Trying to reinstall WinXP Pro OS - please help!

Good point, but that doesn't seem to be possible... When I boot from the OS CD, I get the expected blue-screen, and I watch for several minutes as drivers load at the bottom of the screen.  But before it reaches anything resembling a menu, I hit a BSOD.  The bottom lines of the BSOD mention a "STOP," lots of hex numbers, and a reference to pci.sys.

Know a way around this?

are you booting from the install disk or trying to reinstall from within windows?

You need to boot from the disk, format and then reinstall.

Yes I believe your have the SATA driver issue. You need to either 1. load the SATA driver at the very start via a floppy drive or 2.

Boot into the bios. Go to the SATA  operation mode and set the SATA mode to Raid Auto detect/ATA vice AHCI. then you will not need to load the drivers.

(Yes, I'm Djinn252.  I had issues with my account related to the support/main site database merger)

My system lacks a floppy drive, so I went the BIOS route.  I switched from Raid Autodetect/ACHI (which was the default) to Raid Autodetect/ATA.  I then saved my changes, saved, and rebooted to the installation disk.  Unfortunately, this had no effect on the problem.  At the same point, I got the BSOD, with the same pci.sys reference.

Just to be sure, I went back into the BIOS, and confirmed that the Raid setting had been successfully changed to Raid Autodetect/ATA.  I'm open to all suggestions.

Make sure you have no external devices connected cept the keyboard, mouse and monitor. 

Can you capture the bsod code?

I'll try again tonight, after disconnecting my external devices.  In the meantime, here's a digital picture of the BSOD code; I'm afraid I don't know of any other way to capture such codes.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2wdvwn5.jpg

I just unplugged all of my external devices (except for the display and keyboard), and tried booting off the WinXP reinstallation disk; I got the same BSOD/pci.exe screen that I shared in my previous post.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  All I want to do is successfully wipe my C: drive, and reinstall WinXP.  Thanks!

Just an update... I did some researching on my own, and I learned that it might have something to do with the fact that WinXP SP-null does not support PCIe.  This sounded like an avenue worth pursuing, so I went into the BIOS, found the Primary Video section, changed it from PEG (PCI Express) to PCI, and tried again.  No improvement; same BSOD, same pci.sys error.

I changed the setting back to PEG for now.  All suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

My wife's computer is also a Dell (even older than my Dimension 9150) running WinXP SP3.  I found detailed instructions for making a slipstream CD.  Is there a possibility that such a disk will help?

Davet50 may reply with further suggestions, meanwhile, common causes are:

Not using Dell OEM XP SP2 CD media (otherwise need to slipstream SP2)

Card Reader adapter device were usual cause, resolved after SP2 release

Original hardware has been changed (added), need to disconnect from mobo & reconnect after XP install & then if required relevant hardware device driver installed

BIOS needs to be updated

If you are using Dell OEM XP SP2 CD media then it should work (i.e. NOT the problem)

(Unless a bad CD, but very unlikely if it’s original Dell CD)

Sounds like you aren’t even getting to the Windows Setup (blue) screen?

You can create a slipstreamed SP3 version & try that but don’t think it’s the problem?

If you do, then slipstream SATA driver as well

Any changes made to original hardware build spec?

Assume your CD-ROM is working OK?

The original Dell reinstallation disk is WinXP (no service packs).  Both my computer, and my wife's computer are now running SP3. 

You are correct; I cannot get to the Windows Setup screen.  When I try, I see it loading many drivers, then I get the BSOD, every time.

I'll try creating a slipstreamed SP3 from my wife's computer; I'm not sure how to incorporate a SATA driver though.

Since my computer was purchased in 2006, I've made several changes to the hardware; I've added internal and external hard drives.  I've added a TV tuner card.  I've replaced the video card more than once, and I've added extra memory.

The CD-ROM works fine... I have another boot-CD configured for running MemTest, and it works fine.

Wowwww – some good information there  :emotion-11:

I already mentioned possible cause if not using XP SP2 CD, but:

Quote “My system is a Dimension 9150, purchased in early 2006. I have the original Dell Reinstallation CD for MS-XP Pro”

1. Because XP SP2 was released August 2004

I was a bit confused, since Dell should have supplied XP SP2 CD with a 2006 purchase & XP OS preinstalled :emotion-43:

It’s beginning to sound like purchase didn’t include correct Windows XP SP2 CD & the Resources CD?

If correct then click here to order them a.s.a.p., if not in USA you will need to contact your local region Dell Support

The Dell Resources CD contains Drivers & Utilities that can be used to run hardware diagnostics

If purchase was 2006 then a Dell OEM XP SP2 CD should be OK for SATA drivers

Otherwise an excellent step-by-step instruction (with screen shots) for slipstreaming SATA is here

Or try changing BIOS setting (if available) as previously suggested by Davet50

2. Hardware changes

If using a Dell supplied XP SP2 CD for Dimension 9150 original build spec

You may need to temporarily disconnect TV tuner card & remove added memory sticks then reinstate them after XP Clean Install, then reinstall driver for the TV tuner card

Depends if video card is same or similar to original spec or has special features not native to XP SP2 drivers?

A slipstreamed SP3 version may contain more native drivers compatible with hardware changes?

Last thing to mention, if your Dimension 9150 has the Dell PC Restore (a.k.a. DSR) utility & it still works, you can use DSR to restore your system to original factory condition without using any CD media

It won’t affect your second hard drive, but you still need to update windows & reinstall any software that was added since the purchase date (if added on the original preinstalled OS partition)

Edit:

Just another thought (trying to read between the lines) so could be wrong?

If original preinstalled Windows was XP Home & you are now trying to use a pre SP2 version of XP Pro to upgrade then that would cause problems?

(quote) I already mentioned possible cause if not using XP SP2 CD, but:

Quote “My system is a Dimension 9150, purchased in early 2006. I have the original Dell Reinstallation CD for MS-XP Pro”

1. Because XP SP2 was released August 2004

 I was a bit confused, since Dell should have supplied XP SP2 CD with a 2006 purchase & XP OS preinstalled

====================================

Believe it or not, you just helped me solve a major part of the mystery.  You're quite right; SP2 dates back to August 2004; long before my Jan 2006 computer.   I thought about this for a while, and then I remembered.  My wife isn't a computer geek.  That means she doesn't get new computers.  She gets my old computer when I get a new computer.  I'm betting that the reinstallation disk I've been trying to use dates back to HER computer.

And now that I think about it, I have a vague recollection of being slighly annoyed back in early 2006 that my new Dell didn't come with a physical reinstallation disk.  Am I correct in assuming that since they had me include my service tag, they'll send me media with the proper version of XP?

Using your link, I've just requested replacement media.  As such, I'm holding off on the slipstream option.  Many thanks! - I'll post when I have an update.

Some good news then Neal  :emotion-21::emotion-2:

You are not the first to either get other family members Dell OEM Windows CDs mixed up or not receive Dell OEM CDs with PC purchase

Yes, Service tag info will confirm original owner, purchase date & original configuration etc..

Since your Dimension 9150 is only three year old there shouldn’t be a problem obtaining the CDs but Dell will probably charge a small P&P fee

If you get the correct Dell OEM CDs, keep them in a safe place, it’s then up to you, either:

1. XP Clean Install

Using the Dell supplied XP SP2 CD (they may send an SP3 version?) & the Resources CD required for installing computer build spec drivers in the correct order as described here

You can download drivers by entering Service tag (not in this Forum), but better to get the CD

Dell Support Clean Install procedure is here (first select I’m using XP)

Some prefer to use Windows Clean install to remove Dell preinstalled trial type software that they don’t want

Note if you already have the Dell PC Restore utility, it won’t work (using Ctrl & F11 function keys) after doing an XP Clean Install

Or

2. Use the PC Restore (DSR) utility to restore computer system to out-of-box condition

Dell Support PC Restore (DSR) procedure is here

Most use this method if it’s available & it still works?

Only because there’s no need for using CD/DVD media, or need to reinstall drivers & it’s a bit quicker

No matter what method you use, the most time consuming part is downloading & installing Windows updates

Install critical updates (includes any Service Packs) first

The choice is yours, just read each method, decide then follow each step carefully, run off a print if required

Just a final note – as the originator of this thread only you can do the following

It may help others with a similar problem if you click on the “Suggest as Answer” button in the reply that has helped resolve your problem