Dell XPS 400 doesn't like XP or vice versa?
ETA: Solved! Got a suggestion to change the HDD settings in the BIOS to "combined" Thanks!
I have a Dell XPS400 that I am trying to get running in order to give it away. I have had numerous issues with this computer in the past which resulted in the mobo being replaced. Which solved my issues for a while. Currently, it died about 6-8 months ago and I just replaced it with a home build (thanks tax return!). Especially after troubleshooting, I couldn't determine what the hell was wrong with it (it just did not want to load an OS besides Linux).
Anyway, I ignored it for a while and when I cleaned out the basement I decided to put in the original RAM back into it to see if the new RAM had installed previously was causing problems. It was Corsair Ram that evidently has voltage problems (in that you need to adjust the voltage in the BIOS and Dell doesn't allow that). So I swapped out the RAM.
For fun I decided to see if the release candidate for Windows 7 would then load up. I got Win7RC to install just fine and the computer seems to be running fine. But I can't give it to someone who knows nothing about computers with Win7RC on it. I so wanted to install my copy of Windows XP on it (legit copy).
I've been through the whole SATA drivers thing with XP before so I was prepared to load the drivers that I downloaded from Dell's website for the XPS400. Using a USB floppy drive I was able to load the drivers fine (F6 and all that jazz). Then when it came time to install XP (where you hit enter and all) the setup screen says that there are no hard drive devices loaded on the computer.
What is going on? How can I get XP to install on this computer?
Specs (if this helps the service tag is: 44GLS81):
Pentium D 3.2gig
160gig SATA hd (Seagate ST3160023AS)
1gig of DDR2 RAM (currently single channel 'cause I am a moron....could that be it?)
Current OS Win7RC
What really kills me is this computer is from when manufacturers were not including restore cds with the computers they sold (early 2005-ish). So I don't even have that option.
Thanks for any ideas.
I have a Dell XPS400 that I am trying to get running in order to give it away. I have had numerous issues with this computer in the past which resulted in the mobo being replaced. Which solved my issues for a while. Currently, it died about 6-8 months ago and I just replaced it with a home build (thanks tax return!). Especially after troubleshooting, I couldn't determine what the hell was wrong with it (it just did not want to load an OS besides Linux).
Anyway, I ignored it for a while and when I cleaned out the basement I decided to put in the original RAM back into it to see if the new RAM had installed previously was causing problems. It was Corsair Ram that evidently has voltage problems (in that you need to adjust the voltage in the BIOS and Dell doesn't allow that). So I swapped out the RAM.
For fun I decided to see if the release candidate for Windows 7 would then load up. I got Win7RC to install just fine and the computer seems to be running fine. But I can't give it to someone who knows nothing about computers with Win7RC on it. I so wanted to install my copy of Windows XP on it (legit copy).
I've been through the whole SATA drivers thing with XP before so I was prepared to load the drivers that I downloaded from Dell's website for the XPS400. Using a USB floppy drive I was able to load the drivers fine (F6 and all that jazz). Then when it came time to install XP (where you hit enter and all) the setup screen says that there are no hard drive devices loaded on the computer.
What is going on? How can I get XP to install on this computer?
Specs (if this helps the service tag is: 44GLS81):
Pentium D 3.2gig
160gig SATA hd (Seagate ST3160023AS)
1gig of DDR2 RAM (currently single channel 'cause I am a moron....could that be it?)
Current OS Win7RC
What really kills me is this computer is from when manufacturers were not including restore cds with the computers they sold (early 2005-ish). So I don't even have that option.
Thanks for any ideas.