built new system

[zulu]

Mr. Stevens,
1) My original reply was not to you.
You were not to know this, but I do actually know the person I was replying
to.
2) I *did* pointedly and deliberately say *no offence*.
3) If you then proceed to take offence, that is your prerogative, but if you
_really_ want to assist people, try not to be such an arrogant ar$ehole.

 

[Jim Macklin]

One very nice thing about Dell, every computer has a Dell
service Key number on the case and in the paperwork that
shipped with the computer. You can call Dell on their
toll-free phone number and give that service key number to
the technician.
They will pull up the specs on that particular computer and
they will have a record of exactly what hardware and
software shipped on the computer.
They can and will talk you through the BIOS and anything
else.


| zulu wrote:
| > Thanks for that
| > I went straight to your site and you say:
| > "During the initial boot of a computer the BIOS supplier
will be
| > displayed."
| >
| > I suspect that this is overwritten by the *Dell* logo
which is all I
| > see for some 30 seconds...
| >
| > Now what? <G>
| >
| > (Can I get rid of this somehow?)
| >
| > You say (for my dell Dimenson): F2 or DEL
| >
| > OK, but *when*...?
| >
| > Now do you understand why I used the word *exactly* ?
| >
| > No offense, but my problem is that I find that experts
such as
| > yourself always assume that the reader knows the bits
you've left out!
| >
| >
|
| There are 9 examples of how to access different DELL
computers on the web
| page I supplied a link to. How much more EXACTLY could I
have supplied YOU
| with no prior EXACT information from YOU? If your
particular model was not
| among the listed, would it be a stretch of the imagination
that you might
| get the idea you can look on the DELL web site? (that I
did supply a link
| to) I guess not, and I guess I should apologize for my
assuming too much.
| --
|
| Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
| (e-mail address removed)
| http://michaelstevenstech.com
| For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
| http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
|
|

 

[mrtee]

Press the key while the Dell logo is on the screen. If the first key you try doesn't open the BIOS try the other key.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| Mr. Stevens,
| 1) My original reply was not to you.
| You were not to know this, but I do actually know the person I was replying
| to.
| 2) I *did* pointedly and deliberately say *no offence*.
| 3) If you then proceed to take offence, that is your prerogative, but if you
| _really_ want to assist people, try not to be such an arrogant ar$ehole.
|
| --
| ¦ zulu ¦

 

[Michael Stevens]

Mr. Stevens,
1) My original reply was not to you.
You were not to know this, but I do actually know the person I was
replying to.
2) I *did* pointedly and deliberately say *no offence*.
3) If you then proceed to take offence, that is your prerogative, but
if you _really_ want to assist people, try not to be such an arrogant
ar$ehole.

Per your comments, made an addition to the web page that should take any
question out of what to and when to do it. Thanks for the feedback.
Is this better.

--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[zulu]

Per your comments, made an addition to the web page that should take any
question out of what to and when to do it. Thanks for the feedback.
Is this better.

Well done (I'll check it out later, when I have a bit more time..) and
please accept my apologies for for my rude overreaction :-o).

 

[Michael Stevens]

Well done (I'll check it out later, when I have a bit more time..) and
please accept my apologies for for my rude overreaction :-o).

No problem, and the same here.
I would like to make a suggestion that you didn't make an acknowledgment you
realized. You never gave your system specs. The system specs are very
important as a tool for peer support newsgroup help. If we don't know what
hardware and it's configuration the best we can do is a canned reply.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[zulu]

No problem, and the same here.


I would like to make a suggestion that you didn't make an acknowledgment you
realized. You never gave your system specs. The system specs are very
important as a tool for peer support newsgroup help. If we don't know what
hardware and it's configuration the best we can do is a canned reply.

True.
I am never sure as to how much detail is required though!
It's a Dell Dimension XPS-T700r with 512 MB memory.
(would that be enough?)
Anyway, I must try to remember in future!

regards,

 

[Michael Stevens]

True.
I am never sure as to how much detail is required though!
It's a Dell Dimension XPS-T700r with 512 MB memory.
(would that be enough?)
Anyway, I must try to remember in future!

regards,

Cool, we all learned from the peer group, just as it is intended.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[zulu]

zulu wrote:

Snipped>>>

Well ok!
I've just entered the BIOS (1st time i've been there!) had a look around,
and carefully withdrew without making any changes <gulp>!

I was hoping to see a way of restoring *Floppy Drive (A* to my computer
which has been missing ever since I tried to put another drive (too old) in
to replace the one that didnt work. The original was subsequently fixed and
replaced.(It was a mechanical problem with misalignment of the button on the
case!).

Could somebody walk me through this please.
(I want to retain the CD/DVD drive as the 1st one though...)

 

[Michael Stevens]

Snipped>>>

Well ok!
I've just entered the BIOS (1st time i've been there!) had a look
around, and carefully withdrew without making any changes <gulp>!

I was hoping to see a way of restoring *Floppy Drive (A* to my
computer which has been missing ever since I tried to put another
drive (too old) in to replace the one that didnt work. The original
was subsequently fixed and replaced.(It was a mechanical problem with
misalignment of the button on the case!).

Could somebody walk me through this please.
(I want to retain the CD/DVD drive as the 1st one though...)

Don't understand what you mean by the CD/DVD as the 1st one. Do you mean it
is listed as A?
That would be your problem.
The bios page where you set the hard drives and time will have an option to
enable/disable the A drive.
The maker of the bios will have information on how to navigate in the bios.
Check the web site for the manufacturer.
If you don't feel like you can work with the bios, you should probably take
it to an expert.
Example of web site below.
http://www.ami.com/support/bios.cfm
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[zulu]

Don't understand what you mean by the CD/DVD as the 1st one. Do you mean it
is listed as A?

Sorry, no, not A!
I meant as the drive to boot from in the event of a reinstall.

That would be your problem.

It would indeed!!

The bios page where you set the hard drives and time will have an option to
enable/disable the A drive.
The maker of the bios will have information on how to navigate in the bios.
Check the web site for the manufacturer.
If you don't feel like you can work with the bios, you should probably take
it to an expert.

Can the BIOS be backed up?

 

[Michael Stevens]

Sorry, no, not A!
I meant as the drive to boot from in the event of a reinstall.


It would indeed!!


Can the BIOS be backed up?

Depends on the bios, some have a backup incorporated into the flash
routine. A foolproof method is to write down the settings using pen and
paper. Takes awhile, but works like a charm.
There may be third party utilities for bios backup, but I don't know of any.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Hemlock]

If you have a digital camera

take a picture of each page's settings in the BIOS
that will give you a quicker backup

faster that pen and paper

HTH

Hemlock

 

[zulu]

Depends on the bios, some have a backup incorporated into the flash
routine. A foolproof method is to write down the settings using pen and
paper.
Takes awhile, but works like a charm.

Brainwave...Digital camera... <VBG>

Thanks for your help, once again.

 

[zulu]

If you have a digital camera

take a picture of each page's settings in the BIOS
that will give you a quicker backup

faster that pen and paper

ROFL!
Two minds with a single thought!
(See my reply)

 

[Guest]

did you try changing the jumper setting on the hard drive?

 

[Guest]

use the seagate utility to write 0's on the whole new drive (try the quick methhod, otherwise it might take a couple of hours) and mbr at 0, 0. Then - if you don't partition it first becuase of the large size supposed issue - try to install XP from CD drive
I do not understand why didn't you go 2x80 GB sata in raid 0 (about $170 if you search) on a new gig
Michael