Can't install WinXP on Dell Dimension E510

[Arcadio]

I'm trying to install Windows XP Pro by booting to CD, but the screen goes blank and the setup screen never appears. I've tried with different CD's and different CD-drives.

I updated the BIOS also. What can I do?

 

[Roguestar]

Have you selected the CD drive as the first and only boot device?

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Have you selected the CD drive as the first and only boot device?

I selected it as the first boot device. It does boot to CD, but when it comes to starting the setup, the screen turns blank. I also removed one memory stick at a time to see if bad memory was the culprit, but no, it was not the memory.

 

[Roguestar]

Is it a SATA CD Drive, and a copy of XP without service pack 1?

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Is it a SATA CD Drive, and a copy of XP without service pack 1?

what he said - get XP CD with SP2 or SP3 integrated and make sure you have your SATA AHCI drivers integrated or on the floppy.

 

[MadAmos]

make sure it is set to IDE mode in the Bios

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Is it a SATA CD Drive, and a copy of XP without service pack 1?

what he said - get XP CD with SP2 or SP3 integrated and make sure you have your SATA AHCI drivers integrated or on the floppy.

The CD-drive is PATA. I am using an XP CD with SP2 integrated.

 

[RebateMonger]

So, what's the last screen you see when you boot to the XP Install CD?

 

[mpilchfamily]

You are hitting Enter when the system asks you if you want to boot from teh CD right?

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
You are hitting Enter when the system asks you if you want to boot from teh CD right?

Yes. After pressing "Enter" the cd starts spinning faster, but nothing appears on the screen. After a few seconds the CD slows down. I tried different CD's and none of them work.

 

[PeteRoy]

Did you try going into the BIOS and reset to default settings?

 

[Ketchup]

What video card does your computer have? Is it integrated? What type connection does it have?

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
Did you try going into the BIOS and reset to default settings?

Yes, and I also updated the BIOS.

Originally posted by: ketchup79
What video card does your computer have? Is it integrated? What type connection does it have?

It's integrated, and it's not my computer. I repair computers, but this is the first time I've seen this problem.

 

[Roguestar]

Try and install from an external USB CD/DVD drive?

 

[Ketchup]

When you say the screen goes blank, do you mean it is black, or the signal from the video card goes out?

From what you have said, I think this could very well be a video card issue. Try installing a video card and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[RebateMonger]

Try pulling all add-in cards. And add a basic PCI video card if you have one available.

What is the reason that XP is being (re?) installed? Was there some particular complaint from before?

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Try pulling all add-in cards. And add a basic PCI video card if you have one available.

What is the reason that XP is being (re?) installed? Was there some particular complaint from before?

The computer is filled with spyware. It boots to Windows XP without problems. I need to do a full reinstallation of the OS. The video card is integrated, but it works fine under the current installation of Windows XP.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Try and install from an external USB CD/DVD drive?

That would be a last resort, but I will do it if necessary.

 

[Roguestar]

Last resort would be replacing hardware, surely . If you're just installing windows again, give it a go on the external drive.

 

[bamacre]

Try replacing the PATA cable? In case it is going bad.

Tried booting up using a bootable copy of Linux?

Have a copy of Vista? You could try to boot up with that, and delete the partition on the hard drive, then retry XP install.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Try pulling all add-in cards. And add a basic PCI video card if you have one available.

What is the reason that XP is being (re?) installed? Was there some particular complaint from before?

The computer is filled with spyware. It boots to Windows XP without problems. I need to do a full reinstallation of the OS. The video card is integrated, but it works fine under the current installation of Windows XP.

Your computer is filled with spyware? Well, there are different programs you can try. The first two are Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. Those work together and you have to update them.

Second, when you re-install Windows, make sure you look at all the options. You want to delete the primary partition and then re-create the primary partition. The menu in the setup is pretty simple and straight-forward. It's easy to do.

Third, I've had problems that literally went down to the level of my BIOS. Unplug the computer, take the battery out of the motherboard, then find the CMOS jumper. Sometimes it's called CMOS or something like CLR_RTC or whatever. It's often but not always close to the battery. Let's say the jumper is on pin 2 and 3. Take it off and then put it on pin 1 and 2 (anyway, the other 2 pins) and leave it for like 3 or 4 seconds. Then put it back on the pins it was on originally. That resets the BIOS to default settings and even the time and date will have to be corrected once you power on again.

Finally, there is a trial version of CounterSpy that can do what Spybot and Ad-Aware can do together. It's very powerful. But, I once had a RAT called Massaker that when deleted, screwed up my system. lol So, I had to do what I described above. Happy tinkering.

 

[Ketchup]

Just adding a bit to what coolpurplefan said.

At this point, I think the easiest solution would be do remove spyware. The new AVG is pretty good at spyware removal, and Spy Emergency is very good at spyware removal.

Good luck.

 

[Blain]

Pull the drive, reformat it in a different PC.
Reinstall it in the Dell, load Windows and move on with your life.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Just adding a bit to what coolpurplefan said.

At this point, I think the easiest solution would be do remove spyware. The new AVG is pretty good at spyware removal, and Spy Emergency is very good at spyware removal.

Good luck.

The spyware on this computer is severe. In my experience it is much easier reinstalling Windows.

BTW, problem solved: I changed the IDE cable..... DONE!!!! Thanks to the clown who recommended that option...bamacre. I should've tried that first!!!

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Just adding a bit to what coolpurplefan said.

At this point, I think the easiest solution would be do remove spyware. The new AVG is pretty good at spyware removal, and Spy Emergency is very good at spyware removal.

Good luck.

The spyware on this computer is severe. In my experience it is much easier reinstalling Windows.

BTW, problem solved: I changed the IDE cable..... DONE!!!! Thanks to the clown who recommended that option...bamacre. I should've tried that first!!!

:thumbsup:

Glad I could help.