Yesterday I received my new 8400 and ran it through the initial setup. Everything seems to be work well. Then I disconected the SATA hard drive (so I wouldn't accidently format it) and installed a new SATA hard drive. I checked the BIOS to be sure it was recognized properly and it was.
Next I inserted my XP CD with SP2 RC2 slipstreamed and started the XP installation routine. After a few seconds XP informed me that there was no hard drive installed in my computer. Since the 8400 came with no floppy drive to install the AHCI driver (Advanced Host Controller Interface) that is required early in the XP installation routine (F6), I was forced to change the BIOS setting from AHCI to SATA which disables key advantages of AHCI/SATA (command queuing, hot plug and power management). According to Intel, AHCI-based platforms improve the performance of the storage sub-system significantly. Therefore the performance of my new 8400 is significantly reduced.
This is unacceptable. Dell should have forced buyers to purchase a floppy drive with 8400s. If I had known, I certainly would have paid the extra $20 for a floppy drive.
Dell will have to come up with a solution for those that do not have a floppy drive. We will not accept reduced performance in a state-of-the-art system.
Please forward this issue to the appropriate department. We need a resolution ASAP.
Thanks
Don't hold your breath on Dell resolving anything, they never resolved the 8300 issues (putting in any CL2.5 memory with the existing CL3.0 clocks it all down, and more importantly adding a 2nd set of memory turns off Performance Mode. This despite a moderator posting that he would keep us informed, then dropping the issue in late Fall. So don't expect anything but "you can buy a floppy drive for $20 plus shipping"...
Suggestion on your issue. Did you try putting the driver on a CD and putting it in at the proper time? Did you try putting it on a memory key?
I agree... I had tried putting the resource CD in... also tried copying the files from the floppy to usb key... and tried attaching external USB floppy.... just called dell and they said they don't have the floppy drive for 8400 on sale... I understand I can get it from any store but not happy that dell doesn't this issue documented anywhere. After wasting a lot of time I found out that by changing the options in BIOS I can get the computer to detect the HDD.... now I have to start from scratch....
I'm confused. I read this thread, and then looked in the manual; the manual states that you can boot from the cd (page 54). Is your problem only relevant to those with raid?
Being able to boot and being able to (re)install XP are totally different things. The problem is not just with the ones with RAID... unless you install the drivers or disable the AHCI in BIOS you wont be able to install XP.
I may have a solution though. I cloned my hard drive to make a back up of the fresh install. I had to go into bios and change the raid setup to combination. I then had to enable the SATA 2 to see both drives, you can skip this step if you have only one drive. ESC to exit saving changes and reboot. The computer now saw the drives. I returned the settings back to the original state when I was done and everything is fine....
OK, you can ignore my earlier post. It was only under the circumstance for cloning the hard drive and does not work with a fresh install of Windows XP.
Now for the problem...
When installing Windows XP I hit F6 to install the driver for the Intel RAID. I copied it to a USB memory key as well as burned it to a CD and made the floppy from the Dell Driver CD. So I now have 3 avenues of attack, right? WRONG! My Dimension 8400 shipped without a floppy drive, since I never use one and it cost extra to add I didn't purchase it with the system.
When I get to the part in the Windows XP installation that asks me to hit "S" to install the driver for the Intel RAID, it only alows me to insert a floppy in drive A:. I can't use the memory key or CD I made. Since I do not have a floppy drive A:, how am I supposed to accomplish this? Why would Dell sell the system with out the floppy drive if it is known that it would be needed to install the RAID drivers. It would be great if it could be done from windows or a bootable CD...
Dell needs to come up with a solution to this problem. I am going to call tech support now and see if they can help. Good thing I don't have anything planned for the rest of the day or for tomorrow either. We all know how long and helpful the Dell phone support is... I'll post my findings in a bit. If anyone else has a solution, please post it.
OK, you can ignore my earlier post. It was only under the circumstance for cloning the hard drive and does not work with a fresh install of Windows XP.
Now for the problem...
When installing Windows XP I hit F6 to install the driver for the Intel RAID. I copied it to a USB memory key as well as burned it to a CD and made the floppy from the Dell Driver CD. So I now have 3 avenues of attack, right? WRONG! My Dimension 8400 shipped without a floppy drive, since I never use one and it cost extra to add I didn't purchase it with the system.
When I get to the part in the Windows XP installation that asks me to hit "S" to install the driver for the Intel RAID, it only alows me to insert a floppy in drive A:. I can't use the memory key or CD I made. Since I do not have a floppy drive A:, how am I supposed to accomplish this? Why would Dell sell the system with out the floppy drive if it is known that it would be needed to install the RAID drivers. It would be great if it could be done from windows or a bootable CD...
Dell needs to come up with a solution to this problem. I am going to call tech support now and see if they can help. Good thing I don't have anything planned for the rest of the day or for tomorrow either. We all know how long and helpful the Dell phone support is... I'll post my findings in a bit. If anyone else has a solution, please post it.
Thanks!
Digging back into the gray matter... Used to be a way to assign a letter to a drive in the boot file, so you could assign drive G to letter A... Don't know if that would work, I know A and B are reserved for floppies.
Well after 3 hours on the phone with Dell support, sales, and customer care, it was determined that I need a floppy drive to reinstall Windows XP with any of the RAID configurations. LOL... That’s what I told the first 4 people I talked to. Weren't they listening??
After talking to a manager, and then his manager, Dell is sending me a floppy drive (free). I asked them why they would be selling the Dimension 8400 with the floppy drive optional if this was a problem. He said that he will inform the proper department. It should be fixed by the time we see the New Dimension 9400 introduced in September 2009.
Dell can easily solve the problem by including floppy drives with all the desktops that have RAID on the motherboard. They could go one step further and make the driver available for install directly from the Driver CD instead of it asking to make a floppy disk.
They did state that the hard drives are preloaded with Windows which is why the RAID is available from the factory. Which was news to me, I thought that they had some guy sit there for 2 hours to install everything from CD's.
Well what about the consumer that has to reinstall windows? Guess they just didn't care enough when testing the system. I can see why their phone system is always messed up. They are causing more problems for themselves. Now everyone that has purchased a Dimension 8400 without a floppy drive will be calling at one point or another for service. What a nightmare. I thought they would have learned their lesson after they had problems with the ATI X800 video cards. Guess not.
So if you are having a problem and need a floppy drive, call support and keep asking to be escalated to a manager. I just can't believe this. They even asked me if I needed a tech to come to my house and install the floppy drive. Well that would be at least $60 an hour and the drive is $20 so it would be cheaper to just include the d--- thing in the first place. That’s what happens when a company gets to big. They like to waste a lot of money!!
Good luck all...
Message Edited by dscrap on 08-19-2004 05:06 PM
UPDATE:
If you get Dell to send you a floppy drive, make sure they include the floppy drive bezel for the front of the computer case. I spent another 45 mins on the phone today trying to get one sent. I received the floppy drive today without the bezel. They finally found the part, hopefully, and are shipping it. I didn't ask for the part number, but I will post it when I receive the shipment.
rickmktg
2 Intern
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11.9K Posts
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July 29th, 2004 11:00
sawaddi
2 Intern
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611 Posts
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July 29th, 2004 12:00
prabalshah
58 Posts
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July 29th, 2004 18:00
mcquigan
6 Posts
0
July 29th, 2004 18:00
I'm confused. I read this thread, and then looked in the manual; the manual states that you can boot from the cd (page 54). Is your problem only relevant to those with raid?
Thanks
prabalshah
58 Posts
0
July 29th, 2004 21:00
dscrappy
85 Posts
0
August 5th, 2004 20:00
I may have a solution though. I cloned my hard drive to make a back up of the fresh install. I had to go into bios and change the raid setup to combination. I then had to enable the SATA 2 to see both drives, you can skip this step if you have only one drive. ESC to exit saving changes and reboot. The computer now saw the drives. I returned the settings back to the original state when I was done and everything is fine....
nyguy
295 Posts
0
August 7th, 2004 02:00
Why is everyone doing away with floppy drives? They are so usefull and come in handy for everything. Pictures, files, storing favorites on.
What is taking the place of them? I don't want to burn a cd to put like 5 things on only. It makes no sense.
People still use VCR recorders homes. They been out since 1970's. I hope Dell will continue to offer them in it's pc's.
prabalshah
58 Posts
0
August 11th, 2004 04:00
dscrappy
85 Posts
0
August 19th, 2004 15:00
OK, you can ignore my earlier post. It was only under the circumstance for cloning the hard drive and does not work with a fresh install of Windows XP.
Now for the problem...
When installing Windows XP I hit F6 to install the driver for the Intel RAID. I copied it to a USB memory key as well as burned it to a CD and made the floppy from the Dell Driver CD. So I now have 3 avenues of attack, right? WRONG! My Dimension 8400 shipped without a floppy drive, since I never use one and it cost extra to add I didn't purchase it with the system.
When I get to the part in the Windows XP installation that asks me to hit "S" to install the driver for the Intel RAID, it only alows me to insert a floppy in drive A:. I can't use the memory key or CD I made. Since I do not have a floppy drive A:, how am I supposed to accomplish this? Why would Dell sell the system with out the floppy drive if it is known that it would be needed to install the RAID drivers. It would be great if it could be done from windows or a bootable CD...
Dell needs to come up with a solution to this problem. I am going to call tech support now and see if they can help. Good thing I don't have anything planned for the rest of the day or for tomorrow either. We all know how long and helpful the Dell phone support is... I'll post my findings in a bit. If anyone else has a solution, please post it.
Thanks!
rickmktg
2 Intern
•
11.9K Posts
0
August 19th, 2004 20:00
dscrappy
85 Posts
0
August 19th, 2004 20:00
After talking to a manager, and then his manager, Dell is sending me a floppy drive (free). I asked them why they would be selling the Dimension 8400 with the floppy drive optional if this was a problem. He said that he will inform the proper department. It should be fixed by the time we see the New Dimension 9400 introduced in September 2009.
Dell can easily solve the problem by including floppy drives with all the desktops that have RAID on the motherboard. They could go one step further and make the driver available for install directly from the Driver CD instead of it asking to make a floppy disk.
They did state that the hard drives are preloaded with Windows which is why the RAID is available from the factory. Which was news to me, I thought that they had some guy sit there for 2 hours to install everything from CD's.
Well what about the consumer that has to reinstall windows? Guess they just didn't care enough when testing the system. I can see why their phone system is always messed up. They are causing more problems for themselves. Now everyone that has purchased a Dimension 8400 without a floppy drive will be calling at one point or another for service. What a nightmare. I thought they would have learned their lesson after they had problems with the ATI X800 video cards. Guess not.
So if you are having a problem and need a floppy drive, call support and keep asking to be escalated to a manager. I just can't believe this. They even asked me if I needed a tech to come to my house and install the floppy drive. Well that would be at least $60 an hour and the drive is $20 so it would be cheaper to just include the d--- thing in the first place. That’s what happens when a company gets to big. They like to waste a lot of money!!
Good luck all...
Message Edited by dscrap on 08-19-2004 05:06 PM
UPDATE:
If you get Dell to send you a floppy drive, make sure they include the floppy drive bezel for the front of the computer case. I spent another 45 mins on the phone today trying to get one sent. I received the floppy drive today without the bezel. They finally found the part, hopefully, and are shipping it. I didn't ask for the part number, but I will post it when I receive the shipment.
Message Edited by dscrap on 08-20-2004 12:31 PM