Windows XP problem starting after clean install

I just recently did a clean install on a Dell 4800 Dimension desktop. When I start it up the first screen I see is the www.dell.com screen. There it stays and won't continue to load. I can't get into setup using any f keys. I tried using the following keys at bootup to get into set up:
f1,f2,f3,f4,f5,f6,f7,f8,f9,f10,f11,f12,esc and delete. I am very frustrated now and can really use some assistance. I put in a boot disk in the floppy drive and the operating disk in the cd drive also and still the same blue screen.

 

This means that XP has no Boot information.

When clean installing, did you provide any SATA or RAID information for your drives that would be needed? (Requires a floppy disk containing the drivers).

Your issue is discussed in this MS KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503

 

Are you referring to putting a boot disk in the floppy and selecting the option of starting with or without a cd? It doesn't seem to even see the floppy drive. Any help is appreciated.

 

Hello pleasantlake,

When you say "clean" install - with an OS (retail or OEM) disc? Did you go thru the steps outlined here: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Can you get into the BIOS - the delete key on bootup? Is the CD-Rom the primary boot device?

If the ROM is the primary boot device, you should be able to boot with the XP cd and use the Recovery Console to rebuild the boot info if that's what's wrong.

Regards - Charles

 

pleasantlake

I will try that when I get home where the computer is. How late will you be online?

 

Hi pleasantlake,

I'll be on till 6 PM my time - but I'll check my e-mails. If not, I'll be here tommorrow morning about 7:30 AM.

And someone else may pick the thread up anyway.

Regards - Charles

 

pleasantlake

Thanks for the help. I will let you know how it goes!

 

I have a OEM disk. When you asked about any SATA or Raid information for my drives where you refering to the boot 98 disk I used or something else?
No I cant get to the bios yet. I will try using the Del button again when I get home today.

 

Hi pleasantlake,

The diskette Bill was reffering to is not a boot disk. If you still have that 98 boot disk in the drive, take it out.

I'm also a litle puzzled, when I try to find Deminsion 4800 desktop specs, can't http://support.dell.com/support/sys...aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~cat=12&~subcat=84

Ran across a reference to a 4800 server - can't find that either.

Regards - Charles

 

pleasantlake

I am not sure of the model number. It is at home and I am at work now. Last night I put that hard drive in another machine as a master and used fdisk and formatted it. No other hard drive was in that machine when I did this. Then I put it back in the original machine and turned it on. The www.dell.com blue splash screen comes up and won't got past it. I tried hitting the del button when I first started it up and that didn't help get past the first screen. I tried the esc button with the same results. How do I get past the dell splash screen? Please help. I am getting very desperate. This is taking way too long to fix!

 

Hi pleasantlake,

I'm out of ideas here. Your basic problem seems to be not being able to get into the BIOS - if its there.

The advice I have is to go to the Dell support forums:

http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums

Go into the Dimension BIOS forum and start there:
http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=dim_bios

Regards - Charles

 

pleasantlake

I will try that. Thank your for all of your help!

 

The deneumont to this thread.

Regards - Charles

 

The problem was solved after I changed the video card. Thanks for all of your help.

 

Charles

It took me 69 years to discover that word so I looked it up. You might know it is from the French.

denouement
One entry found for denouement.
Main Entry: de·noue·ment
Variant(s): also dé·noue·ment / "dA- "nü-'män, dA-'nü- "/
Function: noun
Etymology: French dénouement, literally, untying, from Middle French desnouement, from desnouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, from Latin nodare, from nodus knot -- more at NODE
1 : the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work
2 : the outcome of a complex sequence of events

 

Hi Bill

Now that Congress has officially reinstated french for a certain style of fries, I thought I'd indulge myself

Regards - Charles