accessing Floppy drive reboots computer

[cservice]

Dell Dimension 4400
WinXP with all the updates
40 Gb Maxtor HDD
DVD Writer
CD RW
1.44 floppy
And the floppy is the problem:
When I try to access the floppy drive the computer reboots itself.
Tried a NEW floppy- same result
Tried safe mode -same result
Disabled all but necessary hardware-same result
Tried new PSU- same result
Any Ideas?????

 

[Sharon F]

Dell Dimension 4400
WinXP with all the updates
40 Gb Maxtor HDD
DVD Writer
CD RW
1.44 floppy
And the floppy is the problem:
When I try to access the floppy drive the computer reboots itself.
Tried a NEW floppy- same result
Tried safe mode -same result
Disabled all but necessary hardware-same result
Tried new PSU- same result
Any Ideas?????

Tried a different floppy drive yet? These are made very cheaply these days.
Have had to return a few that were DOA.

 

[cservice]

Tried a different floppy drive yet? These are made very cheaply these days.
Have had to return a few that were DOA.

 

[cservice]

Yup, THREE NEW ones.Same result. Now it fails to load my Lexar jump
drive. When it finds it, instant reboot.
I'm going to take it down and start again. There's nothing on the HDD
to lose since it was a clean install anyway. We shall see what we
shall see!!!

 

[Malke]

Yup, THREE NEW ones.Same result. Now it fails to load my Lexar jump
drive. When it finds it, instant reboot.
I'm going to take it down and start again. There's nothing on the HDD
to lose since it was a clean install anyway. We shall see what we
shall see!!!

It sounds like you are having electrical shorts on the motherboard.
Since this is a Dell, I'd call them for tech support.

Malke

 

[cservice]

Sorry 'bout the double post!
Found the problem. Had a programming problem (I think) with the
original install. Used "Powermax" to check the HDD. It found no
problems so I also used it to do a low level format. When reinstalling
XP, it, naturally, wanted to format the drive. I chose "quick" format.
You can bet that will NOT happen again. My guess is that the low level
format could not be cleared by quick formatting.
Don't know why I chose to do it that way, I've never used it before.
Just a senior moment, I guess.
Anyway, did it again (the right way) and now everything is fine. SO
FAR.
Thanks for the input. Maybe this will help someone else.
Bill

 

[cservice]

After installing all win updates more problems. Mostly explorer errors.
After some lengthy research I find that a lot of Dell Dimension 4400's
don't play well with SP2 and related updates.
( I guess my customers instinct to not update was correct)
There is a work around (i'm told). By slip streaming the sp2 package
with the original XP install, and installing yhe Intel drivers in a
certain order will overcome the problem. Since my customer accesses the
internet very little he's happy to leave it the way it is.
DELL Who would have guessed???
BTW Dell has refused to address the situation on the few models
affected. No explanation or anything. They prefer to let you think it's
a user error.
Bill

 

[Sharon F]

After installing all win updates more problems. Mostly explorer errors.
After some lengthy research I find that a lot of Dell Dimension 4400's
don't play well with SP2 and related updates.
( I guess my customers instinct to not update was correct)
There is a work around (i'm told). By slip streaming the sp2 package
with the original XP install, and installing yhe Intel drivers in a
certain order will overcome the problem. Since my customer accesses the
internet very little he's happy to leave it the way it is.
DELL Who would have guessed???
BTW Dell has refused to address the situation on the few models
affected. No explanation or anything. They prefer to let you think it's
a user error.

If this really is particular to that model, then shame on Dell. There's
many tools available that automate the steps of creating a slipstreamed CD.
Personally, I did this manually using the directions from this website:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm