dell dimension 4600

[rtrg]

I have an odd issue I need help with. I found a 4600 at my local transfer station. It functions partially, It has a major issue with its system 43 files. Error messages, unwanted screens, slow response, ect. However it does have an internet connection, nic and an on board port. I decided to reload the OS, XP PRO using my DELL CD. I had done this with 6 8100s successfully. This time after I was done I found that the tower had NO internet connection, nor did WMP9 function, "NO SOUND CARD PRESENT" despite that both the nic and card were detected. During the process there are 2 or 3 screens that deal with the connection that I think I made the wrong choice in or made no choice. That may be why I ended with no connection. I decided to start again. I replaced the hdd with one from an HP to be sure the cd did not ask for a key which I do not have. This time and for the next three attempts, these connection screens were BYPASSED. I did NOT have the chance to change or make the correct choices. As a result I still have no connection. This has nothing to do with resetting modem/router. If I use the cd directly, that is allow the cd to load and display as an installation cd would work, as opposed to use the DELL process in which I allow the existing OS to load, shut down, then restart, and wait for the "PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD" mess to appear. I already have the cd drive as first boot device. Would the series of screens be the same? The difference is that the WINDOWS process DOES ask for a key while the DELL process does not. The only key I have is the COA on the towers case. I do NOT have the COA for THIS specific CD I use. IF the towers COA were accepted would the connections screens be displayed so I could see if I made a mistake and correct it? If not I will need to let my tech friend look at it. I also have 4 hdds already "PREPARED" for my 8100 from that same CD> They do not work in the 4600. Any help welcome.

[Panama Red]

I think your issue is the fact you are NOT installing the drivers from Dell after you complete the reformat and reinstall. Go to the Dell Support site with a different pc and use the Service File number for the computer you are reloading. Download all the pertinent drivers for the hardware to a flash drive and transfer the flash drive to the Dell to load the drivers. Once the drivers are loaded and your internet connection is established, go directly to Windows Update, chose the option to load Microsoft Update and install ALL the updates available. The you can worry about adding an Antivirus and other programs.

[rtrg]

Thanks for the advice. I do not have a flash drive to download to although it sounds like a simple solution as opposed to burning a cd which I do not know how to do. In any event I gave it to my tech friend to work his magic on. I have never had to hunt for drivers in the past for my 8100s AFTER the install. All the hardware/software drivers were detected and loaded without the DELL site or a resource cd which I do not have. In addition there are 2 installation versions on the cd, DELLS and MICROSOFTS. The COA was rejected by the cd both for my PRO and HOME CDs. The OS was HOME originaly . I feel there is a hidden issue with the tower. BEFORE the load there WAS a connection. The issue was errors with the SYSTEM 32 files. AFTER the load I lost the connection probably because I lost the drivers as you suggest which I did not know would happen. I expected an auto detection/reload as was always the case.

[glc]

Zero fill the hard drive, then reinstall using a Dell Windows CD. It will not ask for a key. Then install all the drivers.

[rtrg]

I do not have the drivers cd, nor do I have a way to download them from DELL on tower 1, copy them to a cd, and then use that cd to load the files to tower 2. That is beyond my ability. My tech friend did it for me. He left the OS intact from the DELL cd, and loaded the drivers. The SETUP screen indicated that all hardware/software/and drivers were installed. The 3 connection pages appeared only on the first attempt. I did not make any choices. It was only after wards that I discovered the no connection issue. I do not even know if making the appropriate choices the first time would have made any difference. Those screens did not reappear in subsequent attempts so I could not test my theory. I will try to get a DELL resource cd. At least that way I can complete the process.

[glc]

If downloading drivers is beyond your ability, you should probably contact your tech friend. You should not be working on your own computer if you are that unsure of yourself.

[rtrg]

My tech friend took care of it. Apparently the tower is newer than the cd. The drivers will not be on the cd he said. Makes sense to me. He also said I could install the "46" hdd with the os installed and put it into my 81, which is my working tower. Then I download the drivers from DELL and then swap again. The drivers are now on the "46" hdd which now makes it functional. Is all correct? Is a newer version of the DELL resource cd available on line? Contacting DELL is impossible. When you download a file does it download to the hdd only, or to the board as well. What I mean is that if the 46 has no net connection for lack of driver, would that also be the case when I move it to the 81? Or did he mean to ADD the hdd? Would the system then ask which hdd to download to, "C" or the NEW DRIVE LETTER? Can you straighten me out?

[Nuclear Krusader]

That's quite... embroiling.

OK, to answer one of your questions: you CAN'T download to a board. Drivers downloaded from a website are saved to a location (i.e. a folder) on the hard drive. From there you can run them (if they're executable files) and then the drivers will be installed into the proper Windows system folders, thus making your hardware usable.

[strollin]

If your system can't access the internet to download the driver, you need to download it to another machine then somehow get it to the desired machine.

You can use what is referred to as "sneaker net" where you copy the file to some removable storage and then carry it over to the other machine. Do both machines have a floppy disk drive? You could use a USB thumb drive as well.

Your friend may have meant for you to install the HDD from the 46 into the 81 as a slave in order to copy the driver over. Once copied over, you could remove it from the 81 and re-install it in the 46 as the Master. Seems like too much work for me, I'd rather spend less than $10 on a thumb drive that would do the job too.
Here's a link to a thumb drive that would work for you: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211455

Every browser I've ever used has allowed me to specify exactly where I want to DL a file to. What browser are you using?