Windows2000p crash.

Stephen,

Recommendation from MS is to stay with W98SE rather than upgrade to f.ex. W2K. From what I see Dell says the BIOS in my Optiplex GX1 (Serv.tag. D9L411S) does not support WXP which I would like to upgrade to. So I would prefer to try to access D: without reformatting the harddisk and reinstalling W98SE. Any suggestions from DELL on this subject?

Brgds

Bo  

Thanks.

Found a small programme called NTSF Reader 1.3 on the net that made it possible to save all wanted files on the NTSF partition to the FAT partition. Seems like 7Tools have a good programme for reformatting the NTSF partition to FAT32 which is then accessable for W98SE.

 

The GX1 Bios doesn't support Windows XP?

In all probability this refers to the ACPI stuff - Windows 2000 for instance cannot shut down some Optiplexes, instead coming to a screen saying "it is now safe to turn off your computer"

Its very unlikely that XP wouldnt actually work on a GX1. Either way I'm upgrading a friends GX1 to XP next week, I'll report back with results.

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@CdBee wrote:
The GX1 Bios doesn't support Windows XP?

In all probability this refers to the ACPI stuff - Windows 2000 for instance cannot shut down some Optiplexes, instead coming to a screen saying "it is now safe to turn off your computer"

Its very unlikely that XP wouldnt actually work on a GX1. Either way I'm upgrading a friends GX1 to XP next week, I'll report back with results.

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The GX1 Bios DOES support XP.  XP installs and runs on a GXa, GX1,G1,GX110 just fine and Dandy. Anyone who says it doesnt work or is not supported wants to sell you something.  This post is being made on a GX1 that is running XP and has Service Pack2 installed. 

HOWEVER there are a few issues.

WIN2000 and XP with service packs DISABLE ISA TO PCI IRQ ROUTING.

After you apply Serice Pack to Windows 2000/XP, or install Windows 2000/XP slipstreamed with Service Packs, some ISA CARDS AND Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) devices, AKA PC-Card, don't work correctly.

Windows 2000/XP Service Packs disable PCI to ISA IRQ routing. Some 16-bit ISA AND PC Card devices require ISA to PCI IRQ routing.

You can enable ISA to PCI IRQ routing:

1. Use the Registry Editor to navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Pcmcia\Parameters.

2. Add Value Name DisableIsaToPciRouting, a REG_DWORD data type, and set the data value to 0.

3. Shutdown and restart your computer.

That means that the ISA AUDIO wont work with 2000/XP after you add a service pack.

The Rage Pro Video drivers in XP do not support Suspend or Sleep.  If you disable power manangement in bios this is not a big deal.

The Rage Pro Drivers from Microsoft do not support OpenGL or Direct3d.  If you dont use games this is not a problem.  Both Issues can be worked with and you can disable the video and sound and add PCI sound and add PCI video upgrades.

The Base install of XP Home or Pro works just fine on the GX1.

There are a few issues none of which are a non starter.

1. The Onboard Driver for Rage Pro AGP doesnt support OpenGL or Direct3d.
(the Rage Pro Driver from ATI does)
The following graphics driver features are NOT included on the Windows® XP CD:

OpenGL® ICD drivers/Direct3d Games (QuakeII, QuakeIII)
ATI’s modular control panels
Multi-adapter support

These Features are in the driver listed below.
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=1298

http://www.ati.com/support/products/pc/ragepro/rageprodrivers.html

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBList.asp?folderID=550

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/wxp-j5-30-1-b02.exe

2. Said driver does not support Hybernate or sleep. So you need to not
try these features as it will hang.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q303544/
This behavior occurs because Windows XP does not provide power management support for this video adapter.

3. Less than 256megs (Really 384 -512) of ram will run a bit slow.
It will run at 128megs but you wont be happy with how often it pages to the hard drive for virtual memory. (384 megs is reasonable speed at a reasonable price.)

It is possible to do a clean install of XP on a GX1 with Bios A07 by booting from the CD and installing Pro OR home.  It will format a new drive and install and work without needing any drivers from the internet.  Drivers are only needed if the above listed features apply to you and you need them.

The Onboard ISA Crystal sound is not a great card.  CMI8738 PCI based soundcards work just fine on these machines when the onboard audio is disabled in the Slot.  Typical cost For an OEM card is $9 or less. Retail versions of such cards usually cost $29 - $69 because they are bundled with WINDVD or Cyberlogic Power dvd.  CMI8738 is Dolby labs certfied and has WHQL drivers.  If you install a CMI card and then install XP service pack 2 the card will be detected and have no problems.  WHQL certfied drivers are available from the vendor in taiwan.  CMI supports DOS, OS2, Linux, Windows 3.1/95/98/ME/2000/XP.

Onboard Video can be upgraded using a Geforce FX5500 PCI video card.  Maximum CPU is 1.4ghz tualtin with Powerleap IP3-T adaptor.

 

Thanks,SpeedStep, that's useful

Can I ask for clarification on one point though?

You comment that
I installed Windows 2000 with SP4 slipstreamed onto a GX1 and it's been working fine. You comment that this should have disabled PCI-ISA routing. Does the fact that the onboard Crystal ISA sound works anyway mean that this won't be a problem when I upgrade it to XP?

(system built for my G/F, she now wants to use some XP-specific stuff)

The hibernation/ACPI issues won't be a problem.

XP Service Pack1 has the same problem with IRQ

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279256
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279491
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=327947

If you install XP and add service packs and the sound goes from workng to error code 10 Im dead forever thankyou very much and have a nice day then the Reg hack is needed.

Just as 48bit LBA requires a reg hack for similar reasons.

Your mileage may vary.