XPS420 Drivers/ service pack 1

Question

Hi this is my first post and im at my wits end trying to get my XPS420 up and running properly.

What happened is my hard-drive failed and i got myself a new one.. I used my original windows disk and drivers disk from dell ( that come with my pc)

I have installed windows must be now eight time plus.... but i cant seem to install service pack 1:emotion-9:

When the windows updates are going i get some failed one one occasion then the next time i restart the whole process i get diff windows update error.

I even tried to install SP 1 manually but my PC would not boot saying some files are missing, then we have to satrt over again.

I have searched the net for a solution but this is my last port or call for help, after installing windows ( VISTA) i have installed the drivers from my Drivers and Utilities disk... i even when online to see if they have to be installed in a certain order, done all of this....even been on ms help page.. as far as i know i have tried everything there is to do so far.

Please any help would be greatly apprenticed.

Regards.

osprey4 · Answer

I've moved your message to the operating system forum for more help. Good luck!

Kr0n1c · Answer

No Problem osprey4 i just hope someone will be able to help me.. thx

Philip_Yip · Answer

Install Windows Vista with installation media that contains Service Pack 1. Download and prepare a Windows Vista with Service Pack USB as instructed here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-vista-sp1-iso/

During installation skip entry of product key and select the same version as your Reinstallation DVD. Use the ABR program to restore the Dell OEM product activation:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/microsoft-product-activation/the-activation-backup-and-recovery-program-windows-vista-7-version/

Install the standalone Windows Updates as mentioned before the system drivers (sometimes they may interfere which likely happened in your case):

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/obtaining-the-latest-service-packsbuilds-of-internet-explorer/windows-vista-service-pack-2/

See A Clean Install of Windows for a full in depth guide:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/

In particular Vista installation:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/windows-vista-installation/

Kr0n1c · Answer

Thanks for the response NATAKUC4,

I followed this guied but i had almost the same problem... when windows rebooted after service pack1.. i got the error.

Windows Boot Manager.. File: ntoskrn1.exe

Status 0xc0000098

Info: Windows failed to load because a required file is missing, or corrupt.

Regards,

Paul

Philip_Yip · Answer

You just installed the standalone service packs on your current install?

Or did you perform the clean install with Windows Vista SP1 installation media? Did you get this error message after installing Service Pack 2?

Kr0n1c · Answer

No i perform the clean install with Windows Vista SP1 installation media..

The pc restarted then like i say the error showed up again..

I really have no idea what im doing wrong but it is starting to really annoy me.. as i like to play pc games also.. not being able to get service pack 2 installed is stopping me from doing so..

Regards.

Philip_Yip · Answer

That shouldn't happen after a clean install. Run the preboot F12 diagnostics. I suspect that your hard drive might be failing: http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/f12-preboot-diagnostics/

Kr0n1c · Answer

Again thx for your time,

I tried again and i have an error saying windows cant boot again because of missing drivers... I looked into it and see when installing windows the way you suggested.. that you have to load the drivers.. im not 100% sure what drivers i needed.. i did however download... SM Bus Controller from Dell ( R174616) however the file is an exe file that i put onto a usb stick.but... when i browsed for the file on the stick... it did not show?

Do i need to change this ? or is there a way i can download all the drivers and let the pc choose what to install, I have the Dell XPs420

Just to add i think its the chipset driver i need.. again i'm not 100% I think if i can get the correct driver and install it then i feel it will be ok.

i think this is the one?

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-420/drivers

But like i say i cant see the driver on the usb stick.

Again i really appreciate your time.

Regards

Philip_Yip · Answer

Do you have this error message?

If so the download is incomplete. The file sizes for the English versions should be:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-vista-sp1-iso/#Checks

Regarding the SATA drivers the Dell Driver is:

http://ftp.dell.com/SATA/R173412.exe

Or the latest from Intel, try these ones:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2975&DwnldID=17412&keyword=intel+f6+sata&lang=eng

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18668&keyword=intel+f6&lang=eng

I think the most likely culprit is an incomplete download.

Kr0n1c · Answer

Yes i do Nat, then when i Browse for them on my usb flash drive.. they don't show on there. Sorry nat to just add to that.. i can still install the windows using the image, but i did just check the file size and i see that the MicrosftInstaller is  83,182 kb    instead of the 89,847 kb. I will re-download it again to see if will download the correct amount. I re-downloaded it and again the size is only 83,182 kb  Another thing if i have the full download will i need to install anything else to get this on the move? is there a link to the correct size file? Regards

Philip_Yip · Answer

You need to extract the drivers and copy the extracted files over.

There was a mistake in the text, the Microsoft Installer is 83,182 KB (32 Bit) and 89,847 KB (64 Bit). The images on the page showed the correct sizes and I have now updated the text.

For Windows Vista 32 Bit English the file sizes should be Boot.wim 130,010 KB, Install.wim 2,717,937 KB and MicrosoftInstaller.exe (83,182 KB)

Vx86

Note regarding the SATA drivers; you don't just copy the SATA drivers over to the USB you have to extract them and then copy them over.

Kr0n1c · Answer

Afternoon Nat,

I tried reinstalling windows again from the image created and i extracted the R173412 files.. I installed the drivers as what you showed me to do.. all was going well then an error showed..

Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computers hardware..

The pc is factory set apart from upgrading the memory and having the Nvidia fx card in... and its been like this for many a year..

Is there any other suggestion ?

Thx again.

Regards

rdunnill · Answer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2466753 Is your hard drive by any chance an 'Advanced Format' model?

Windows General

XPS420 Drivers/ service pack 1

Was this post helpful?