WinXP, Dell Reinstallation Disks, and Product Codes

[Ketchup]

Try this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24

If you have service pack 2, it should update. Windows Updates have been pretty shoddy in XP lately, as mentioned in a few other threads.

If, for some reason, this does not work (make sure you are bringing it up in IE) Windows update will probably get around to it eventually, assuming you have automatic updates turned on.

 

[Steltek]

I went to the Dell support page Steltek linked to, did a bunch of downloading, and now things work. Oddly, I didn't seem to be able to download the diagnostic tool, but the other drivers that appeared installed. I also didn't seem to be able to link to the latest BIOS there, but since Steltek said the latest version was A09, I just searched for a Dell page with the A09 BIOS and installed it without trouble or incident. Thanks, Steltek.

Latest problem: downloading Microsoft Security Essentials. To do so I need to upgrade to XP SP3-the Reinstallation disk gives you SP2. I have been trying to upgrade to SP3 for over a day. Apparently you cannot go to the MS site and do that-you have to set Automatic Updates and let them get around to sending you that on their own time.

Before I suspect that the drivers were not in place, so that is why MS did not update. Now that the necessary drivers are in place, I set it to upload the updates at 4AM this morning before going to bed. Unfortunately, at 10:30AM I still have SP2 on.

Is there some way to just go to a MS page and download the SP3 package? I don't like to be on the net without antivirus protection.

Ketchup79's link should let you download SP3 - I'd save that file somewhere as who knows if they will leave it up or not.

For some reason, I noticed this weekend that Dell has removed their diagnostic software from the support downloads of many of their systems. I don't know if it is now incompatible with older systems, or if there is just something wrong with their website.

You'll probably have to download a bunch more updates after SP3 is on the system. I'd suggest that, once you have all of the XP updates installed, you create a backup image of that activated clean hard drive install so you can do a quick OS restore to get the back to that point in the future without having to go through this reinstall nightmare again. I'd image it before you install any antivirus or security software so you have a completely clean install image to work with in the future.

MSE isn't a credible antivirus and is now itself on life support. Were it me, I'd use something with a little more umph and also add a good 3rd party software firewall to make up for the loss of security patches from Microsoft. Maybe additionally something like Sandboxie for extra insurance.

 

[Harvey]

Is there some way to just go to a MS page and download the SP3 package? I don't like to be on the net without antivirus protection.

The answer to that is simple. Install your AV, anti-spyware and any other progs (firewall, etc.) before going anywhere else on the web. I'm a firm believer in going online ONLY with full battle armor in place.

For the same reasons, I never start a fresh Windows installation while connected to the web. I decline to activate it when asked and get to a first desktop. Then, I install my AV and allow the machine to connect when it's time to alloiw it to update and repeat the process for the anti-spyware program. Only then will I allow the machine to go anywhere else, including Windows Updates.

 

[88keys]

OP, if you need ram, I have a 1GB (2x 512MB) set of DDR that is of no use to me. I'd be willing to give them away to someone in need.

 

[PS85]

OP, if you need ram, I have a 1GB (2x 512MB) set of DDR that is of no use to me. I'd be willing to give them away to someone in need.

What a generous offer. Thank you. I just might take you up on that, but let me check something out first. I really appreciate that.

Installed SP3 and McAfee antivirus from my internet provider. The system has slowed down considerably. It is working fine, but the antivirus makes it hard to use. I think 512MB is too little RAM.

The new BIOS on the machine, like the last one, says that the L2 cache is 1024KB. Does that mean the RAM is 1 meg? The listings say 2 meg. The machine boots up much better under the new OS,(winXP Home) and BIOS (A09).

Fardringle in post #24 says his Optiplex 170L works fine with 2MB RAM. I tried 2 MB on mine and it not only didn't work, I got beep beep beep sounds. Maybe try it again with this new OS and BIOS? Please advise.

Here is the RAM I have that StarMicro said would work:
http://starmicroinc.net/-p-1398.html

Should I try this again, or order the Crucial RAM that Fardringle uses in post #24?

 

[PS85]

Well, everything seemed to go well for awhile and I installed various things necessary to get this running. The machine boots up without problem, etc. For awhile I got around the internet pretty well.

Then I followed the directions to install third party antivirus. My internet company gives me free McAfee, so I downloaded that. "Downloaded" is the word, the machine acts like a normal passenger car loaded down with 2,000 lbs surplus weight. Apparently 512MB RAM works well as long as you don't use an antivirus, whether Microsoft Security Essentials or something else. And of course, zipping around the internet is not really possible w/o antivirus, (although astonishingly I didn't get burned when I went a couple of days without it. I did a full scan with McAfee and it showed no contamination from that. Just lucky, I guess).

I need more memory. Now the BIOS-A09-says that my L2 cache = 1024 KB. Does that mean my RAM is limited to 1 meg? All the websites show a 2 meg capability for this machine. I sent away for some memory and the company said it would work-this is when I had on the slightly malfunctioning XP professional, instead of the freshly installed XP Home I have now.

When I installed this memory under the old OS and old BIOS, I heard a beep beep beep. Now that I have a new OS and a new BIOS,should I try it again? Or should I send away to Crucial because another posters Optiplex 170L works fine on the 2 MB memory he installed?

This is the memory I installed from Star Micro, who assured me it would work:

http://starmicroinc.net/-p-1398.html

I would love to get 2 MB on this, if not 1MB would be a profound improvement. What should I do?

 

[PS85]

Installed McAfee antivirus from my internet provider. The system has slowed down considerably. It is working fine, but the antivirus makes it hard to use. I think 512MB is too little RAM.

The new BIOS on the machine, like the last one, says that the L2 cache is 1024KB. Does that mean the RAM is 1 meg? The listings say 2 meg. The machine boots up much better under the new OS,(winXP Home) and BIOS (A09).

Fardringle says his Optiplex 170L works fine with 2MB RAM. I tried 2 MB on mine and it not only didn't work, I got beep beep beep sounds. Maybe try it again with this new OS and BIOS? Please advise.

Here is the RAM I have that StarMicro said would work:
http://starmicroinc.net/-p-1398.html

Help

Should I try this again, or order the Crucial RAM that Fardringle uses in post #24?

 

[88keys]

Your L2 cache is your CPU, and doesn't have anything to do with your RAM.

In my experience Dell systems usually aren't that picky when it comes to RAM so long as the bus speed meets the requirements (which it does). You should make sure that you have the most recent BIOS installed to eliminate any issues there.
And sometimes when upgrading the RAM in an OEM machine, I've had to install one stick, boot it up to let the BIOS see it the shut it down and install the other stick and it works fine when you do that for some reason.

TBH, for Windows XP 1GB of RAM is good enough. 2GB might not be a bad idea though seeing as modern applications seem to need more RAM these days.

Another thing you can do if your systems seems slow is switch to classic view.

 

[PS85]

Duplicate. Sorry.

 

[PS85]

And sometimes when upgrading the RAM in an OEM machine, I've had to install one stick, boot it up to let the BIOS see it the shut it down and install the other stick and it works fine when you do that for some reason.

Do both memory slots have to be filled? Should I take both 256MB sticks out and put one 1GB stick in then shut down, or should I just replace one 256MB stick with a 1GB, leave the other 256MB in, and then shut down?

Just trying to get the procedure right, now that the machine is running well except for the RAM I don't want to mess up.

PS: The I GB memory sticks did not work the first time. In fact, when I combined one 1GB stick with an old 256MB stick, I got a beep beep beep. However, that was under the old OS,(WinXP Pro), and the old BIOS, (A07). The machine booted up strangely under those even before I tried to change the RAM.

 

[PS85]

Things seem to be heading in the right direction. I left a 256MB stick in slot #2, and put a 1GB stick in slot #1. It worked. I got 1.25 GB. Then I replaced the 256MB in slot #2 with the other 1GB. No dice.

I put the 256MB back into slot #2. Worked fine.

This time, I replaced the 1GB in slot #1 with the other 1GB stick. Nothing. I switched it back and it works fine.

Clearly one of the two 1GB sticks I bought is no good. But the machine is working fine now with 1.25GB memory. All that is left to do is to exchange the bad 1GB stick for a good one.

I want to thank everyone here for their patience, this is a successful conclusion to this issue. This is a great message board, and this seemingly intractable situation has been solved. Thanks everyone.

You've made a new fan! :biggrin: