Dead Hard Drive - How to replace it

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alexferrer1

Hello,

My old Dell Dimension 4100's main hard drive is dead. I use this
computer as a music server with a secondary internal drive to play
through my Tivo. Now I can't and I was hoping someone could give me
step by step directions on how to replace that drive (all the drivers,
OS stuff to make it run like new). Ideally, I would like to make the
secondary drive the only drive with all of my music and all of the
operating software that is needed to run. I have been told something
about formatting but I have no idea how to do it. I would also
consider purchasing a 100 GB internal drive to replace the old broken
one. I believe I have all of the orginal disks that cames with my
computer. A big concern is how does a computer with a broken primary
drive boot up when the software to run the computer is on that drive.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex
 
alexferrer1 said:
My old Dell Dimension 4100's main hard drive is dead. I use this
computer as a music server with a secondary internal drive to play
through my Tivo. Now I can't and I was hoping someone could give me
step by step directions on how to replace that drive (all the
drivers, OS stuff to make it run like new). Ideally, I would like
to make the secondary drive the only drive with all of my music and
all of the operating software that is needed to run. I have been
told something about formatting but I have no idea how to do it. I
would also consider purchasing a 100 GB internal drive to replace
the old broken one. I believe I have all of the orginal disks that
cames with my computer. A big concern is how does a computer with
a broken primary drive boot up when the software to run the
computer is on that drive.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
 
Shenan

Given this is a Dell computer doesn't that make for problems doing a
clean install?

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Why would that make a difference? I have a 4100 as a test machine and XP
installs on it just like any other PC.
 
Ron

What XP disks do Dell provide for installing XP on a new drive?

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Ron

What XP disks do Dell provide for installing XP on a new drive?
Click to expand...

That depends on many factors...

When the machine was bought, what the original user specified, etc. I know
I order all the Dell's and tell my customers to do the same - *with* the
installation media - even when they started charging the $10 for it. Also -
the resource CD/DVD and the Quick guide CD/DVD or whatever.
 
You'll probably need their driver disc to get the onboard devices to
work properly, but there is no reason why you can't just add a new
drive (or replace an existing drive) and install an o/s.
 
alexferrer1 said:
My old Dell Dimension 4100's main hard drive is dead. I use this
computer as a music server with a secondary internal drive to play
through my Tivo. Now I can't and I was hoping someone could give me
step by step directions on how to replace that drive (all the
drivers, OS stuff to make it run like new). Ideally, I would like
to make the secondary drive the only drive with all of my music and
all of the operating software that is needed to run. I have been
told something about formatting but I have no idea how to do it. I
would also consider purchasing a 100 GB internal drive to replace
the old broken one. I believe I have all of the orginal disks that
cames with my computer. A big concern is how does a computer with
a broken primary drive boot up when the software to run the
computer is on that drive.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
You'll probably need their driver disc to get the onboard devices to
work properly, but there is no reason why you can't just add a new
drive (or replace an existing drive) and install an o/s.
Click to expand...

Drivers for the computer in question:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...D=DIM_PNT_P3C_4100&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid

As I am pretty certain the 4100 did not originally COME with Windows XP -
one can pretty well assume the OP has the installation CD for Windows XP.
 
Gerry said:
Shenan

Given this is a Dell computer doesn't that make for problems doing a
clean install?
Click to expand...

Gerry,

As I am pretty certain the 4100 did not originally come with Windows XP -
one can pretty well assume the OP has the installation CD for Windows XP
(they likely bought it and upgraded later or got a very late order on a Dell
Dimension 4100 and got the 'upgrade option'.)

The Dimension 4100 is actually pretty old (circa 2001ish or prior I
believe.) Although there is a possibility it was ordered with Windows XP -
at that time Dell did not (if I recall) utilize the partition means of
restoration/recovery. Also - the inclusion of a secondary drive in the
original post infers some work has been done on this machine in the past -
Dell did not normally (then) sell the Dimension series with two drives as
original options -- although I imagine you could have requested it.
 
Shenan

If the user used an XP upgrade disk?

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Shenan,

You can order the OS disk free of charge:

http://support.dell.com/support/top...e/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

I recently received an MCE CD using the above page. I then tried to get
Dell to give me a resource CD for my 8400 but they said it was outdated and
to get the drivers from their site. I tried to tell Customer Service how
stupid it was to not furnish CDs at the time of purchase but they just
didn't get it--they sent another MCE CD instead <G>. I intend to write Dell
and tell them that an image on the drive is OK but it is of little use when
the drive fails and they are doing their customers a disservice by not
providing the OS and drivers CDs at the time of purchase. If enough people
complain, maybe they will listen.
 
alexferrer1 said:
My old Dell Dimension 4100's main hard drive is dead. I use this
computer as a music server with a secondary internal drive to play
through my Tivo. Now I can't and I was hoping someone could give me
step by step directions on how to replace that drive (all the
drivers, OS stuff to make it run like new). Ideally, I would like
to make the secondary drive the only drive with all of my music and
all of the operating software that is needed to run. I have been
told something about formatting but I have no idea how to do it. I
would also consider purchasing a 100 GB internal drive to replace
the old broken one. I believe I have all of the orginal disks that
cames with my computer. A big concern is how does a computer with
a broken primary drive boot up when the software to run the
computer is on that drive.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
You'll probably need their driver disc to get the onboard devices to
work properly, but there is no reason why you can't just add a new
drive (or replace an existing drive) and install an o/s.
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Drivers for the computer in question:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...D=DIM_PNT_P3C_4100&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid

As I am pretty certain the 4100 did not originally COME with
Windows XP - one can pretty well assume the OP has the installation
CD for Windows XP.
Click to expand...
If the user used an XP upgrade disk?
Click to expand...

An XP Upgrade CD can be used to cleanly install and as the user said they
have all the original CDs - I see they say they do - then this should be no
problem.

Again - the user has a Dimension 4100. At the time this came out - Dell (by
default) shipped you the ACTUAL installation CDs. You did not have to
select the option to get them. So the OP - going by their own statement -
has the original CDs that came with the machine - meaning they have an OS
installation CD of some sort...

The timeframe is iffy - could go with 'originally came with Windows XP' or
'came with Windows ME and I got the upgrade to XP (from Dell or not...)' In
any case...

Clean install from Full media (Retail or OEM):
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Clean install from Upgrade media (Only comes in 'Retail'):
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
(Pay attention to Step 9...)

- Backup your stuff!!!

- Boot with Windows XP installation CD (Retail, OEM or Upgrade)...

- Follow directions from the web page given - if you just want to get right
into it:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

- When it comes up - have Service Pack 2 on some external media and install
it before connecting the machine to the Internet in ANY fashion:
http://snipurl.com/8bqy

- Go get/install any drivers that did not install:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...D=DIM_PNT_P3C_4100&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid

- Install your other applications.

- Continue using the PC.
 
Ron said:
Shenan,

You can order the OS disk free of charge:

http://support.dell.com/support/top...e/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

I recently received an MCE CD using the above page. I then tried
to get Dell to give me a resource CD for my 8400 but they said it
was outdated and to get the drivers from their site. I tried to
tell Customer Service how stupid it was to not furnish CDs at the
time of purchase but they just didn't get it--they sent another MCE
CD instead <G>. I intend to write Dell and tell them that an image
on the drive is OK but it is of little use when the drive fails and
they are doing their customers a disservice by not providing the OS
and drivers CDs at the time of purchase. If enough people
complain, maybe they will listen.
Click to expand...

Nice - I was just searching their web page for the support form that might
allow the ordering of said media. Thanks!!
 
Thanks Shenan. The comments by you and Ron air issues, which those
contemplating buying computers from Dell and the like, need to be aware
of. A full copy of the operating system on CD is essential if the user
is to safeguard their investment in a new computer.

If they have used an XP upgrade CD having previously started with say 98
do they need a 98 CD to install XP on a new drive?

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Shenan

Given this is a Dell computer doesn't that make for problems doing a clean
install?
Click to expand...

It shouldn't, no, particularly if the system came with an XP installation
CD. The only problem that might arise is if the now-dead drive held a
recovery partition. This of course is the fatal flaw with this scheme;
when the drive dies all partitions are equally inaccessible.

Dells use a service-tag scheme, which makes finding correct drivers very,
very easy. You simply go to Dell Support, perhaps log in, enter the
service tag, and you'll be shown a list of all the drivers for that machine
as it shipped new.

HTH
-pk
--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to expand...
 
Gerry said:
Shenan

If the user used an XP upgrade disk?
Click to expand...

Those won't affect drivers. As noted, simply search the Dell site using
the Service Tag and drivers will be displayed.

A big plus for servicing Dells is that the *correct* drivers are really
easy to get by using the service tag. Dells usually shipped with an OS
CD and a driver CD, and if the driver disk is lost, you can download them.

HTH
-pk
--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Shenan

This statement caught my eye "Clean install from Upgrade media (Only
comes in 'Retail'):" Upgrade Disks are they normally only available for
Retail versions?

BTW whenever a user in these newsgroups says they have "original" disks
I am always reluctant to take that as 100% reliable. If the Dell
computer is that old i.e. ME era the OP might be better advised to spend
their money on a new computer rather than spending more money
resurrecting a "museum" piece!

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Patrick

Thanks for responding. I have been asking questions to advance my
knowledge and not because I have a Dell. I do not have a Dell as I
prefer getting my computers built for me. They all have generic OEM
operating systems.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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