Possible to install Non-Dell Windows XP on a Dell?

[Nutdotnet]

I have a Dell Dimension 9100. I decided to not upgrade to XP Pro since I got a real good deal on it though my university.

I tried installing XP Pro this morning. It installs with no problems. However, when installation is finished and the "Windows XP" screen comes up (the screen where the computer is actually loading up the OS" it just reboots...and reboots...and reboots....

Safe mode doesn't change anything.

I'm lost!

I'd go to Dell's site to "chat" but I bought this through EPP and their phones are only up Monday-Friday.

Thanks!

 

[mgob]

non-dell windows xp should install perfectly find....

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: mgob
non-dell windows xp should install perfectly find....

Ok...so if it doesn't...I must be doing something wrong?

It seems like it messes with the MBR...

 

[mechBgon]

If the WinXP CD is pre-Service Pack 2 (by now I hope they do give you a CD with SP2 onboard), then Windows could have been automatically infected with worms within a few seconds of the network drivers being installed during Windows Setup, unless you have a hardware firewall or took other special precautions.

 

[thescreensavers]

did it install completely. Did it restarted and continued installation. What color are the bar's when its loading windows xp?

 

[bendixG15]

I installed Win2kPro on a Dell box last month and all works fine.

I kept the Dell hard drive and I wrote all zeroes to it (aka low level format)
to insure that I cleaned out any proprietery stuff that Dell had.

I also took the time to "study" the Dell BIOS, which is so diferent
from a standard BIOS and made a few changes.

You should be able to get Windows to install okay...

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: bendixG15
I installed Win2kPro on a Dell box last month and all works fine.

I kept the Dell hard drive and I wrote all zeroes to it (aka low level format)
to insure that I cleaned out any proprietery stuff that Dell had.

I also took the time to "study" the Dell BIOS, which is so diferent
from a standard BIOS and made a few changes.

You should be able to get Windows to install okay...

So you did a low-level format?

Alright...all I did was install Windows on the "C:" drive. There's a small partition in front of it to allow it to run some Dell-specific utilities...and there is also a partition behind the C: drive which contains Dell's restore utility.

I would rather not get rid of these since if, and when, I end up selling it I can just restore it back to it's factory state...

Like I said in the original post...the install goes fine...but once it tries to get into windows it reboots. It won't get past the "Windows XP" Logo startup screen.

 

[mechBgon]

Right. Is it WinXP SP2 (the worm-resistant version) or is it SP1 or no SP at all (the Insta-Worm? versions).

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Right. Is it WinXP SP2 (the worm-resistant version) or is it SP1 or no SP at all (the Insta-Worm? versions).

Sorry, I knew I forgot to answer something.

It's Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
did it install completely. Did it restarted and continued installation. What color are the bar's when its loading windows xp?

Yes to your first two answers.

The bars are green...when they do show..

 

[mechBgon]

Green bars = non-SP2, last I knew. This a Microsoft-manufactured holographic CD?

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
did it install completely. Did it restarted and continued installation. What color are the bar's when its loading windows xp?

Yes to your first two answers.

The bars are green...when they do show..

Only windows xp home is green - are you sure you installed pro?

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
did it install completely. Did it restarted and continued installation. What color are the bar's when its loading windows xp?

Yes to your first two answers.

The bars are green...when they do show..

Only windows xp home is green - are you sure you installed pro?

Hold on...let me check real quck....

 

[Nutdotnet]

Sorry, they're blue...I think...I actually did the "Dell Restore" function once I had the reboot problems...those show up as grean...

 

[Nocturnal]

Yes all it is is an OEM disc/key. However when you activate your copy and you have to call in and they ask you where you bought your computer from and you say this is a custom built one they'll know that it isn't legit and most likely won't let you activate your copy of Windows. You aren't supposed to take that copy and go and install it on another machine.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Green bars = non-SP2, last I knew. This a Microsoft-manufactured holographic CD?

No, this is a copy of my Windows CD with SP2 slipstreamed into it. I used to use this on my old desktop with zero problems.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Yes all it is is an OEM disc/key. However when you activate your copy and you have to call in and they ask you where you bought your computer from and you say this is a custom built one they'll know that it isn't legit and most likely won't let you activate your copy of Windows. You aren't supposed to take that copy and go and install it on another machine.

Huh?

 

[ND40oz]

You need to get rid of the small dell partition that is on the hard drive as well. It's the reason your having problems with your install. Reinstall windows and delete all the partitions and then recreate a single partition during the install.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
You need to get rid of the small dell partition that is on the hard drive as well. It's the reason your having problems with your install. Reinstall windows and delete all the partitions and then recreate a single partition during the install.

My only fear of that is...IF...it doesn't work...then I'm really screwed...

 

[Nutdotnet]

I'm doing some search and read a thread where people were first deleting the C: partition and then creating it again...all I did was format it.

 

[Nocturnal]

Sorry. I would if you could, delete every partition that exists and recreate it. You can do this during the text portion of the Windows XP Pro setup. It will check to see if there is an existing Windows installation on any of the partitions and if there is it will display it. You would hit ESC and it would ask you what you'd like to do as far as deleting and creating a partition for Windows to install itself onto. From here you could delete all partitions and then just create one NTFS and then format it then let it install.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Sorry. I would if you could, delete every partition that exists and recreate it. You can do this during the text portion of the Windows XP Pro setup. It will check to see if there is an existing Windows installation on any of the partitions and if there is it will display it. You would hit ESC and it would ask you what you'd like to do as far as deleting and creating a partition for Windows to install itself onto. From here you could delete all partitions and then just create one NTFS and then format it then let it install.

Well...I certainly could do that.

My fear is, as I stated above, if that doesn't work...then I just deleted the Utility partion that allows me to enter the "Dell Restore" partition. What I may do is call Dell to get the Recovery disk...

 

[Nutdotnet]

I sucked it up and deleted the other partitions...

Works great...thanks!

 

[CrispyFried]

got a spare hd lying around? just ghost the 2 other partitions and then delete them and do a fdisk/mbr

maybe dell has a special boot loader thats messing with xp

edit: just read the last post.. nevermind..