Onthetopdog.

 

What's the computer model?

 

Bev.

Onthetopdog.

 

You start by partitioning and formatting the hard drive, this is part of reinstalling the operating system.
 
First, you make the CD/ROM/DVD the first boot device.  Procedures for configuring a Dimension series system to boot to the CD/DVD drive.
 
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=TT1032262
 
After this you can use the following instructions.
 
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
 
To find the Dell reinstall guide, that's specific to your system, go here

 

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?DN=1072630

Prior to installing, remember to disconnect all external peripherals from the computer, except the keyboard, monitor and mouse. 
While installing, delete all existing partitions (Paragraph 5) when you are prompted, then remake and format
them (Paragraphs 6 & 7), following by installing XP.
 
You will have to reload the drivers and applications, etc, that should be on the CDs sent with the computer, starting with the chipset driver.
After the installation, you will need to download and install the MicroSoft Critical Updates, plus any other updates you deem necessary, also remember to enable the firewall and install the AV software before going online.
 
Printing a copy of these instructions, as a reference while installing XP could also be a help.

 

Bev.

 

Hi, there...I know you posted these reformat guidelines quite some time ago, but I just found and used them last night for a complete reformat of my Dimension 4600, with Windows XP, and all worked great (I think) with one exception...  In the Device Manager, my monitor is not recognized at all (there is no monitor tab at all), the monitor is working, but everything is super-large, and when I go in to adjust it, there are no choices to make, i.e. can't change display, resolution, or anything.  It is a Samsung SyncMaster LCD Monitor.   I have the driver disk, but that doesn't work either, as I get an error message (don't remember what the message said -- I'm at work right now).  Any ideas what the problem could be?  Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated...

I can't find it with any of my CD's that came with the computer.  Looked at the Resource CD -- don't see it anywhere.  Not even sure what the video card (name, etc.) is for this computer.  I doubt Dell will help me, as it's 5 years old and certainly not under warranty any longer.  Once I connect to the internet, maybe I can download it from the Dell site.  I guess I'll be able to figure out which driver I need somehow.  And the device manager is still not recognizing any monitor at all....

It's an integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2, but I don't see that listed on the link you sent me.  I'll check further on the Dell website.  I do see what they're calling an integrated Intel 845 G/GL, but I don't want to install the wrong one.  It has to say the same as what's on my invoice, correct?

(Thanks for your patience so far).

This is what was listed in the link you sent, but I don't recognize what would be the video driver, nor do I see anything even similar to this when I look under the Dell drivers & utilities link for the Dimension 4600.   Any idea?   I also did not install the Chipset yet -- do you think that will help.  I'm actually not yet connected to the internet, so unless I can save the driver to a disc (can I), I need to wait to download the drivers anyway.  Thanks again. (the posting system smooshed all this information together -- sorry for the way it displays)

 

D1522 PROCESSOR, 80532, 2.66G, 512, 533, SOCKET N, DECISION ONE 1 2R400 KEYBOARD, 104, 6P, UNITED STATES, MULTI-MEDIA, NMB 1 W1668 KIT, MOUSE, PERSONAL SYSTEM 2, 2BTN, WHEEL, LOGITECH 1 5W416 MODEM, V.92, DATA FAX, INTERNAL, ALUMINUM, DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION 1 C3748 COMPACT DISK DRIVE, 48X, IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS), HITACHI LG DATA STORAGE, HALF HEIGHT, INTERNAL, MIDNIGHT GRAY 1 0R533 CARD (CIRCUIT), MULTI-MEDIA, AUDIO, SB0203 1 J2347 COMPACT DISK READ WRITE/DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE COMBO, 48X, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR, SAMSUNG, MIDNIGHT GRAY, V2 1 J1894 KIT, SOFTWARE, WP-PRDCT-STE11, ENGLAND/ENGLISH 1 N2999 KIT, SOFTWARE, MNY-2K4, STANDARD, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH 1 P2643 KIT, SOFTWARE, MSENC-2K4, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH 1 R2553 KIT, SOFTWARE, OVERPACK, WXPHSP1A, COMPACT DISKETTE W/DOCUMENTATION, ENGLAND/ENGLISH 1 G2876 KIT, DOCUMENTATON ON FLOPPY DISK, SOFTWARE, CYBERLINK, 4.14, DIMENSION 2 U3420 DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 256, 333M, 32X64, 8K, 184 1 X0375 HARD DRIVE, 80G, I, 7.2K, 60G/P, HIT-VAN2