James Wekere

I am encountering a problem with my computer, it is a Dell Optiplex GX1.

It was working well before but after I played some computer games that involved graphics it went on to blue screen.

I formatted the HDD on a compaq PC and I installed the operating system win2000 pro and when I placed it back on my Dell machine it is not pinking up.

Anyone can help?

Deleted090308

Hi,
What happens when you press the power switch? Why did you install the OS in another computer? Installing the OS in another computer and then move the HDD back is usually a bad idea, since the wrong drivers will be installed (unless the two computers are identical).

Nicholas

James Wekere

The computer powers up and when it is starting up to load the operating system, it fails and then restarts the whole system again.

James Wekere

Sorry the previous message was incomplete.



The problem is: The computer powers up and when it is starting up to load the operating system, it fails and then restarts the whole system again.

I didn't know that it was a bad idea to install OS on a different
computer and install back. Well the two computers are not identical.
Why I formatted on a different computer was that I tried using a
bootable windows installation CD on the Dell pc but it could not
bootup so I used another compaq PC so that I could format the HDD and
install the OS.
I went into the BIOS on DELL PC to set boot from CD but still it is not picking up.
Do I need to formatt it again, then run the CD on Dell again?

Deleted090308

If you can get the computer to boot from CD you can do a repair install. There's another trick, but I can't remember right now (it's 6:30 AM here). I'll have a look at it during the day.

JohnthePilot

Hi James,
If you are having difficulty getting your XP disc to start there is a way you can install the OS on another machine and prepare it to go back into yours. First, connect your HD in the other machine then remove the power supplies to the existing hard drives in the other machine. This will ensure that your drive is assigned C:\. Install your OS then follow the instructions in this article to run sysprep. Put the hard drive back in your machine and reboot. let us know how you get on.

James Wekere

I'll keep you posted of the progress. Thanks very much.

James Wekere

Hi there,

I have checked my Dell PC GX1 with all the requrements but most of the requirements I do not have that I want to make installations using Sysrep. The PC was previously running on WIN 2000, I have a windows 2000 'bootable' CD that I want to install. I tried setting the booting sequence to CD and tried rebooting but it is still not picking from CD it automatically boots from HDD then restarts the whole system again.

Please advice what on I can do to have it booted from CD so that I can make a fresh installation.

Thanks,
James

Deleted090308

In BIOS, there is an option for "Primary boot device", or "default boot order" or something to that effect. The options for it are floppy, CDROM, PXE, and "Device List ctrl+->" The last option lets you press that key sequence and you get a menu where you can reorder the boot priority. CDROM should be #1 (obviously). Don't forget to save changes when you exit BIOS.

James Wekere

Thanks Eneles,

I have tried your advice but it is still not booting, can you tell me what this means: (it is appearing whenever I tried booting my machine.)

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting PXE

Strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility

Is it to do with the jumpers or the settings in the BIOS?

James

JohnthePilot

Hi James,
It is definitely to do with the BIOS. This machine is set up to start via a network connection. The machine you are on now is running XP I notice. Cant you format the hardrive in that install XP rather that 2000 using your XP installation disc as that contains sysprep?

James Wekere

I have tried the idea, but it is not picking on the other system, and one more thing is that, my CD drive is not picking up in the bios, i have checked connections but it is not picking, and I am not sure what PXE means.
Thanks very much for your help, I appreciate your help very much.

Deleted090308

Can you "see" the CD drive in BIOS? Is the light on the drive blinking when you start the computer.

James Wekere

I can see the CD Drive in the Bios, but when I set boot from CD it does not pickup the OS from the CD. Please advice. Thankyou very much for your help.

JohnthePilot

Hi James,
Sorry, I forgot to answer your question about PXE. PXE stands for Preboot Execution Environment. What this means is that your machine is a corporate machine that is setup to boot from a network. I think this may be why you are having problems. It may be necessary to reflash your BIOS. This is not for the fainthearted. Do you want to go down this road? BTW, did you try doing what I suggested and installing XP with the hard drive in the other machine?

James Wekere

I tried your suggestion but I was not able to use the sysprep, I am in the process of finding out what the problem is. The other thing is that my computer is not a part of a network, it is a standalone PC.

You mentioned about reflashing the BIOS, can you give me a brief explanation of the outcome of it, the bad side if it and how it is done.

Thanks very much.

James

Deleted090308

Hi again,
I think that part of the problem is that the BIOS is password protected (i.e. it won't let you make changes). By removing a jumper on the motherboard you can get rid of that password protection - click the thumbnail below.
gx1.jpg
Also - you may have to reset BIOS.

Nicholas

Deleted090308

Hi again. Is the computer working now?