Dell complaints

rosecityracr · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject: Reformatting Problems

I'm having trouble reformatting my friend's dell. It's an 8200 Dimension (if that will even help with my problem), but basically I was wondering if there's anyway to reformat using a standard version of XP, rather than the one supplied through dell? My friend has no clue where any of his CD's that came with the comp (go figure) are, somewhere at his parents house an hour away i'd imagine. The only problem I'm having is which seems to be common on this forum "Press F1 to retry/ Press F2 to enter setup mode" or something of that nature. For some reason it isnt detecting that the HD is even there (which it works because i plugged it into mine to pull files off of, and yes the jumper is in the right spot). Is it because the HD is now zero'd out and the dHell MOBO is looking for specific "dell" files on the HD and isnt finding them, and is causing it not to recognize the HD? That's about the only conclusion I've come to. I've been building my own and friend's computers for about 2 years now and have never had any problems (this is my first dell to really look closely at). Anyone with any info (preferably encouraging, hehe) is much appreciated. Thanks.

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject:

It's trying to boot to a blank harddrive, looking for bootable system files which don't exist.

You have to have the Windows install disk loaded into the optical drive, boot to it, then it's largely a matter of pressing 'enter' every time it asks you something. The 'format' command obviously doesn't exist on a blank harddrive. F2 to check if the optical drive is appropriately positioned in the boot sequence.

Dell reinstall disks look for a Dell identity on the motherboard, bought reinstall disks require you to type in an authorization code. Bootleg Windows disks, you have to know the trick to using those--educate yourself, or go buy the actual product. Microshaft makes it as hard as they can for you to bullshit installation authority. (Unless of course, you're Chinese, in which case the whole shebang costs $1.25 and comes with the bullshitting already done for you. Watch those squatty little fucks, they're poised to take over the world.) (No offense.)
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Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

rosecityracr · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject:

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:01 pm Post subject:

F2 and cursor to 'drives'. Make sure the HDD is enabled in BIOS, otherwise BIOS won't even look for one. If you have to reset to 'enabled' (I think the Dell term is 'Auto'), restart and F2 again to see if it's identified. It should say 'Seagate' and a number of some sort. If that doesn't happen, and you KNOW the drive is good, the motherboard has an IDE problem.

The drive identity lives on the drive itself, and is read off the disk during powerup initialization. If the drive can't read its own identity, it doesn't know whether it's a drive or a microwave oven, and it's toast. If the Dell can't recognize a drive that works in another system, and BIOS is set to look for HDDs, the motherboard is toast. Oh, the cable can be bad, swap that with a known-good one.
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Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

rosecityracr · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

Well, I honestly couldnt tell you why but its up and running now...All I did was check the IDE cable (fine), plugged it up to a HD i have just laying around, mobo detected it....shut it down, plugged the original HD in, mobo detected it....and for nearly two days straight the mobo wouldnt recognize the orignial HD after zeroing it out, but for some reason it did after it recognized my other HD.

Thanks for the help Rocke T, even though that turned out to not be the problem (maybe maybe not, haha, who knows but it works now) I didn't think to check something simple like checking the IDE cable Embarassed

. 'Preciate it! Surprised

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:55 pm Post subject:

Intermittent IDE cable. Happens all the time. Likely the original problem. You'll know what to look for when it comes back.
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Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

FallenAngel · Super Hater Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 1490

F1/F2 is always a hardware issue. Something ain't getting detected properly. Glad you solved it in 1 night. Coulda been up to 5 days or better if you called in for help. Laughing