I hate dell like nothing else

**kronnyq** · 10-30-2009, 06:23 AM

Gf gave me Inspiron 5100 to fix cuz of BSOD registry error, system restore to last known good config did nothing so I tried reformat and reinstalling xp. Booted from XP sp2 cd, saw 2 drives the first one not even having a valid name and less than 20mb, and secondary drive which I was only able to reformat and install XP to. Install failed now everytime I reboot it tries to continue installation but keeps asking for Winxp SP2 cd even though it's in there. Booting up from CD just continues the installation, no option to even reformat...is this proprietary hell and I have to sell my soul to get my gf's laptop working again?

***Steve R Jones*** · 10-30-2009, 06:48 AM

Are you by any chance seeing the message "Press Any Key" to continue? Of so - don't press any key.

And or - get some comressed air and blow the dust out of the cd drive.

**kronnyq** · 10-30-2009, 07:11 AM

funny stuff, i just pulled 2 hairpins out of the keyboard and theres still junk rattling around inside....but however windows is no longer recognizing the dvd drive after I reformatted. drive shows up i bios but going to dos prompt in win setup will not allow me to access drive, so again im trapped in proprietary capitalistic madness. halp!

***Steve R Jones*** · 10-30-2009, 07:24 AM

The only thing proprietary about Dells are the mobo/case.

What do you mean by-> "however windows is no longer recognizing the dvd drive"

One little spec of dust on cd or cd drive can cause all sorts of issues..If the keyboard is half as dirty as you mentioned - I can only imagine what inside the case and drive look like.

**ua549** · 10-30-2009, 07:37 AM

It was probably used as a cup holder.

**RealBeast** · 10-30-2009, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by kronnyq

Gf gave me Inspiron 5100 to fix cuz of BSOD registry error, system restore to last known good config did nothing so I tried reformat and reinstalling xp. Booted from XP sp2 cd, saw 2 drives the first one not even having a valid name and less than 20mb, and secondary drive which I was only able to reformat and install XP to. . . .

Delete ALL partitions and install on a single new partition. Dell has some silly restore partitions that are not useful if you have a real OS disc.

I do a clean reinstall on all my dell laptops and they are fine, but then again I don't spring for the optional hairpins.

Dell has pretty good online service manuals if you want to tear it apart hunting for misc. materials left inside.

edit: These things happen with GFs, the GF here requires a second identical machine to swap out when I'm on the road -- less headache than having her fix anything over the phone

**kronnyq** · 10-30-2009, 06:37 PM

Ok kids this is why we do not do computer repair when we are drunk.

Didn't have the xp dvd fully pushed down in the drive

Humiliate me please!

**JoJo boy** · 10-30-2009, 07:24 PM

Oh wow....I'll drink to that.

**archron** · 11-02-2009, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by kronnyq

Ok kids this is why we do not do computer repair when we are drunk.

Didn't have the xp dvd fully pushed down in the drive

Humiliate me please!

Intoxicated PC repair... ROFL.

Sayyy... are those your GF's undies you're wearing?

(You did ask for it...)

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