New hard drive no boot cd

[Keithwheatley]

I kept getting an error code 7 on my son's Dell Dimension 3100. Wouldn't
start in safe mode. I presumed it was a HD failure and hace replaced it with
a new drive, exactly same type. The seller said that the drive needs to be
formatted. fitting the drive was easy, two connectors, no screws, just slides
in and out. The next bit I am stuck on. With no boot CD, can anyone tell me
whether I can download an XP boot disk from Microsoft please?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I kept getting an error code 7 on my son's Dell Dimension 3100. Wouldn't
start in safe mode. I presumed it was a HD failure and hace replaced it
with
a new drive, exactly same type. The seller said that the drive needs to
be
formatted. fitting the drive was easy, two connectors, no screws, just
slides
in and out. The next bit I am stuck on. With no boot CD, can anyone tell
me
whether I can download an XP boot disk from Microsoft please?

You need to check the documentation that came with your
PC. It either included a "Factory Restore" CD or else a boot
CD that lets you invoke a factory restore from a hidden
partition on the old disk. If it is the latter then it would be best
for you to ask Dell for advice.

 

[Keithwheatley]

You need to check the documentation that came with your
PC. It either included a "Factory Restore" CD or else a boot
CD that lets you invoke a factory restore from a hidden
partition on the old disk. If it is the latter then it would be best
for you to ask Dell for advice.

Thanks for the quick reply. I can't find any manuals of disks that came
with the computer!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I kept getting an error code 7 on my son's Dell Dimension 3100. Wouldn't
start in safe mode. I presumed it was a HD failure and hace replaced it with
a new drive, exactly same type. The seller said that the drive needs to be
formatted. fitting the drive was easy, two connectors, no screws, just slides
in and out. The next bit I am stuck on. With no boot CD, can anyone tell me
whether I can download an XP boot disk from Microsoft please?

"Error Code 7" is essentially meaningless without your having provided
any sort of context. Under what precise conditions, and exactly when,
does this message appear? Have you followed the diagnostic
recommendations here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/adtshoot.htm#wp1124478


To answer your specific question, you could download the necessary
files to create a set (6) of boot floppy diskettes that can be used to
start the installation of WinXP on a PC incapable of booting from the
CD, but you would still need to have a WinXP installation CD to continue
the installation.

What you really need to use is the Recovery CD(s) Dell provided with
the computer. If you've misplaced them, contact Dell to obtain
replacements.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[smlunatick]

"Error Code 7" is essentially meaningless without your having provided
any sort of context. Under what precise conditions, and exactly when,
does this message appear? Have you followed the diagnostic
recommendations here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/adtshoot....

To answer your specific question, you could download the necessary
files to create a set (6) of boot floppy diskettes that can be used to
start the installation of WinXP on a PC incapable of booting from the
CD, but you would still need to have a WinXP installation CD to continue
the installation.

What you really need to use is the Recovery CD(s) Dell provided with
the computer. If you've misplaced them, contact Dell to obtain
replacements.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Several of the newer Dell models (sold since 2006) have a hidden
partition, which is the Recovery system to re-install XP.

 

[Keithwheatley]

"Error Code 7" is essentially meaningless without your having provided
any sort of context. Under what precise conditions, and exactly when,
does this message appear? Have you followed the diagnostic
recommendations here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/adtshoot.htm#wp1124478


To answer your specific question, you could download the necessary
files to create a set (6) of boot floppy diskettes that can be used to
start the installation of WinXP on a PC incapable of booting from the
CD, but you would still need to have a WinXP installation CD to continue
the installation.

What you really need to use is the Recovery CD(s) Dell provided with
the computer. If you've misplaced them, contact Dell to obtain
replacements.

Thanks Bruce, I will contact Dell and start over when I have the CD. I won't check back here until I have it. keith

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot