I'm a bit confused as to why you tried to use F10 on the system. That function key is not used in Dell systems to reinstall Windows XP nor for anything else of which I am aware.
The first time you are required to type an entry is at the screen where you are asked to enter the user name for the computer. The next time is when the Product ID for the copy of XP is entered (although this will usually not be required for a reinstallation of XP on the system on which it was shipped). Both of these occur when approximately 33 minutes are left in the installation procedure.
Did you change the boot order in BIOS so that the CD-ROM drive is the first boot device?
Denny,sorry about that.It was late and I was stressed.I had 4 computers working on at the same time and was thinking that Dell uses the F 10 option to reload windows like HP but I see that is not true.Let me better explain.This system was totally screwed up with tons of spyware and Viruses lockups and I decided the best way was to reload and start over fresh.I new the HD was Western Digital and I booted with a WD disk and set the drive up and formatted with that disk,When I rebooted after changing the boot order to CD first Windows XP started lo load normal.When I got to where it asks to enter user name the keyboard would not work.I powered down and changed to known working keyboard and started the process again.It froze up,so I decided to boot again with WD disk and do the same thing over again(setting up HD)and changing the boot order back to CD again it booted and started loading windows again.This time it never got to the first typing part.It copied windows as normal and then rebooted and started the setup process and thats where the trouble begins.It freezes at 34 minutes left in setting up new devices.I let it sit ther for over a hour and the screen telling about windows XP still changes but slow but it never gets past that 34 minutes to finish.No harddrive activity after that part.I had a brand new Western Digital HD and installed it to check for maybe bad drive and same exact thing,stops at 34 minutes.I have loaded many XP systems on computers and never once had this problem and the only other time that something similar happened to me was a bad stick of ram that caused me nightmares on a windows 98 machine until I replaced the bad ram.The person said that the system had really slowed down in the last few months and I assumed it was because of all the junk that was on the system.Aslo when the computer boots I see the F2,and F10 flash on the screen.F2 takes me to setup but what is F10 for?Thanks for any help and sorry if I was not clear last night.Also I could try a new stick of Ram but only have Sd-ram available and no DDR and I believe this system is still under warranty.tdark
I tried to verify the warranty status of that system but Dell's security features would not allow me to do so. (You can do this through the Warranty Information link on the left frame of the page that opens through the Solutions tab above this forum and with the owner's information you may be able to confirm the status.)
You must be logged in to Dell support to access it, but the instructions for running the Dell diagnostics on the 2350 are
here. That is probably the most direct way to determine whether the problem is being caused by a failed hardware component such as bad memory.
Ok,for anybody that has ever had this problem where the installation of XP stalls like the one I am working on did,here is what I did.First thanks to Denny who helped me,now after 4 hours of anger trying to resolve this here is what fixed,the dang monitor was causing this.I have been using this monitor on a older 98 system without any problems and just connected the Dell to that monitor while attempting the format and install but no go on the older dog.I decided to switch to a newer dell monitor that I also use to work on systems and it loaded perfect.What got me was that everything installed perfect with the old monitor until windows starting loading devices and I assume that’s where it hit a snag and completely stopped loading.Being there was nothing in any PCI slots to remove because everything was onboard I decided that the monitor was the only hardware that could be causing the problem . I have loaded many operating systems using that monitor but never XP.I guess it is the simple things that always fool us and believe me this one almost made me give up.tdark
I checked your system's warranty and it expires on Jan 22, 2004. You may want to contact Dell technical support before then so that you can be assisted further. And also, ask for the number of Warranties Extension before time runs out.
You may actually be looking at a video card problem or a probably motherboard, so best you contact Dell at 1-800-6249896 and punch in your express service code, so that you can be assisted by a Dell technical support person over the phone. An old monitor (like mine has been with me since 1998) should not actually affect installing Windows XP.
Message Edited by seto_kaiba on 12-22-2003 05:00 PM
You could be correct.I also was loading with a USB mouse and I moved the computer to my other worktable and connected the different monitor and a PS2 mouse.I was thinking that the mouse or monitor was causing the problem.I could tell as soon as It started to load devices that it would finish the load process.It is funny that I tried to load 4 different times when it was connected to older monitor and USB mouse and it would stall at exactly 34 minutes left to finish windows,the harddrive activity light would just stop and that would be it.This person knows nothing about computers and I will have to contact Dell.Will they give me the info or will he have to call.I can do this for him because it is still in my basement ,letting it run to make sure all is well before he takes it home.The system is running great,fast boot times and shut downs but I will tell him what you said.Thanks,tdark
Denny Denham
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18.8K Posts
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December 20th, 2003 04:00
I'm a bit confused as to why you tried to use F10 on the system. That function key is not used in Dell systems to reinstall Windows XP nor for anything else of which I am aware.
The first time you are required to type an entry is at the screen where you are asked to enter the user name for the computer. The next time is when the Product ID for the copy of XP is entered (although this will usually not be required for a reinstallation of XP on the system on which it was shipped). Both of these occur when approximately 33 minutes are left in the installation procedure.
Did you change the boot order in BIOS so that the CD-ROM drive is the first boot device?
tdark
2 Intern
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222 Posts
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December 20th, 2003 11:00
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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December 20th, 2003 15:00
I tried to verify the warranty status of that system but Dell's security features would not allow me to do so. (You can do this through the Warranty Information link on the left frame of the page that opens through the Solutions tab above this forum and with the owner's information you may be able to confirm the status.)
You must be logged in to Dell support to access it, but the instructions for running the Dell diagnostics on the 2350 are here. That is probably the most direct way to determine whether the problem is being caused by a failed hardware component such as bad memory.
tdark
2 Intern
•
222 Posts
0
December 21st, 2003 13:00
Ok,for anybody that has ever had this problem where the installation of XP stalls like the one I am working on did,here is what I did.First thanks to Denny who helped me,now after 4 hours of anger trying to resolve this here is what fixed,the dang monitor was causing this.I have been using this monitor on a older 98 system without any problems and just connected the Dell to that monitor while attempting the format and install but no go on the older dog.I decided to switch to a newer dell monitor that I also use to work on systems and it loaded perfect.What got me was that everything installed perfect with the old monitor until windows starting loading devices and I assume that’s where it hit a snag and completely stopped loading.Being there was nothing in any PCI slots to remove because everything was onboard I decided that the monitor was the only hardware that could be causing the problem . I have loaded many operating systems using that monitor but never XP.I guess it is the simple things that always fool us and believe me this one almost made me give up.tdark
seto_kaiba
222 Posts
0
December 22nd, 2003 01:00
I checked your system's warranty and it expires on Jan 22, 2004. You may want to contact Dell technical support before then so that you can be assisted further. And also, ask for the number of Warranties Extension before time runs out.
You may actually be looking at a video card problem or a probably motherboard, so best you contact Dell at 1-800-6249896 and punch in your express service code, so that you can be assisted by a Dell technical support person over the phone. An old monitor (like mine has been with me since 1998) should not actually affect installing Windows XP.
Message Edited by seto_kaiba on 12-22-2003 05:00 PM
tdark
2 Intern
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222 Posts
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December 22nd, 2003 02:00