Dell Optiplex

[Yaco]

Ok, offically I will never buy or even accept to recieve a free dell in payment....

I try to install Windows Xp Pro SP2 on a Dell OptiPlex GX260, tried Dell support, obviously that didn't work out so good as usual. Sending me from one department after another untill I reached the same one and a hour wasted.

I do not have any CD that came with it, I am using a real copy of XP, and have come across this problem before on other systems such as on a Compaq.

I have an idea to why its doing this but not 100% sure. Any help?

Dell can kiss my fat ass; these people work for nothing, just being nice, have personal skills, are understandable, and have better response times!

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Service Tag: FCX1M11
Link to Dell's Download Center with Service Tag
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[Zuhaib]

Originally Posted by Yaco

Ok, offically I will never buy or even accept to recieve a free dell in payment....

I try to install Windows Xp Pro SP2 on a Dell OptiPlex GX260, tried Dell support, obviously that didn't work out so good as usual. Sending me from one department after another untill I reached the same one and a hour wasted.

I do not have any CD that came with it, I am using a real copy of XP, and have come across this problem before on other systems such as on a Compaq.

I have an idea to why its doing this but not 100% sure. Any help?

*Dell kiss my fat ass; these people work for nothing, just being nice, have personal skills, are understandable, and have better response times!*

Where did you get this machine from? Dell Direct or from a resale/used. What is the problem with the Windows install? Is its not accepting the CD key on the system? If that is the case, its because Windows Retail CD is different then OEM CDs and only the OEM version will accept the OEM Key. (Really you did not post much info so this is me shooting in the wind).
Also Dell for the most part will not support an install of non-OEM OS.

EDIT: Umm dude, i dont think you should post your service tag. I dont remember which one is tied to your account but its just un needed info and its best to leave it out. Does not help your problem.
But I did check and see that you are out of warranty. Actually Dell warranty on that tag ended in 05.

[Yaco]

Well I got it from guy that I helped get like 4 laptops up and running.

The problem is it won't see the CD. The CD drive looks like it works, plus I have tried using other drives too. So the problem is I can't get it to even read or load from the CD. The Windows key is on the sticker on the outside aswell, so I could use that if it ever gave me a problem.

From what I know, it all leads to one thing, I just need to see if you come to the same conclusion.

[Zuhaib]

Originally Posted by Yaco

Well I got it from guy that I helped get like 4 laptops up and running.

The problem is it won't see the CD. The CD drive looks like it works, plus I have tried using other drives too. So the problem is I can't get it to even read or load from the CD. The Windows key is on the sticker on the outside aswell, so I could use that if it ever gave me a problem.

From what I know, it all leads to one thing, I just need to see if you come to the same conclusion.

Did you check if the Boot from CD is turned on in the BIOS? If you have tried other drives and tested that the drive works in other system, the boot from CD option might be turned off. Check that in the BIOS or see if the Bios requires you to hold down some special key.

But if you read my edit, dell is no help as you are out of warranty.

[Kip_6666]

So it won't boot from the window's installation CD? Thats what i think you're saying.

Is it setup to boot from the CD/DVD drive before the harddrive in the bios?

And what happens after it doesn't use the cd, do you go into windows?



/EDIT a minute late

[Yaco]

Yes, it is set to goto directly (I have even turned off all others) to the CD.

Will NOT boot from CD. After CD it will try and boot from the hard drive, (or something else maybe?) but it can't find a thing because, well theres nothing on the hdd or anywhere else.

No one's thinking what I am? Wow....

[Kip_6666]

Do you have any other boot cds you can try, win98 or linux live cds to make sure that it isn't the CD?

[Yaco]

Yep, tried that too, I have like 3 Windows Xp CDs, but I haven't tried Windows 98 yet. However I don't think that would help either.

[Kip_6666]

Then we can rule out the CD itself i suppose.

It's then or still a bios option, or your drive is doing something funny. Mayve Dell not wanting you to boot of cd.
I've had no experiance with the latter, i doubt they do that..

Possible work around, a floppy;
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...5-BD5AFEE126D8

[Yaco]

Will try didn't think of at the time, or maybe I did long ago.... will try when not so tired.

[ahpadt]

Flashed BIOS to the newest one available?

[matt2000]

Dell CD drives seem to have a habit of dying. I was given a Dell C600 which had a broken CD drive.

Maybe an external CD drive is the best option?

[ESPNSTI]

It is a CD right and not a DVD?
Sounds stupid, but I have this all the time at work, when I try to insert a DVD in to a Dell that only has a CD drive and not a DVD drive and I can't figure out why it doesn't work.

[ahpadt]

You've checked that the cable isn't loose?

[Yaco]

Tried different cables before, yes it is a CD not a DVD, and I already wrote I tried different drives, including a different cd drive.

But there is light!

Originally Posted by ahpadt

Flashed BIOS to the newest one available?

No I have not! This is the type of answer I was expecting, or a driver is needed for the CD drive, yada, yada, yada.

Only problem is, I forget how to do this, (watch I will remeber as I am half way through your tutorial! )

Also what is on that "Dell Resourse CD" as they now call it? Drivers right? Is there anything else that I can't think of off the top of my head? Special disk partition thats need for Xp to run? BIOS software? Settings? This could prove to answer what I need to boot up the PC from a CD drive.

[Kip_6666]

I'd give the floppy boot option a try.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...5-BD5AFEE126D8

[Bhatman]

Originally Posted by Yaco

Tried different cables before, yes it is a CD not a DVD, and I already wrote I tried different drives, including a different cd drive.

But there is light!



No I have not! This is the type of answer I was expecting, or a driver is needed for the CD drive, yada, yada, yada.

Only problem is, I forget how to do this, (watch I will remeber as I am half way through your tutorial! )

Also what is on that "Dell Resourse CD" as they now call it? Drivers right? Is there anything else that I can't think of off the top of my head? Special disk partition thats need for Xp to run? BIOS software? Settings? This could prove to answer what I need to boot up the PC from a CD drive.

Those resource CD's basically have the initial drivers for the Dell computer to put it in a "fresh" state. BIOS with dells is usually either with a floppy or a boot image.

[argatoga]

If you have another computer handy format the Dell's drive into a DOS bootable FAT disk (or just format it into FAT and use a DOS bootdisk), then copy the i386 directory from the XP cd to the harddrive. Put the disk back into the Dell. There should be a setup.exe or install.exe in the i386 directory which will install XP from inside of DOS.

[Yaco]

Originally Posted by Kip_6666

I'd give the floppy boot option a try.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...5-BD5AFEE126D8

Works right up to the part where it asks for the CD. I did try a different CD drive and I did try a different cable. I will try in a few minutes putting the CD drive on the space connection for the HDD. I'm thinking it needs a CD driver?

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by Yaco