DELL XP?

[Jethro]

Is there a special version of XP for DELL? I have a friend who is
trying a standard XP HOME on a machine he built with a DELL
motherboard - it won't boot past the WINDOWS logo. I'm thinking he
needs the DELL version of XP, if it indeed exists.

If it does, can someone post?

Thanks

Jethro

 

[Alias]

Is there a special version of XP for DELL? I have a friend who is
trying a standard XP HOME on a machine he built with a DELL
motherboard - it won't boot past the WINDOWS logo. I'm thinking he
needs the DELL version of XP, if it indeed exists.

If it does, can someone post?

Thanks

Jethro

Did he format the hard disk first?

Alias

 

[R. McCarty]

As you describe the situation, you shouldn't need a Dell Windows CD.
Dell OEM disks will automatically "Activate" based on the BIOS used.
However, a motherboard is a motherboard and there isn't any reason
why a Retail copy of XP Home would not load/run on a Dell MB. I'd
look for other reasons ( missing drivers ) or some other cause for the PC
to not completely boot up.

 

[Augustus]

Is there a special version of XP for DELL? I have a friend who is
trying a standard XP HOME on a machine he built with a DELL
motherboard - it won't boot past the WINDOWS logo. I'm thinking he
needs the DELL version of XP, if it indeed exists.

There's no specific Dell version of XP, but the OEM Dell XP discs will not
install on anything other than a Dell box. It checks the BIOS for an ID
Code. His issue is something else...I've installed standard retail versions
of XP Home and Pro on many Dell boxes without issue. You often have to go to
the Dell support and d/l site with the service tag number to get specific
hardware drivers for each box, since Dell has a LOT of different hardware
mixes.

 

[Jerry]

Is there a special version of XP for DELL? I have a friend who is
trying a standard XP HOME on a machine he built with a DELL
motherboard - it won't boot past the WINDOWS logo. I'm thinking he
needs the DELL version of XP, if it indeed exists.

If it does, can someone post?

Thanks

Jethro

There is no DELL version of XP and DELL doesn't make motherboards.

 

[Jethro]

Did he format the hard disk first?

Dunno - I'll try to find out. He is not local here.
What would happen if he didn't? Maybe he just installed XP HOME onto
what was already on the drive.

Thanks

 

[Jethro]

There's no specific Dell version of XP, but the OEM Dell XP discs will not
install on anything other than a Dell box. It checks the BIOS for an ID
Code. His issue is something else...I've installed standard retail versions
of XP Home and Pro on many Dell boxes without issue. You often have to go to
the Dell support and d/l site with the service tag number to get specific
hardware drivers for each box, since Dell has a LOT of different hardware
mixes.

Thanks - I have e-mailed him all your replies.
Jethro.

 

[Jethro]

As you describe the situation, you shouldn't need a Dell Windows CD.
Dell OEM disks will automatically "Activate" based on the BIOS used.
However, a motherboard is a motherboard and there isn't any reason
why a Retail copy of XP Home would not load/run on a Dell MB. I'd
look for other reasons ( missing drivers ) or some other cause for the PC
to not completely boot up.

My friend asks - How do you eliminate the DELL logo that comes up
during boot, and the requirement to press F1 all the time to get
through the boot?

Jethro

 

[R. McCarty]

The logo is embedded in the BIOS. Usually, but not always there is
a BIOS setup option that you select to show POST ( Power on Self
Test ) data instead of the OEM logo.
Stopping at boot and prompting F1 indicates a BIOS setting is not
configured properly. The BIOS normally shows a message on why
F1 to continue is needed.

 

[Jethro]

The logo is embedded in the BIOS. Usually, but not always there is
a BIOS setup option that you select to show POST ( Power on Self
Test ) data instead of the OEM logo.
Stopping at boot and prompting F1 indicates a BIOS setting is not
configured properly. The BIOS normally shows a message on why
F1 to continue is needed.
Thanks

Jethro

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My friend asks - How do you eliminate the DELL logo that comes up
during boot,

Read the manual that came with the computer, or consult Dell's Support
web site. It will tell him how to enter and modify the computer's BIOS
to turn off this splash screen.

.... and the requirement to press F1 all the time to get
through the boot?

Fix the BIOS error (possibly an incorrect setting) that's being
reported and is causing the need to press <F1> to continue. Again, tell
your friend to read the manual that came with the computer, or consult
Dell's Support web site.



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Nightowl]

There is no DELL version of XP and DELL doesn't make motherboards.

True, but there doesn't seem to be any way to discover the manufacturer
and I suspect they were/are modified or specially built for Dell. For
instance, Belarc Advisor reports the motherboard on my old machine as:

Board: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 4300

 

[Alias]

True, but there doesn't seem to be any way to discover the manufacturer
and I suspect they were/are modified or specially built for Dell. For
instance, Belarc Advisor reports the motherboard on my old machine as:

Board: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 4300

What does www.crucial.com report it as?

Alias

 

[Nightowl]

[Nightowl wrote:]

True, but there doesn't seem to be any way to discover the
manufacturer and I suspect they were/are modified or specially built
for Dell. For instance, Belarc Advisor reports the motherboard on my
old machine as:
Board: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 4300

[Alias wrote:]
What does www.crucial.com report it as?

Doesn't mention it at all I used the downloadable version first as
I run Firefox and the online tool requires IE. It gave details of the
CPU and memory but nothing about the motherboard. Thinking I might have
downloaded the "memory scanner" rather than the "system scanner", I
fired up IE and ran the online scan, with the same result.

(Incidentally, Crucial recommends I upgrade memory to 1GB, which is
fine, except Dell's manual clearly says although it can physically take
that much, only 512mB will be recognised :-( )