Computer geeks out there? I really need help.

[The Chicken Lady]

My DH says what you're looking at is "just the IDE setup. You have to change the boot order." He says he doesn't know where you would find the "boor order" or "boot preference" on your machine, but that is what you should be looking for.

 

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
XP is still supported, until April 2009. There is plenty of support out there for it from third party vendors. Even M$ understands what a dog Vista is on most systems that aren't completely designed for it. Reinstall XP, you'll be much happier for it.

Maybe the information in this newsletter will help you? (I highly recommend Brian Livingston's excellent Windows Secrets newsletter, it's taught me so much over the years, I've become a lifetime subscriber of the premium edition - but the free one is well worth receiving!)

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Thanks guys. I have the order correct. I just cant seem to figure out why my DVD-rom wont install the CD correctly. It runs fine. Then it comes up with error code messages. I will stay away form Vista. I will use linux till I get the new hard drive.

 

[ivan3]

Forgot to ask: IDE or SCSI?

Place XP CD in drive.
Unplug machine. Switch out the ribbon connectors on the backs of the drives(CD to IDE1/HD to IDE2). Boot it up and see what the order is. If CD boots. load the XP setup (if you have an admin. password it should tell you that it found the XP on HD and will ask if you want to repair that installation you can then repair or reformat from that screen). If that doesn't work, pull the battery/short the bios. Then start up again. If it only starts up in a particular order then the boot block is write protected (time to recycle, though you could hot flash the bios).

I didn't check, but there might be an updated bios on Dell's site (maybe added a BOOT FROM CD option) and you could flash your way out of this. There is also the possibility that you are being stymied by a proprietary boot block in the bios.

Floppy boots: http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Its IDE. Its in order now since I fix that but the DVD-rom loads when it wants and when it doesnt want to. I got a error message from both vista and XP. Maybe if I change the hard drive I can start with a clean OS?

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Have you tried doing System Restore ?

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
STEVE! Hold off until Ken wakes up! Ninny - you KNOW he is an IT guy!!!!!

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Quote:
Have you tried doing System Restore ?

Unfortunatly there is no system restore on linux. since its a full partition it wont let me

I know Deb. Ijust wish I could get this stupid thing fixed. all these error messages UGH! Anyway I an install CD-rom drive on my Bios?

 

[debilorrah]

I will set him on this thread as soon as he wakes up.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Thanks Deb

I tired updating my BIOS but linux wont do EXE. If things dont work I am going to wipe the hard drive.