cabse5

Hi. I obtained a Dell Dimension 4100 Pentium 3 desktop computer "as is".
The computer was manufactured on: 01/23/01.
I want to "pinch pennies" on this old computer.
The computer does not have an operating system (no Windows). The bootable C drive has one file: command.com.
Windows 2000 Professional 1-2 CPU is stamped on the side of the desktop tower.
I have startup disks for Windows 98SE and Windows ME, and both allow for the download of a usable CD-ROM driver as well as creating a temporary drive of DOS commands.
(I believe all the Microsoft Windows operating products are: Windows95, Windows98, and SE, Windows2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, and Windows Vista).
I believe the newest, bug-free Windows operating system is usually the best).
Which operating system should I purchase for this computer?
Are there other ways than using startup disks to download the drivers needed to read the Windows CD?
I read on the Internet of compatibility issues (the T815 chipset) when upgrading the Dell Dimension 4100 from Windows 2000 to Windows XP.
Is that true; would that limit my choices?
Whichever Windows operating system I purchased, would I need to use a startup disk of the same Windows operating system?
What is the difference between Windows ME and Windows 2000?
The Dell computer has a port that reads CD-ROMs and according to documentation DVDs. (Has DVD on the port).
This computer has a port that according to documentation writes DVDs and CD-ROMs. (Has DVD and PLEXWRITER 12/4/32 written on it).
Would that combination of port usage determine the operating system and/or the startup disk I use?
Is there anything I should know before/while/after setting up Windows?
Where are good places to buy copies of older Windows computer operation products? (I assume purchasing Windows Vista is unwarranted).
What's up with Windows operating systems for specific manufacturers' hardware?
Is Office Suite 2000 software compatible with Windows XP or Vista?
Can I get a good user's manual for the Dell Dimension 4100 from the Internet?
Thanks for your help.

Mark

cabse5

Mark again. The documentation says it is "PIII 1 GHz"

simpswr

the 4100 will handle XP if you have at least 256 MG of Ram . . 512 is even better. Prior to installing XP, be sure to updateto the newest BIOS . I have upgraded a ton of 4100's to XP with no compatibliity problem.

go to the Dell support site, enter your Service Tag Number and download the newest BIOS . . you can also find the owners manual there.

Office 2000 will run fine with XP

Vista will not run on the 4100

This is a great guide for reinstalling on a Dell: http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm

This is a good source for XP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511

cabse5

Thanks Rich.

Mark

simpswr

Let us know how it goes!!

cabse5

One more thing, why should I update the bios before I load the operating system?
I've read many posts on the Internet that say under no circumstances should a rookie try to update the bios because of possible disastrous consequences?

Mark

simpswr

Dell make the BIOS a snap to do . . the newest BIOS is specifically for loading XP on the older hardware

cabse5

I received the XP OEM CD in the mail yesterday. I am trying to upload the CD now (the Microsoft XP operating system). The upload Microsoft XP program asks for smart.drv to quicken the loading of the CD. My startdisk for this operation (Windows ME) does not have smart.drv. It is taking FOREVER to finish...... I can't find any places on the Internet to dowload, for example, edit.com to change config.sys and autoexec.bat so I can include smart.drv.
What to do?

Mark

simpswr

Did you update the BIOS?

cabse5

I don't have a disk copy of Windows ME (or any Windows for that matter). I think I can access a copy of Windows ME (edit.com) in the "Cabs" folder of another computer so I can edit config.sys and autoexec.bat? I have two workable drives right now on the computer I am trying to load the operating system: A: the floppy drive and F: the CD drive.
Thanks for your help.

Mark

cabse5

Yes, I updated the BIOS.

simpswr

Go into BIOS and reset to defaults . . then try installing again.

How did you format the drive?

blah789

Are you able to boot from the CD at all? Pop the CD into the drive, press ctrl-alt-del or reset and see if setup starts. (BIOS update might enable bootable CD on older computers - I think most computers post 1999 had bootable optical drives)

If not, you can use the XP floppies.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994 get the one for your version of XP (no SP, SP1, SP2)
You boot from the floppies then they pass control to the CD.

If you don't have that many floppies, or it doesn't work out (floppies are old nowadays and writes are easily corrupted), try booting from a Windows 98SE floppy instead. Get a Windows 98 floppy from bootdisk.com and add smartdrv.exe to it (the Windows 98 SE version can be found here http://soporific.dsleague.com/downloads/smartdrv.exe ).
Boot from it, and partition and format your hard drive.[DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITH THE WINDOWS 98 FLOPPY IF THE DRIVE IS OVER 64GB - we'll think of a workaround if this is a stumbling block] Usually by typing
fdisk
going through the menu, rebooting, then typing
format c:
when you type fdisk again, the drive should be fat32. exit fdisk. type
smartdrv
x: (where x is the letter of your cd-rom drive, usually d or e)
cd i386
winnt
Setup should start.


Recommendations for post-setup:
I don't know which service pack your CD is in, but I'd guess SP2. First thing to install after XP is done installing is SP3. (You need at least SP1 or SP2 to install SP3)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...8-1E1555D4F3D4
If you already have SP3, ignore this.

Then install IE8
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-08cdecd8852b
Windows Installer 4.5
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-54d056d6f9f4
DirectX 9.0c March 2009
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...7-c693d210f616
WMP 11
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...8-5166114010ca

Then install your drivers. First thing to do after you get on the internet is go to windows update.


Difference between Windows 2000 and Windows Millenium Edition.
Windows ME is a continuation of Windows 95 and 98 and is based on hybrid 16/32-bit code. It's rather unstable and crash-prone.
Windows 2000 is a continuation of Microsoft's pure 32-bit OSes (Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0), which are rock-solid. Windows XP is just 2000 with a few bells and whistles (more noticeably the Luna interface, a firewall, system restore, and more junk)

cabse5

Thanks for all the help; I was able to download Windows XP. I am now having "fun" reloading all my applications and games.

To download Windows XP when there is no operating system:
(1) obtain a startdisk (that preferably has smart.drv on it)
(2) load the CD driver from the startdisk
(3) change the directory of the windows cd to I386
(4) run wiint.exe
(5) sit back and wait for the task to be completed

Mark

cabse5

Oh, don't forget to (.5) update the BIOS. I got the updated BIOS from a Dell help site.

Mark