if you did not start with a clean install of win xp, you could try that.. Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 06-18-2005 07:57 PM

osprey4 · Answer

Lil: And your system would be.......?

fireberd · Answer

Along with Osprey's comment, you need to first ascertain that the hardware is all compatible with an older OS and that Win2K drivers are available for the hardware, as the Win XP drivers are not compatible.

However, I seriously doubt that Win XP is the problem, XP is one of the better OS' that Microsoft has put out. You may also want to consider a dual boot system with both 2K (if you can find all the drivers) and XP.

lexiinlace · Answer

Sorry, Osprey, new to the forum. The system we're concerned with here is the Dimension 8400, P4, 3.2Ghz, with WinXP. I'm not sure how much more information you need, but I'll be happy to provide it.

lil

lexiinlace · Answer

Hi, Fireberd...

I've checked out most of the hardware and have found 2K drivers for some. Others are proving to be a little more elusive, but I have high hopes of locating everything before I finally get the current issue solved.

I appreciate your loyalty to XP. Had I not had quite so many problems with it I might feel the same... and, in fact, did feel the same after the first round of stutters, crashes, freezes, bugs, and viruses (or is that virusi?). I duked it out with language-challenged techs at Dell who told me my problem was a virus and referred me to their "pay-as-you-go" software support division. Having purchased a 3-year warranty with the machine, that already had me a bit miffed. As it turned out, it was NOT a virus and I convinced them to swap out hard drives with me. It was almost 3 weeks before the same problems started appearing again on the new HD.

We've tried firewalls, SpyBot, Trend Micro's PC-cillin, and almost anything Dell's techs have suggested. The problems persist. I have 2K on *this* computer (I use the "good" one. The other was a Christmas present to my boyfriend.) and have never had a moment's trouble.

I believe XP may be a fine operating system if you have the time and inclination to tinker with it continuously and fight with all of its idiosyncrasies. I don't, but I admire those of you who do. In my particular case, I just want to get rid of it and back to something I don't have to dink around with all the time. As a Christmas present, the zippy new computer with the wonderful new OS has left a lot to be desired in this household.

Sooooo, who wants to tell me how to get rid of XP??

lil

lexiinlace · Answer

Osprey, wow! Thanks for the driver site! That has almost everything I need on it. I'll be d/l'ing those to my old faithful while trying to figure out how to wipe the new toy clean. Once 2K's loaded on it I'll burn them to disc and upgrade the basics.

That was *very* helpful!!

lil

lexiinlace · Answer

Ummm... thanks, Redwolfe. I've already tried that, though. I listed it... and the resulting problems... in my first post. Oh, if only it were that easy!

Appreciate the help, though. I just have to look a little deeper. Like reformatting the HD.

Can I just FDisk somewhere?

lil

Denny Denham · Answer

lexiinlace,

Download an emergency boot diskette for a Windows 9X system (95, 98, ME) from here. It will have both FDISK and FORMAT on it. FDISK first to get rid of the NTFS file system (or FORMAT won't work) then format the HD. Once it's cleaned off, Win2K should install "as advertied."

redwolfe_98 · Answer

there is one other thing (i think).. you said that when you tried to boot from the cd-rom drive with the win 2000 cd, it said 'harddrive not recognized'.. i think that is because the 8400 requires a driver to be installed before installing the operating system..   look at this link..   http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090643#section3   http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?c=us&cs=19&DN=1091144&type=SRG&l=en&s=dhs Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 06-18-2005 10:56 PM

lexiinlace · Answer

Great, Denny! Thanks!

I d/l'd the 98se info. Only one small problem... the computer I'll be working on has no floppy. They didn't think it was "necessary" since everything is on CDs or DVDs now. ::sighs:: I'm hoping that if I burn it to a CD and boot from that, it'll serve the same purpose. When trying to boot from the 2K disc to install it, I was able to set the boot sequence so that it reads the CD drive first.

So, please correct me if I've got this wrong; Boot from the CD with FDisk and Format on it. Run FDisk. Then run Format? Once everything is wiped I can boot from my 2K CD and install as if it were the first time around?

If this works I will kiss the ground your very cool icon spins on!!

lil

Denny Denham · Answer

lexiinlace,

You can copy the files you need to CD, then make sure you have created a bootable CD. See this.

For the unlocatable HD problem, this may help.

Message Edited by Denny Denham on 06-18-2005 07:56 PM

lexiinlace · Answer

Oh, by the way... if it helps any, I ran a Belarc profile on the system and here's just a smidgen of what it came up with:

Operating System

Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Processor

3.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Drives

77.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
45.57 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

_NEC DVD+-RW ND-3450A [CD-ROM drive]
HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8163B [CD-ROM drive]

Maxtor 6Y080M0 [Hard drive] (80.00 GB) -- drive 0

Display

RADEON X300 Series [Display adapter]
RADEON X300 Series Secondary [Display adapter]
DELL 1905FP [Monitor] (19.3"vis, s/n T61164ATAFUW, October 2004)

Multimedia

SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device

Bus Adapters

Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2658
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2659
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265A
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 265C

Communications

Intel(R) 537EP V9x DF PCI Modem

Don't know if that gives you any help, and sorry I didn't think to do it earlier.

lil

lexiinlace · Answer

Denny, both you and Redwolfe have given me some great information!! I've printed out all the instructions you pointed me towards, but I'll wait for morning, when I've got my wits about me, to work on making a couple of bootable CDs. I'll put the 98 boot info on one and the SATA driver on the other (unless you think I can put both on the same?). I have to figure that, since the computer doesn't have a floppy drive, it'll accept the CDs just fine in place of floppies as long as I change the BIOS to read them first.

Considering that one of the problems with installing 2K was that it didn't recognize a HD when I booted from the CD, by simply loading that driver and changing the BIOS as suggested, booting from the 2K CD again might work.

However, if that doesn't work, I'll have my trusty 98 boot disc to fall back on.

You guys have been awesome! I'll let you know how it all turns out!

lil

P.S. Nice puppy, Denny. ::winks::

lexanx · Answer

You realy shouldnt have any problem installing Win2k, Im not sure what system you have, but many of dell computers come with a in raid controller. Sometimes if the raid gets messed up the Os install will not detect the hd. You should be able to delete the partion from there and reinstall . Hope that helps

Windows General

How do I get rid of Win XP??

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