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Found Dell 4700 Dimension, need help getting it running

K

Kilgore65

Senior member
I recently found a Dell 4700 Dimension on a trash pile in an upscale neighborhood. I picked it up and carried it home to see what I could do with it. Turns out it starts up and goes through the setup procedure fine, but gives 'selected boot device not available' when trying to boot. It has a 80GB SATA drive which is apparently working, as it gets warm after the computer has been on a while. Apparently, this is a pretty common problem with Dells. http://en.community.dell.com/f...19246844/19389196.aspx Obviously, I do not have a Dell Recovery CD with this computer. I was wondering if anyone could recommend what to do? I'd really like to get this computer working, as my current computer is a home built 2001. I've been away from fooling with computers for a long time, so any help or ideas would be appreciated.
 
Well you can install any copy of XP you may have. You can ge all the drivers from the Dell web page. But if you have problems installing it then the drive may be bad or the motherboard itself may be having issues.
 
Install Ubuntu or XP.
Make sure that first boot drive is CD drive after you put in the OS cd in the drive
 
Originally posted by: Kilgore65
I recently found a Dell 4700 Dimension on a trash pile in an upscale neighborhood. I picked it up and carried it home to see what I could do with it. Turns out it starts up and goes through the setup procedure fine, but gives 'selected boot device not available' when trying to boot. It has a 80GB SATA drive which is apparently working, as it gets warm after the computer has been on a while. Apparently, this is a pretty common problem with Dells. http://en.community.dell.com/f...19246844/19389196.aspx Obviously, I do not have a Dell Recovery CD with this computer. I was wondering if anyone could recommend what to do? I'd really like to get this computer working, as my current computer is a home built 2001. I've been away from fooling with computers for a long time, so any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Buy a cheap drive for $50 or so, slap Windows on it, and away you go.
 
I have tried loading my copy Windows XP on to the Dell, but to no avail. It still gives me the error message that it cannot recognize the hard drive. Apparently, I need a Dell Recovery Disk to get the drive recognized. Does anyone have a Recovery Disk for a Dell Dimension 4700 that they could share with me through a file share program so I can burn my own CD? Please PM me with email or yahoo messenger nick. Many thanks!
 
Originally posted by: Kilgore65
I have tried loading my copy Windows XP on to the Dell, but to no avail. It still gives me the error message that it cannot recognize the hard drive. Apparently, I need a Dell Recovery Disk to get the drive recognized. Does anyone have a Recovery Disk for a Dell Dimension 4700 that they could share with me through a file share program so I can burn my own CD? Please PM me with email or yahoo messenger nick. Many thanks!
Click to expand...

Integrate the SATA drivers you need into XP (google nlite) from the Dell WWW page, if required, or if you have a dead drive, replace the drive.
 
Well, I don't mess with file sharing but if you send me your addy I'll drop a copy of a Dell XP32 SP2 disk in the mail to you within the next couple of days. (Gonna be out of the office tomorrow but should be able to mail it Thursday.)

And turn on your PM if you ask us to reach you that way! :laugh:
 
Originally posted by: Denithor
Well, I don't mess with file sharing but if you send me your addy I'll drop a copy of a Dell XP32 SP2 disk in the mail to you within the next couple of days.
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In most places this would be considered illegal.
 
I don't need a Windows XP disk. I already own a legal copy of Windows. I need a Dell Recovery Disk, with drivers etc. Surely that should be public domain?
 
Originally posted by: Kilgore65
I don't need a Windows XP disk. I already own a legal copy of Windows. I need a Dell Recovery Disk, with drivers etc. Surely that should be public domain?
Click to expand...

You can get the drivers from their website.
 
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