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Help diagnosing this Dell

SanDiegoPC

Senior member
I just put a new HD on a Dell Dimension desktop (Pentium 4) and am trying (obviously) to install Windows on it. I've tried three different Windows disks, and two different CD/DVD drives. The computer reads the DVD Rom for a second (the light on the drive blinks perhaps 5 seconds) and then up pops the familiar message on the screen "Reboot and select proper boot device, or insert media into selected device".

The boot order in the setup is set properly. The new HD and the DVD Rom are correctly identified in the CMOS. I've tried, as I said, three different Windows disks in the OEM DVD drive, and then I swapped out the DVD Rom for another and tried the same disks again.

What's next to try? The cables look fine but I guess it wouldn't hurt to swap them out too. But I'm running out of things to try, and getting frustrated. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

-Paul in Cloudy, cool San Diego
 
Bad RAM? Haven't thought of that but makes sense. But how come you haven't noticed the RAM problem during previous usage? I wonder that.
 
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