Patio, No she (I) does not have any discs associated with the machine. She has moved 4 times since the purchase and any she did have are long gone. However i have downloaded the complete manual on her computer so hopefully the description of the MB will be there. I have not read the full manual yet but i have looked at the part dealing with the "RC">This is the part that worries me "Restoring Your Operating System
You can restore your operating system in the following ways:
• Microsoft Windows XP System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state
without affecting data files.
•
Dell PC Restore by Symantec restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when
you purchased the computer. Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive
and all files and applications installed since new will be lost"I do realize we are not using that RC but as i get deeper into my research it appears that DELL is less user friendly to a recovery than other computers.
It has occurred to me as a question. Could this be caused by an error by an incorrect date emanating from the CMOS battery?
Now the $64,000 question what do you think of this to solve the SATA drivers/F6 problem ?
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=122I got to this via a search for the SATA drivers for xp. I am concerned by the reference to "overclocking". However the impression i get is that it will present other choices when it is accessed in the problematic computer. I am feeling my feet coming off the bottom of the pool as i delve into deeper water. truenorth
P.S. Or what about this it DOES seem very specific to the dell dimension 8400 ?
http://www.burchwords.com/archives/82