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Will a new hard drive solve OS problem?

B

biru32

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
164
I have a Dell computer that has been built for Windows ME OS. I know that I need special drivers if I want to load Windows XP. However, if I simply replace the current hard drive, load XP and the XP drivers, will this solve my problem?

I'm nearly certain that the old hard drive has gone bad.

I don't know jack about drivers and enough to be dangerous about hardware.

Should drivers be different if they are placed on a Gateway vs. a Dell, or Compaq? Or are drivers all the same as long as they go with the associated OS?

Help! Thanks [H]ard folks!
 
I've spent hours on the phone with Dell and have run all kinds of tests and whenever I go to load Windows ME, I still get the blue screen of death with errors. I've completely cleaned and reformated the hard drive, you name it, Dell had me do or test it.
 
I had a similar problem about a year ago with a HP that I once owned where I had to replace the hard drive. The original CD that came with your Dell should have the OS and all the original drivers for your computer, so you should be able to reinstall Windows ME and all the drivers on your *new* hard drive (if that's where you think the problem lies) without much trouble. You shouldn't need Windows XP, but if you really want XP, then the easiest way for you is to use the Dell CD to install all of the drivers (as well as ME) and then use an upgrade version of XP. If the Dell CD doesn't install ME or doesn't recognize the hardware in your computer, then you'll need the full version of XP. You should be able to find most of the drivers you'll then need online.

To answer your question about drivers, different computer makers sometimes (or often?) use various proprietary parts. So, a driver for a sound card made by Gateway, for example, may not work on a computer from Dell or HP. For a while, Dell was notorious for making proprietary parts that couldn't be upgraded or changed (e.g., motherboards wouldn't accept any power supply except Dell's own -- help me out with more examples please, guys?). I haven't kept up to date about Dell, HP, or Gateway since I built my current computer, so I don't know if that has changed.
 
Okay, since my earlier response was pointless, the only thing I can tell you is that you'll probably need to either a)order a new drivers CD from Dell, or b)get a full version of either Windows ME or XP (whichever one you want to use) and find the drivers for your hardware online. Now I'm assuming that you are using the same hard drive to reinstall ME on, so you might want to try using a different hard drive in your computer to verify that it's the hard drive, and (maybe) not the CD, that's the culprit.

BTW, what system do you own? And did you make any hardware changes since you bought it?
 
The system is a Dell 8100. It came with a 60 gig hard drive and a P4. Everything is standard, no upgrades...yet.

What do you mean by a "full" version of Windows? All I've ever know were full versions. What's the difference between an upgrade version and a full version?

Thanks for you help.
 
An upgrade version allows you to install a newer version of Windows over the older one, ideally without having to change your settings or your drivers. Me, I belive in the full version myself, having learned many lessions over the past 18 months with that !@#$$@ HP I once owned.

If you can spare some time, search here:

Dell Customer Service - Downloads

Hopefully you can find the drivers you may need here.
 
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