Dell desktop hard drive replacement?
 

I have an older dell running XP that has a noisey drive and locks up after 30 minutes. I'd like to replace the drive and I don't really care to recover anything other than the OS.
Do I need to create a startup disc? What else??? :confused:
Anyone here care to walk me thru this process?

1. Install the new HD
2. Go to start>settings>control panel>administrative tools>computer management
3. Single click on "disk management"
4. Scroll down the list at the bottom right and find your new HD.
5. Rt click on it and there should be a choice for "initialize"
6. Do this or, if it pops up the "new disk wizard", follow those instructions.
7. Choose "NFTS" for the file system when prompted.

This will get your new HD ready to go. You can download a trial copy of Acronis True image and that will let you transfer your system to the new HD.

Report back when the new HD is installed and ready for the transfer and we can go from there.

How do I get the OS to the new drive?

I have the exact same issue with a Dell Dimension 4550 and have not yet installed the drive.

I, too, wish to start with a clean install from the original discs which I possess.

If you have the start-up disks then all you need to do is set the CMOS to boot from CD-Rom. The rest is automatic.

Doesn't the CMOS default to the CD-Rom if any disc is in the CD-Rom?

It certainly defaults to the floppy drive.

It's supposed to but if you have an unformatted HD it can error out on you. Most of the time if you wait through the error message it will do a boot "search" but if the CMOS is set up for "C", then "floppy" and then CDROM it can "time-out" error.

I'm guessing I need to create some disc??? Just not sure how long I have before it dies. After a few mins it starts a "tic tic" as if the head is hammering searching... at that point it locks up.

I need a system to place at my cabin with a video capture to see who has been freely coming and going. Nothing ever appears missing but they leave evidence. I'm afraid to put too much up there as it may disappear so, I figured I'd get this old dell going. I have a video capture card ordered off ebay. Two 2.4g wireless cameras already here. I can lock it up in a cabinet so it's not obvious.
I tried one of those motion sensing digital trail cameras and was not pleased. Too long for the camera to wake up and then it makes a click sound when it takes a shot. The PC DVR idea is next if I can get this dell going.

With Dell computers you should have received some disks to reinstall the OS and other software that came with. You can use that and do a true fresh install. Best way to go.

To get a Dell to boot from the CD or other drive, tap the F12 key right after the keyboards lights flash, shortly after a boot. The F12 key will bring up some boot options.

After you get the OS reinstalled, go to Dell's site and do the various recommended and urgent updates.

Could I bum copies? This one is a Dimension 2100. May not work.

That depends on the motherboard manufacturer and BIOS...

An easy way to check the order is seen in BIOS, it should be an obvious menu.

When you change the boot order, you don't have to worry about what button to push to get you to a boot menu :)

I'd recommend a clean install over copying the O/S, especially if you have nothing to transfer. Even if you just have files that you want, those are easy to put onto a CD or flash drive and put it back on.

Here's an older Dell desktop with a failing hd, No startup disc.

Here's a new HD.

Now what?

Borrow a copy of XP from somebody or scrounge around and find the Dell start-up CD.

You might actually check on the Dell website to see if they have a downloadable boot up file.

If you need the cd-key, it's probably on a sticker somewhere on the case.

Will do, thanks.

I really don't want to part with these since they are my only discs for the machine and are not easily replaceable.

Furthermore, I do think you want the actual disc for your machine...........taking the risk on a completely different machine is not worth the effort.

A copy(s) was all I ask for. Wouldn't want you to part with the originals.

So, without the startup disc... this thing is bound for the landfill???

Call Dell, they might be able to get you a replacement. :)

If there is a way to copy such a disc, I'll be pleased to do it for you. I don't believe I can just copy it onto a hard drive and then copy it back onto a new CD-ROM??

Anyone with some input on how to do that?

As I said earlier, download a program called Acronis True Image and it will transfer the entire contents of your present HD to a new one.

I can also see if I have my Dell install disks at home if you want a hard copy.

Not the issue.

How would I make a copy of the Dell startup disc?

In my case, I have the startup discs and will use them.

For Dan, he needs a startup disc to setup a new drive.

Dell includes the entire install copy of the OS on CD with the purchase of a new computer. I can burn a copy of this OS and, using the key for another computer install it on that computer.

As stated by someone earlier, the key is located on a sticker on the chassis somewhere.

As far as making a copy, are you referring to the "system recovery disk" or the install CD?

The system recovery disk will not help on a new HD install.

Dan can install his new HD along side the old one and transfer the OS to it. I've done it a couple times with no issues.

I have the entire install copy of the OS on CD.

How would I burn a copy of it?

OK, Just wasted 30 minutes of my life talking (waiting) with Dell support. Severe language barrier due to outsourced tech help prevented much info exchange before they dropped the call.

Looking in the machine and I don't see a place to connect another drive. Does it just daisy chain with the existing drive on the IDE ribbon cable?

Most likely, you have a machine with an IDE interface. You'll have to buy a new drive with the same unless the computer is new enough to have some SATA ports. Use a Google image search to find pictures of what these connectors look like.

If you don't have available IDE or SATA ports, you will have to chain the two drives together as master and slave. The drives have jumpers on them with labels so you can set them. Use "CBL sel" or "cable select on both drives and the computer will automatically sense them.

You may have to buy another IDE cable if you need it.

My Dell has a program called Roxio that facilitates the creation of CD's. Pretty much every computer with a CD burner has some sort of software to use it. In Roxio, you just click on "Create an exact copy", then follow the on-screen instructions.

Nevermind.

MicroCenter has a IBM Intel P4 512MB 40GB HD refurb for $99.

By the time I buy a HD, cable, startup disc... not saving much.

Even includes a new keyboard and mouse.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317837

Whiskeydan,

You should have received a startup disc with your current computer when you bought it. If your current computer only has one HD, then you should be able to add a second HD as the slave on that IDE cable. You'll need to hook it up to one of the four-prong power connectors as well, there should be a few free ones floating around. If you decide to get that Microcenter refurbished unit, that's your choice, although I personally would trust a Microcenter refurbished computer as far as I'd trust a "Honest Mike's Preowned Vehicles" refurbished 1995 Ford Taurus (the kind with the V6 that eats headgaskets).

Good find! That looks like one similar to the ones we just de-commissioned here at work. Beware as it's a "low profile" form factor and you really can't put different cards into it for upgrades, etc...

You can however, upgrade the optical drives and hard drive.

Before you disable your internet connection by installing a fresh copy of the OS, make sure you download and burn the latest drivers (or back them up) so you can reinstall them.

A fresh install of Windows may have the drivers you need to reinstall your network card (or modem), or you may be stuck with a cool solitaire machine.

Plan on a bunch of restarts.

I recommend AVG for the free antivirus to go onto the new harddrive.

Have you checked dell's website, i believe you can download the start up stuff and burn it to a cd. Might be an ISO file.

Otherwise, you dont need the startup disc, just a copy of whatever OS you want, and go to the BIOS and boot from CD. Then you need to download drivers.

Yes you can chain HDs with those IDE cables... make sure the jumper on the back of each HD is set properly. IE, you dont want 2 master drives or 2 slave drives.

As Kartek said, download Acronis.
Great program, not a real intuitive interface, but you'll get used to it.

Also MOST HDs that you buy will come with a disk that can clone your existing drive to the new one.

I wouldn't reccomend cloning the drive onto the new machine because of the registry settings and all of the amassed junk of the old image.

Setup the new machine the way you want it and then slave the drive on by setting the old drive to slave or plugging it into the CDROM ribbon to avoid messing with the jumper settings. Copy everything over and you're set.

Technically I agree, and should have posted it.

But he is missing the original install disks, this is one way around that.

Someone on the forum must have a similar Dell machine. Someone could "cough" copy it mail it and use the system's existing COA and it should "Activate" and all.

Dell will send a replacement CDROM for a nominal fee. I haven't done it in a few years but they did it.