Windows 95 on a brand new Dell computer?

SN
Posted By
Sandra_Niemann
Apr 2, 2004
Views
522
Replies
9
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Closed
I don’t know where to post this message but I hope someone can help. My daughter purchased a new Dell computer that was supposed to have Windows XP. When it was turned on for the first time, Windows 95 came up. The computer would go no further other than the screen that said Windows 95. She called Dell and they said to get the XP CD that came with the computer and install it. She did, rebooted and, once again, Windows 95 came up. I called them myself and went through the installation steps and got the same thing. So far, the company has been unable to fix the problem. One of their employees told my daughter that it sounds like she got a "refurbished" computer but she paid for a new one so that makes no sense. Besides, even a refurbished computer ought to allow XP to write over Windows 95, shouldn’t it? The computer was purchased from a Dell store in Frisco, Texas so it’s not as though it was bought from a questionable dealer. Can anyone help? The company apparently cannot or will not. Thanks for any help.
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RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 2, 2004
Answered in Pagemaker forum.

Bob
M
Majicman17
Apr 2, 2004
Take it back to the store.

—
Seth Meranda
smeranda<at>unlnotes<dot>unl<dot>edu

wrote in message
I don’t know where to post this message but I hope someone can help. My
daughter purchased a new Dell computer that was supposed to have Windows XP. When it was turned on for the first time, Windows 95 came up. The computer would go no further other than the screen that said Windows 95. She called Dell and they said to get the XP CD that came with the computer and install it. She did, rebooted and, once again, Windows 95 came up. I called them myself and went through the installation steps and got the same thing. So far, the company has been unable to fix the problem. One of their employees told my daughter that it sounds like she got a "refurbished" computer but she paid for a new one so that makes no sense. Besides, even a refurbished computer ought to allow XP to write over Windows 95, shouldn’t it? The computer was purchased from a Dell store in Frisco, Texas so it’s not as though it was bought from a questionable dealer. Can anyone help? The company apparently cannot or will not. Thanks for any help.
EP
erle_pereira
Apr 2, 2004
You probably need to reformat the hard drive first and then you should be able to boot from the CD and install WinXP (Unless this is a belated April Fool’s joke)!!!
HD
hot_denim
Apr 3, 2004
Maybe windows XP is being installed to a hard disk partition other than the one that the computer is set to boot from at start up.

What you need to do to ensure everything is wiped off the old computer and a nice new fresh version of WINDOWS XP is on is this.

1. In the computer’s BIOS settings (at startup) ensure it is set to boot to the first Physical Hard disk. IDE 0 ?, BEFORE ANY OTHER HARDDISKS!. But if it set to Boot to CD-ROM BEFORE ANY HARD DISKS THATS OK. In fact MAKE SURE it is set to boot from a CD-ROM before the 1st HARD DISK (so as you can use the WINDOWS XP boot cd)

2. Delete (Remove) ALL hard disk partitions of all the hards disk(s) in the computer. This can be done with programs like FDISK, PARTITION MAGIC etc..etc..

3. Reboot (after deleting all the partitions, and confirming changes etc). At this point WINDOWS 95 SHOULD not come on this time. But the computer will give you an error of some sort such as OPERATION SYSTEM missing etc. It wont get far as WINDOWS 95. ENSURE NO floppy/CDROMS are in any drives!

4. If you get to this step, ensure the BIOS is set to boot from CD-ROM BEFORE ANY HARD DISKS. OK now put the WINDOWS XP cd in and re-boot.

5. Windows XP CD should boot and take you throught the installation process..

6. ;->
DN
DS_Nelson
Apr 3, 2004
I could be wrong, but I think that Dell, along with most other mass-production peecee makers, no longer includes a bootable, installable WinXP CD. The "system" CD is just an image of an already-installed XP, along with the usual drivel-ware that comes with said peecees. That’s one reason I prefer to build my own these days.
RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 3, 2004
I could be wrong

You are.

Bob
DM
dave_milbut
Apr 3, 2004
I agree with seth on this. something’s funky. a BRAND NEW dell? Win 95 isn’t even shipping anymore, nor is it supported. Either Dell royally screwed up or we’re not getting the whole story. there should be no talk of multiboot partions etc. for xp and 95 on a system built and sold in 2004!!! take/send it back!
RA
Rafael_Aviles
Apr 3, 2004
She said she bought it at a "Dell store"? I thought Dell was strictly on-line or mail orders. There are no Dell stores anywhere around where I live.

Regards,

Rafael
RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 3, 2004
There are kiosks in malls around the country. But I’m beginning to think that Erle had the right idea.

This thread is now R/O.

Bob

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