Adding SATA HDD to Dell System with XP SP2

[Guest]

System: Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR3200 RAM
40GB 5400RPM HDD (existing)
120GB SATA 7200RPM HDD (new add)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)

I've been disappointed with this system's speed from the get-go. Always been
an AMD man. Anyway, trying to improve on the 5400 RPM 40GB drive that was
installed from the factory by upgrading to a 120GB Serial ATA HDD and the
accompanying Link Depot Serial ATA card (uses Silicon Images 3112 version 2
driver). [Motherboard only features IDE ATA/100 controllers - No SATA]
After some doing, I got the existing Windows XP (on 40GB) to recognize the
new SATA drive and got it formatted. Now my problem is that when I try to
reboot (after disconnecting the 40GB drive) to load windows on the new SATA
drive, windows asks for the third party SCSI/Raid driver diskette. Well the
drivers were supplied on a CD-Rom and the Dell Dimension 4600 does not come
with a floppy drive! So windows doesn't even see that I have a HDD installed
and aborts the install.
Hope I haven't lost anyone.
How can I get windows loaded onto this new SATA HDD??!?!!?
PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Jon Erlandson]

Yes, you have to load drivers for the serial ata card first but without a
floppy I don't know. During Setup you're asked (very briefly and in the
progress bar) if you need to load scsi driver press f6. At this point I'm
unsure if you can select a source location but if so load them onto your 40g
drive and reference them there.

 

[Guest]

Not to throw a wet blanket on your fire of enthusiasm - BUT

Did XP come as part of the Dell? If so your OEM Licence AGreement may
prevent you moving the XP installation from the IDE drive to SATA drive.

Check with Dell or Microsoft.

As for the Floppy problem, you can always buy a FDD for $10 and install it:
if there isn't a floppy interface on the motherboard, go out and buy a USB
attach FDD.

Yes, you have to load drivers for the serial ata card first but without a
floppy I don't know. During Setup you're asked (very briefly and in the
progress bar) if you need to load scsi driver press f6. At this point I'm
unsure if you can select a source location but if so load them onto your 40g
drive and reference them there.

System: Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR3200 RAM
40GB 5400RPM HDD (existing)
120GB SATA 7200RPM HDD (new add)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)

I've been disappointed with this system's speed from the get-go. Always
been
an AMD man. Anyway, trying to improve on the 5400 RPM 40GB drive that was
installed from the factory by upgrading to a 120GB Serial ATA HDD and the
accompanying Link Depot Serial ATA card (uses Silicon Images 3112 version
2
driver). [Motherboard only features IDE ATA/100 controllers - No SATA]
After some doing, I got the existing Windows XP (on 40GB) to recognize the
new SATA drive and got it formatted. Now my problem is that when I try to
reboot (after disconnecting the 40GB drive) to load windows on the new
SATA
drive, windows asks for the third party SCSI/Raid driver diskette. Well
the
drivers were supplied on a CD-Rom and the Dell Dimension 4600 does not
come
with a floppy drive! So windows doesn't even see that I have a HDD
installed
and aborts the install.
Hope I haven't lost anyone.
How can I get windows loaded onto this new SATA HDD??!?!!?
PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Guest]

Thanks Guys.
I'm not worried about the licensing agreement with Microsoft. From what I
understand as long as I delete it off of the original drive, I'm simply
upgrading my system. I am not using it on a different computer. That's the
key to the agreement. It cannot be used on a different PC station.

I may try the USB FDD. That might be worth a shot. The front cover to the
dell computer doesn't allow for a floppy drive. I have to buy a "kit" from
Dell for it to work. And as disappointed as I am with this Intel/Dell system,
I'm not giving them another dime. AMD is just a far superior product but
that's an issue for another day.

Not to throw a wet blanket on your fire of enthusiasm - BUT

Did XP come as part of the Dell? If so your OEM Licence AGreement may
prevent you moving the XP installation from the IDE drive to SATA drive.

Check with Dell or Microsoft.

As for the Floppy problem, you can always buy a FDD for $10 and install it:
if there isn't a floppy interface on the motherboard, go out and buy a USB
attach FDD.

Yes, you have to load drivers for the serial ata card first but without a
floppy I don't know. During Setup you're asked (very briefly and in the
progress bar) if you need to load scsi driver press f6. At this point I'm
unsure if you can select a source location but if so load them onto your 40g
drive and reference them there.

System: Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR3200 RAM
40GB 5400RPM HDD (existing)
120GB SATA 7200RPM HDD (new add)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)

I've been disappointed with this system's speed from the get-go. Always
been
an AMD man. Anyway, trying to improve on the 5400 RPM 40GB drive that was
installed from the factory by upgrading to a 120GB Serial ATA HDD and the
accompanying Link Depot Serial ATA card (uses Silicon Images 3112 version
2
driver). [Motherboard only features IDE ATA/100 controllers - No SATA]
After some doing, I got the existing Windows XP (on 40GB) to recognize the
new SATA drive and got it formatted. Now my problem is that when I try to
reboot (after disconnecting the 40GB drive) to load windows on the new
SATA
drive, windows asks for the third party SCSI/Raid driver diskette. Well
the
drivers were supplied on a CD-Rom and the Dell Dimension 4600 does not
come
with a floppy drive! So windows doesn't even see that I have a HDD
installed
and aborts the install.
Hope I haven't lost anyone.
How can I get windows loaded onto this new SATA HDD??!?!!?
PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Jon Erlandson]

Ah ha, I stumbled upon an answer but this requires some preparation and a CD
burner (buying a floppy drive may be easiest
http://greenmachine.msfnhosting.com/READING/addraid.htm

And if you go to those lengths you might as well slipstream SP2
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

 

[Guest]

Yeah. Someone on Dell's help site threw this one at me. Any idea how the heck
to do it?? lol.
I'm a pretty good system builder but not an integrator. This kinda goes over
my head. I'm going to try my USB jumpdrive and if that doesn't work, think
I'll invest $14 in a floppy and then just take it out once the drivers are
loaded. (Case front doesn't allow for it).
Turns out it might still be handy to have one of those around.

Ah ha, I stumbled upon an answer but this requires some preparation and a CD
burner (buying a floppy drive may be easiest
http://greenmachine.msfnhosting.com/READING/addraid.htm

And if you go to those lengths you might as well slipstream SP2
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

System: Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR3200 RAM
40GB 5400RPM HDD (existing)
120GB SATA 7200RPM HDD (new add)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)

I've been disappointed with this system's speed from the get-go. Always
been
an AMD man. Anyway, trying to improve on the 5400 RPM 40GB drive that was
installed from the factory by upgrading to a 120GB Serial ATA HDD and the
accompanying Link Depot Serial ATA card (uses Silicon Images 3112 version
2
driver). [Motherboard only features IDE ATA/100 controllers - No SATA]
After some doing, I got the existing Windows XP (on 40GB) to recognize the
new SATA drive and got it formatted. Now my problem is that when I try to
reboot (after disconnecting the 40GB drive) to load windows on the new
SATA
drive, windows asks for the third party SCSI/Raid driver diskette. Well
the
drivers were supplied on a CD-Rom and the Dell Dimension 4600 does not
come
with a floppy drive! So windows doesn't even see that I have a HDD
installed
and aborts the install.
Hope I haven't lost anyone.
How can I get windows loaded onto this new SATA HDD??!?!!?
PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Jon Erlandson]

Yeh, maybe we'll never lose the floppy

Yeah. Someone on Dell's help site threw this one at me. Any idea how the
heck
to do it?? lol.
I'm a pretty good system builder but not an integrator. This kinda goes
over
my head. I'm going to try my USB jumpdrive and if that doesn't work, think
I'll invest $14 in a floppy and then just take it out once the drivers are
loaded. (Case front doesn't allow for it).
Turns out it might still be handy to have one of those around.

Ah ha, I stumbled upon an answer but this requires some preparation and a
CD
burner (buying a floppy drive may be easiest
http://greenmachine.msfnhosting.com/READING/addraid.htm

And if you go to those lengths you might as well slipstream SP2
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

System: Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1GB DDR3200 RAM
40GB 5400RPM HDD (existing)
120GB SATA 7200RPM HDD (new add)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)

I've been disappointed with this system's speed from the get-go. Always
been
an AMD man. Anyway, trying to improve on the 5400 RPM 40GB drive that
was
installed from the factory by upgrading to a 120GB Serial ATA HDD and
the
accompanying Link Depot Serial ATA card (uses Silicon Images 3112
version
2
driver). [Motherboard only features IDE ATA/100 controllers - No SATA]
After some doing, I got the existing Windows XP (on 40GB) to recognize
the
new SATA drive and got it formatted. Now my problem is that when I try
to
reboot (after disconnecting the 40GB drive) to load windows on the new
SATA
drive, windows asks for the third party SCSI/Raid driver diskette. Well
the
drivers were supplied on a CD-Rom and the Dell Dimension 4600 does not
come
with a floppy drive! So windows doesn't even see that I have a HDD
installed
and aborts the install.
Hope I haven't lost anyone.
How can I get windows loaded onto this new SATA HDD??!?!!?
PLEASE HELP!!