What brand of PC?
- Thread starter BobD
- Start date
Yep, your XP CD SHOULD just boot you right up. You should see something like "Press any key to boot from CD..." Hit the space bar and off you go. Before I type a bunch of detail that may be unneccessary, let me ask you this: Is there ANYTHING on the existing hard drive that you will want again? The easiest route would be to burn off any data (pictures, documents, etc) that you want to keep, then start the re-install. You can wipe both disks during the XP setup, and format them within the installation.
Depends on what you mean by "save everything". If you mean that you want to transfer M$crosoft Office from one drive to the other.... No chance. You'll have to re-install it after you install the O/S. from an application (office, media player, etc) standpoint you'll have to re-install them all. There are exceptions, like for little 16bit apps that aren't registry aware for example.
if you mean you want to save pictures, documents, etc. Sure. that's pretty easy.
here's an option to consider:
Do a re-install and not a fresh load of XP. For this procedure, leave your new hard drive in its shipping box until you have the new copy of XP up and running. What you'll do is reboot the box with the XP CD in the drive. You'll "Hit any key to boot from CD", then at some point duing the pretty blue screened part of the installation, you can select re-install (I'm not sure of the exact verbiage at the moment). Basically it will lay down a "fresh" install, but will keep the majority of your registry intact so that you don't lose MOST programs. I've found this to be hit and miss. Some will continue to work, some won't. It's a crapshoot.
IMHO, your BEST bet for performance, reliability and general happiness is to export any data from applications that you want to keep (i.e. export your checking account info from quicken). Put it and anything else you want (pictures, doc's, etc) on a CD/DVD. Boot to the XP CD, WIPE out the partition, create a new partition and load XP on it. Once XP is up and running, then you shut down and install your new HDD. Once XP comes back up, configure your new drive. When you start installing software, install your applications on the smaller primary drive, and put all your data on the bigger secondary drive. That helps in case you need to rebuild you'll only have to wipe one drive for the O/S. The other drive will contain solely your data.
Hope that helps.
Also IMHO, an imac is not neccessarily the answer. It won't keep costs down. Keeping costs down was one of your objectives.
if you mean you want to save pictures, documents, etc. Sure. that's pretty easy.
here's an option to consider:
Do a re-install and not a fresh load of XP. For this procedure, leave your new hard drive in its shipping box until you have the new copy of XP up and running. What you'll do is reboot the box with the XP CD in the drive. You'll "Hit any key to boot from CD", then at some point duing the pretty blue screened part of the installation, you can select re-install (I'm not sure of the exact verbiage at the moment). Basically it will lay down a "fresh" install, but will keep the majority of your registry intact so that you don't lose MOST programs. I've found this to be hit and miss. Some will continue to work, some won't. It's a crapshoot.
IMHO, your BEST bet for performance, reliability and general happiness is to export any data from applications that you want to keep (i.e. export your checking account info from quicken). Put it and anything else you want (pictures, doc's, etc) on a CD/DVD. Boot to the XP CD, WIPE out the partition, create a new partition and load XP on it. Once XP is up and running, then you shut down and install your new HDD. Once XP comes back up, configure your new drive. When you start installing software, install your applications on the smaller primary drive, and put all your data on the bigger secondary drive. That helps in case you need to rebuild you'll only have to wipe one drive for the O/S. The other drive will contain solely your data.
Hope that helps.
Also IMHO, an imac is not neccessarily the answer. It won't keep costs down. Keeping costs down was one of your objectives.
martinager
New member
Dell has some good deals. Look around on fatwallet.com and wait for the 10 and 20% off coupons which stack with the 100$ off etc... You can get a very nice workstation pc for nearly 50% off if you time it right.
At the computer shop where I work, we are starting to see some of the new dells come in for spyware/adware removal ALREADY -_- But their build quality has increased.
Go for the Dell.
At the computer shop where I work, we are starting to see some of the new dells come in for spyware/adware removal ALREADY -_- But their build quality has increased.
Go for the Dell.
wytstang
I see you.....
Bob I'm running the XPS 400 and so far no problems (since Feb).
I've have 4 Dells (1 Lap Top, 2 desk tops, and an Pocket PC). I've had nothing but outstanding service, very few problems (mostly caused by me), and you can not beat the list of options you can get with them. Of course the more options the more $$$$ you pay. Worth looking into. My first Dell desk top I purchased in 1998 and it is still running strong. I bought the lap top in 2002 and it is still going, even being abused by my son daily, and my newest is only a year old. All I can say, is I'm sold on Dell
Ok, here is the story now...I replaced the main HD in my computer and reinstalled windows on it. I can not get the stupid thing online! I tried everything to set up an internet connection but nothing will work. I have a cable connection that is always on. I know it is working because my other computer at home works fine as far as internet goes.
Errrr... that could be lots of things. lets see if we can narrow it down.
1. Wired or Wireless?
2. Have you determined that the network card or wireless network card are functioning properly?
meaning: can you ping your router (and/or access point if wireless), or your other computer on the same networK?
3. What version of XP did you install? (i.e. one with service packs already bundled?).
Let's start there...
1. Wired or Wireless?
2. Have you determined that the network card or wireless network card are functioning properly?
meaning: can you ping your router (and/or access point if wireless), or your other computer on the same networK?
3. What version of XP did you install? (i.e. one with service packs already bundled?).
Let's start there...
yeah, install updated drivers, then try again. if it still doesn't work, then try this and get back to us. 
More things to try:
Assumptions: (correct me where I'm not guessing right)
1. your business PC and your personal PC use the same cable modem for access.
2. the cable modem connects to a small router (linksys, d-link, netgear, etc...).
3. small router has a wire to each of your PC's.
First thing would be to make sure you're getting an IP address that your network understands. Make sure your DHCP server is giving you an IP address and that you haven't been assigned the autoconfiguration address. You can tell your IP by clicking START, RUN, type CMD, hit ENTER, then type IPCONFIG /ALL in the box. Your IP address will be retunred (along with other useful information). Run that command on both your business and personal PC's. If they are on the same network, they should be very simmilar. For example:
Your business one could be 10.10.10.1 and your personal one be 10.10.10.100. Most likely the first three octects will be identical.
From your personal PC, try running a trace route to google
a. click START, RUN, type CMD, hit ENTER
b. at the command prompt type: tracert www.google.com
You should see a sequence of "hops" returned on the screen. They represent each piece of hardware you stop at on the way to google. The first one should be your router, second should be cable modem, third is probably your ISP. From there to some DNS server, and then probably straight to google. At any rate, figure out where in the route your breaking and we'll go from there.
I'm contributing to this thread so heavily because there are SO many here that I learn from, I don't often have the opportunity to add value to a detailing discussion. But I know this arena better than most and hopefully someone will benefit.
More things to try:
Assumptions: (correct me where I'm not guessing right)
1. your business PC and your personal PC use the same cable modem for access.
2. the cable modem connects to a small router (linksys, d-link, netgear, etc...).
3. small router has a wire to each of your PC's.
First thing would be to make sure you're getting an IP address that your network understands. Make sure your DHCP server is giving you an IP address and that you haven't been assigned the autoconfiguration address. You can tell your IP by clicking START, RUN, type CMD, hit ENTER, then type IPCONFIG /ALL in the box. Your IP address will be retunred (along with other useful information). Run that command on both your business and personal PC's. If they are on the same network, they should be very simmilar. For example:
Your business one could be 10.10.10.1 and your personal one be 10.10.10.100. Most likely the first three octects will be identical.
From your personal PC, try running a trace route to google
a. click START, RUN, type CMD, hit ENTER
b. at the command prompt type: tracert www.google.com
You should see a sequence of "hops" returned on the screen. They represent each piece of hardware you stop at on the way to google. The first one should be your router, second should be cable modem, third is probably your ISP. From there to some DNS server, and then probably straight to google. At any rate, figure out where in the route your breaking and we'll go from there.
I'm contributing to this thread so heavily because there are SO many here that I learn from, I don't often have the opportunity to add value to a detailing discussion. But I know this arena better than most and hopefully someone will benefit.