OK A couple of Q's

1. What I am trying to do is start with a totally clean hard drive.

2. (boot the Windows install CD and delete the partition) To do this I install the XP install disk at start up?? Will it have instr to delete the partition? and make a new one?

3. Then I install XP from the disk.

After all of this will it be the same as a new system. It is very slow probably because so much has been installed and removed.

Thanks

You can't format the C: drive in Windows.  It will destroy itself.  If you are trying to do a clean install of Windows, boot the Windows install CD and delete the partition.  Then create a new one and install.

 

Peter 

mrvulcan99

How to carry out a clean reinstall of XP.

First, disconnect all the peripherals from the system except the keyboard, mouse and monitor.
How to configure a Dell Dimension series system to boot to the CD or DVD drive.

This XP reinstallation guide is excellent, or you can use Dell's Restallation Guide here.

While installing, remember to delete all existing partitions when you are prompted, then recreate the partitions and format the hard drive, following by installing XP.

Note: You need not delete the small 40/50mb EISA Partition, if you wish to keep Dell diagnostics on the hard drive.

After installing XP, you need to install the drivers and applications in the following order,

Chipset
Video
Network Interface Card [NIC]
Audio
Modem
All other drivers.
Then, install the Anti Virus utility and update the definitions, followed by all the critical Microsoft updates.

Try to note the type of hardware devices you have, prior to reinstalling the operating system. This can help you select and install the correct drivers and applications.

Bev.


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OK everything went fine until!!!!!!!!!

During setup there were 2 .dll files that would not install so I did as it said and pressed esc. to continue. After that all was OK.

Now for 1 hr the computer is sitting at the windows screen saying please wait.

That is what I am doing now.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

I got XP installed with all the updates. Got tired and turned evetything off.

OK so now I need to insert the Dell driver cd and follow what it says???

Not sure what you want me to do on the

Chipset

Video

Network

Audio

Modem

All other drivers.

Are all of these on the Dell CD??

 

I really appricate all the help to format and reinstall XP

 

 

If you are running less than 384mb of ram, that could account for the slowness. I had one with 256 and it was painfull,  upping to 384 with chips I had made all the difference. I would have gone higher but I had the chips and rambus is expensive

mrvulcan99

The drivers usually on the Drivers and Utilies disc are:

Chipset
Network
Audio [unless you have a sound card]
Maybe Video [unless you have video card, then there should a separate disc with the video driver]
There should be a separate disc for the modem, if it was factory installed.

Dell Diagnostics are on the disc, not to install, but for future use, if needed.

When the disc plays, you should see a list of all the drivers on it.

'All other drivers' refer to any programs or applications that you may have installed, you may have discs for them or they be can downloaded from the publisher's site.

Bev.


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OK I will do that and then looks like I'm done. It is really running good. Only takes about 15 sec to turn off. Before it took 2-3 min. Yes I have Rambus ram , I think I have 2 256 sticks.

mrvulcan99

Sounds good.

If you want a good utility, for making an audit of your system, download Belarc advisor, it's free.

Bev.


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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

mrvulcan99

Pleased to have helped.

Bev.


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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

I think I have everything done. I did the driver disk and only 3 items were checked, the keyboard, mouse and video so I loaded those drivers. There were over 100 drivers and I did not think I needed to load all of them. I installed norton and it was working fine. Was not sure you ment by chipset but I have verson A09 for the Bios. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Again thank you for all your help.