Re: Re:Update...

legally the cd can not be used on another pc. techinially, it absolutely
can. should it be a very old dell branded cd then it would not have sata
hard disk controller drivers and that would translate into it not 'seeing'
your hard drive. the solution is to download the drivers and put them on a
floppy and when you first start installing xp press f6 when prompted to
provide additional drivers... if you don't have a floppy disk there are
ways around this but first things first... see if your dell branded windows
xp cd loads the sata drivers. you will not have to activate windows if you
boot from the dell xp cd prior to installing... before you start it is a
good idea to know what you have in the system (stews sugestion of entering
the bios to get a summary is the best approach) then visit support.dell.com
to download all the drivers. i download them and then put them all on a cd
or usb drive. i rename them as i down them but adding a descruption of the
type of driver (ie if it is called 'r93284.exe', i might call it 'video -
r93284.eve' so you know what it is). after windows is installed first apply
the chipset, then anything else, but typically starting with the video so
you can see things better, then audio, network, modem, etc until your are
done. then application software like dvd player and/or recording software,
windows updates (repeatedly until no more updates available), antivirus,
then your application programs... good luck.

"Monica" <reese@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:q1Irl.87469$2h5.78324@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Entered the Service Tag number and got "no information available". I've
got some of the configuration info from tech support.
All of it is not available yet....has to do with this being a refurbished
model. Original ship date was Jan 08 so it's only a year old. There is
a VIIV sticker on the front.
Not familar with that. Googled it. Marketing hoopla? Core 2 Quad Core
6600 2.4GHz, 3MB 667 RAM, 8MB L2 Cache, (integrated) SigmaTel HD Audio
Codec (have no idea how that compares to my Audigy 2 card), ATI Radeon HD
2400 vid card, 320MB hdd (double the
size of the 8400). It all seems to be a sizeable improvement over the
8400. The little sidebar window feature on top of the box....I don't get
it :o Looks nice but could they have put the money elsewhere?

*My current system has
4- 1GB 240-PIN DIMM 128Mx64 DDR2 PC2-4200 UNBUFFERED. All I know of the
new is 3MB 667 RAM. Is that enough information to be able to compare the
two sets? Which would be better?
**About "downgrading" from Vista to XP SP3. Could I expect to run into
some driver or compatibility issues. I have the XP SP2 OS cd that came
with the 8400. I've had one ts agent tell me it wouldn't install on a
different computer. Another said it would.

That was an interesting read about all the other Dimension 8400s that have
had the (or some of the) same problems. I really didn't expect anyone to
believe me when I said the fan/power supply sounded like jet about to take
off :o Thank goodness I bought the extra warranty when I purchased the
system. I didn't even realize it was still under warranty. Think I'll
have them troubleshoot the speaker problem since I'm covered for two more
months.

"Timothy Drouillard" <hdrdtd@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FLKdncOspcrydzPUnZ2dnUVZ_hCWnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monica, there should be a Dell service tag somewhere on the case. I don't
remember where, and mine is at home.

Find the service tag ID, then go to Dell's web site, to the support
section, plug in the service tag and you should be able to bring up a
*** that shows the complete original configuration of that particular
system.

You can also find the service tag if you enter the BIOS setup (hit F2 at
boot).

The 420's are very nice systems even when using the integrated audio.
Intergrated audio has come a long way in the last year or three.


"Monica" <reese@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:XlArl.57965$2O4.38759@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FedEx just delivered a XPS 420. Nothing in the box that states the
configuration. No packing slip, nothing. There are 4 sticks of memory.
Pulled one. It was a 1gb stick. I'm assuming the others are too. The
outside of the system is a mess with smudges that won't come off and
scratches. Came with Vista....someone didn't get the XP memo! Here are
two links to pictures I took of the mobo and what I think is the video
card. Maybe someone can identify them please? Sound cared must be
integrated :( Back when I made it my business to know all this stuff,
"integrated" wasn't good. My 8400 has an Audigy 2 card with 5.1
surround
sound. I'll call Dell later and try to muddle thru 50 different
non-American speaking agents and hope to get less than 50 different
answers :o
Monica
http://www.pbase.com/monicakm/image/109839099
http://www.pbase.com/monicakm/image/109839327

"BillW50" <billw50@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gojjdp$mv8$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In news:S9brl.85313$2h5.28233@xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Monica typed on Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:24:54 -0600:
Some of what I'm reading about the PFN_List_Corrupt points to bad
memory sticks. Last summer, I replaced the two 512 sticks and maxed
the system out with 4 1GB sticks. Where would (or would it) the
system indicate bad memory if that was the problem? In Setup before
entering Windows?

Well considering you saw smoke, that hints that there was too much
current in one or more components. The true blame of why is unknown
right now. But the memory could be one cause for sure.

I wouldn't try swapping the memory out with other memory. Because there
is a chance that anything you plug in can blow as well. You can inspect
the memory though and smell it. As that is what might has smoked. You
are going to have to take them out anyway to return your computer under
warrantee anyway, right?

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu










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