Computer geeks out there? I really need help.

[hypnofrogstevie]

Ok. I am stuck right now. I own a dell dimension 4300. I burned a linux ISO (which is free not illegal) and I dont want it anymore. I cant change my BIOS to have CD-rom as primary 0. It only had my HDD as primary 0 and CD-rom is primary 2. if I turn off HDD then it wont load my desktop or anything for that matter. I been trying since 4PM last night to do this. I thought about wiping the HD but I cant even wipe it unless I used a hammer.

so how can I turn my CD-rom as primary 0 or how can I wipe my hard drive with no files install XP. remember this is a dell dimension 4300 and the boot disk is totally different then new boot disks.

primary 0..... hard drive (auto-off)
primary 1... off
primary 2.... CD-rom (auto-off)
primary 3... off

To change auto or off hit [SPACE] or -

F1 gives me no help.

here is what my BIOS boot disk looks like

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4300/syssetup.htm#1097056

 

[ivan3]

What changes have you made that would make the Dell system reinstall impossible to execute? (should also allow formatting of user partition of HD).

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4300/solve.htm#1077849

If you really want to wipe all partitions on HD and perform a fresh install, then download all chipset inf/drivers/software from dell before doing anything else. Is your copy of XP retail or OEM (dell supplied)? If this is the only way to go, PM me; much easier to restore off of system partition (saves a lot time).

 

[English Chick]

Do wish I could help you Hypno..bit got lost on your first sentance......ouch sorry!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Would you happen to have an old windows boot floppy?

You can boot to that, "fdisk /mbr" and re-partition the drive, and it ought to be back to square one.

Now when you "fdisk /mbr" it will look like it didn't do anything, you get no real "action" it just does it's thing and goes back to the a-prompt. But it actually has done something - it wipes the master boot record, and therefore will take out resident programs.

My son uses linux, I don't - so I would have to ask him if there is anything special about it that is hadrer to get out of the system (he's at work

)

meri

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I got it to half work. I am giving u since I am buying a new hard drive. Hopefully that might let me get vista or xp going again. I think what happened was ever since I replaced my CDrom that my DVD-rom became secondary primary then 1st primary was my HD. I can only get part of the XP install to work then I get error code 7 and error code 8*** I cant remember the 4 digit code. I just gave up and went linux. I am missing my windows blinds and a few minor things. Its my XP CD I got off ebay. I have the serial code for it to. I will try to download the chipset but linux dont do EXE files.forgot to mention that I fixed the problem were I made my primary 0 C-rom (samsung DVD-rom) and HD was second. I cant get my CD-rom drive as primary 1 then HD as primary 2.

 

[greyfields]

Dell.

Build your own toasters and you won't have these problems.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Its not just dell. My brother had the same problem with his compact when I had him give my ISO a try. All I wanted was to change my OS from XP to vista but it never worked.

 

[Mahonri]

Stevie... XP is so much nicer than Vista.

I have Vista and hate it. Loved XP

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I heard alot of complaints about vista but MS no longer supports XP. Now I am not big on MS since I never ever put out money for the red ring of death magnet called xbox360. But I love the heck out of there OS. The only reason I used XP was cause of the windows blinds theme that I paid $20.00 for but now that I am on linux I cant get it back

.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

WHOA !! Do not wipe your hard disk. If you want to have your CD as the primary on the chain and the HDD as the secondary it is really pretty simple. Most computers will boot into the bios if you hit the F1 key, the F2 key or they ESC key a moment after you hit the power button.

It will give you prompts sometimes to do this. Once you are in the bios you can change the order of the primary drive. If you are even thinking about switching to vista, DON"T, it sucks. XP is a much better platform and Microsoft is having one hell of a time trying to sell this latest platform to the general pulbic.

I installed XP pro on my laptop, now that was a b.. because it uses the SATA drives and the CD install required a USB floppy for the drivers for the second part of the install. It had to be a Toshiba floppy, no other would work. That took me days to figure out.

I do would not suggest an install on any laptop unless you know what you are in for. Desktops are a bit easier.