Fatal Error,while reinstalling win XP

Hi,

in most of the cases when this error appears the install disk is the faulty part; you should try to use another one...

Hope this helps...

The disk I used just came in the mail from Dell. I did think maby it could be the disk so I found the disk to my Dim 8250 machine and tried it,I got the same message.

I also tried to swap the drives in the 8300 around since the message sort of refered to the D drive. While inside the case I notice that the memory slots 2 and 4 are empty. On my dim 8250 it had dummy memory in the empty slots I think they were called continus are something. Does the 8300 not need these? I thought these dummy slots are to complete the electrical connection.

Are you certain that you are booting from the CD?  In my experience, things like this happen when you allow the CD to autorun from the drive while Windows is running, or by missing the message to "strike any key" in order to boot from the CD.  The one time boot menu can be brought up by restarting the computer, pressing F12 during the Dell screen that comes up during POST, and selecting CD ROM drive as the boot device.  You then get the message to strike a key.  If you don't strike a key, the computer attempts to boot from the hard drive.  You can accomplish the same thing by setting CD ROM drive to number 1 in the boot order in BIOS setup.  This is F2 while the Dell screen is showing in order to reach the setup screens.

Your Dimension 8250 used RAMBUS memory.  This type of memory system requires all memory slots to be occupied for correct operation.  If you had only two memory modules, the second pair needed Continuity modules to make sure the circuit was complete.  The Dimension 8300 uses DDR RAM, and while it is recommended you fill each pair of memory slots with a matched set of memory modules in order to use the dual channel capability, the computer should function properly even if you install only one memory module.  There is no need for a continuity module on this machine.

I tried f12 and choose boot from cd rom but I still get the same fatal error message.

Hi ,

try out this:

When the "File 'asms'... " problem occurs, press 'SHIFT F10' for DOS

Type regedit.exe then 'Enter' key

Scroll down and click to highlight HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (must be highlighted!)

Up top L/H side click 'File', then click 'Load Hive'

A window box will appear and, in there, type

%Windir%\System32\Config\System.sav click 'Enter'

When prompted for a name, type Test

Locate and then click the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Test\ControlSet1\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}


Delete the UPPERFILTERS and LOWERFILTERS registry keys by left click highlight, right click 'delete' + (are you sure) buttons.

You may have to do this again if there are any "..\Test\Controlxxx\control\Class" entries apart from ..ControlSet001\

Either way, up top left click 'File' , then click 'Exit'

The Microsoft site says the following:................................

If the path in the error message is the correct drive letter for the CD-ROM drive, click OK to continue the Setup program. ..................................................

Here is where I am now. When I get to the the screen that says install disk I do then it says installing windows. then a progress bar shows up that says installing devices. then the screen goes black.

You should really tell us what procedure you performed to get to this point; it would help us to figure out what else is going on.

My own opinion is that you really aren't booting from the CD.  The error message you reported is essentially a drive not ready message.  This would normally occur if there is not a CD in the drive that the setup program expects to see it in.  The 8300 uses an IDE interface for both hard drive and optical.  Only the master device on the IDE channel will support a boot capability.  On a Dell, this is the device at the end of the IDE ribbon cable.  Since an 8300 often (if not usually) has dual optical drives, I think you should try booting from the other drive you have to see if you get the standard Windows setup screens.  If you have seen these during your attempts, you haven't let us know about it.

I also think you had the right idea about swapping drives, it's just that you need to make sure that the drive you try is always attached to the end, or master, connector of the IDE ribbon.  Just connect one at a time; if one of the drives is having other troubles it can sometimes cause the good drive to exhibit problems.

From the on-line service manual, this is the infamous "other" failure.  The recommendations are here:

• Ensure that the cables are properly connected from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive to the system board.
• If the problem persists, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for technical assistance.
• If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to ensure that it is functioning properly.
• The operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive); see "System Setup Screens" to ensure that the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.

• If both the memory modules work when inserted one at a time, you may be suffering a failure in the memory socket or perhaps the memory controller itself.  What happens if you plug the second memory module in the third slot rather than the second?

Thanks for the replies. I am sure that the boot is from the cd. I get as for as formatting the partition and coping the windows files then the system says it will reboot but it never comes back on. I am thinking maybe some memory in the machine is bad. If I hold the power button in till it turns off then turn it back on a screen comes up that says only 256 mb of memory available. I have pulled each stick out and each says 256mb. Could one be bad? After the memory screen it ask for the Win cd I put it in and it goes to istalling windows then a status bar shows up that says installing devices it gets about half way then the screen goes black. One time when this happened I did notice that the d light on the back was amber,a,b& c where green.

 I tried the memory in the third slot and got a memory error lights. I also tried them one at a time and I think they both work. If I boot and press f2 and look at memory it says 512mb.

I don't know what I can try. I like to fool around with it just to learn.

When I turn on the machine it goes to the dell screen then to this.Alert! OS Install Mode enabled. Amount of available memory limited to 256MB. Strike the F1 key to continue,F2 to run the setup utility.

I push F1 and it goes to a screen with Win xp at the top and the installing windows is orange then I get a progrss bar that says installing devices this get half way across then the screen goes black.

Windows XP does not require the use of OS Install mode.  If I were you I would put the memory modules back in their original locations, start the computer, use F2 to enter setup, and find the entry for OS Install mode to turn it off.  I don't know if this has anything to do with your original problem, but it can certainly make life interesting.

I turned off Os Install mode and tried agin but had the same result. It asked for the Os disk got to installing devices and then the screen goes black.

What video card are you using?  If you are using an add-on card in the AGP slot, try re-seating it.

I did reseat it.

I am trying to format the partition again. Does this format the entire drive or just the partiton? Here is what I see.

Windows XP Home edition setup

Please wait while setup formats the partition

C: Partition1   [NTFS}                76285 MB ( 75669 MB free)

on 76294 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi  [mbr].

setup is formatting...

with a progress bar 

When this get done it will start to copy files from the disk. Then it will reboot but it never comes back on. 

Why won't it reboot?