Dell Dimension 4600 Windows XP Install

[Ryoshin]

Working on a dell dimension 4600 for a friend. Trying to install windows xp and the copying of the setup files to the hdd is extremely slow. I've tried a different disc and a different optical drive. Is this maybe an indication that the hard drive is bad?  I left it going for about 3 hours earlier and it was still only at 40%. Also, the optical drive stops spinning the disc periodically for a bit, and then will start spinning again. I updated bios and set all bios back to default. The only thing I haven't tried yet is a different hard drive. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Vikram Varaprasad]

Sounds like you need to change your hardidsk too.......
Try it also.....

[Allan]

Are you doing this at boot or from within an existing OS? Was there a problem with the system originally? Please provide some background.

[Ryoshin]

Tried new hard disk, still same problem. When I actually got the pc it took about 10 minutes before xp would even load up and when it came up it took about 10 more minutes before I could even click on a username. Someone had been messing around in the BIOS and enabled OS install mode which limits the system to 256mb ram, so I disabled it giving back the full 512 thinking that may help. Also, I'm trying to do a fresh install. I've already deleted the partition so there's nothing on the HDD anymore. I'm thinking maybe it's a problem with the RAM.

[patio]

Go into the BIOS and re-set it to default settings...
They probably mucked with a bunch of other settings as well...

I've never seen an OS install mode in any BIOS.

[Computer_Commando]

I've never seen an OS install mode in any BIOS.

Those things are all over the place, references to OS2 (does anyone remember or use OS2?).

Here's one on a relatively new motherboard.
OS Select for DRAM>64MB, non-OS2 (default), OS2

[Ryoshin]

bios is set to default to the best of my knowledge anyway, found documention on dell.com with all default settings for bios. I don't think the bios has a default reset.

[patio]

All of them do...
Or removing the CMOS battery with the PSU unplugged for 5-6 minutes will do it also.

[Allan]

5-6 minutes? Must be some HUGE capacitors

[Computer_Commando]

5-6 minutes? Must be some HUGE capacitors

CMOS=low static power consumption.  Significant power is only drawn when the transistors in the CMOS device are switching between on and off states.

[patio]

I always hedge my bets....

I also hit the PC's power switch a few times to discharge any stored energy.

[Ryoshin]

I know they all should have a bios reset, but I couldn't find the option i'll try removing the CMOS battery in a bit. Also this PC doesn't have an on/off switch... I hate pc's that don't have an on/off switch.

[Allan]

I've never seen a dell (or any computer, for that matter) without a power switch / button

[Ryoshin]

Well for some reason I thought you meant the PSU on/off switch. My bad, a little crunched for time atm lol. You say switch so I assume an actual switch, not a button.\

Just checked BIOS again definitely doesn't have a default reset, gonna take out CMOS battery now and replace in 5 minutes. Also this thing sits at the Dell splash screen a good 30 seconds before you can even get into BIOS.

[Ryoshin]

Taking cmos battery out and replacing seems to have done the trick. Already at 75% copying files. I'll let you know if the actual installation gets done. Thanks.