Russkiy

Hey fellas!!! I would appreciate if anyone could give me some tips on how to install a retail version of XP on my friends Dell Dimension 3000 POS. The entire file system is corrupt and I have no OEM recovery disk, recovery partition is gone as well. What do I have to do to install the OS without getting (error code: 5) and other crap such as missing .dll files. Do I need a bootable floppy with "unknown drivers" or should I just buy a bigger sledge hammer? TIA guys!

Tator Tot

I would download DBAN and burn it to a CD, floppy, or USB stick. Wipe the whole drive clean, then pop the retail disk of XP in and install it.

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AntiTalent

EDIT:I'm no help.
I have no idea what an error code 5 is etc.

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Russkiy

That's pretty interesting, have you ever used it with dell or any other OEM machines? Does it really help bypass errors?

Tator Tot

It completely Zeroes the drive. Nothing is left on it, nor recoverable.

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Russkiy

I used it and still no luck... My cousins dell needed a modified retail os for his install, but I knew what the problem was and I integrated a couple of SATA drivers into os with a some software and it worked, In this case these is no need for such thing because Im nott using SATA drives

Russkiy

BUMP, can I get some help please?

WeAreNotAlone

I'd hunt down a OEM DELL install disc.
(Your friend needs one for next time if nothing else.. Save you both allot of time
Check DELL and see if they are still available, they aren't that much -if you consider your time. If not Google around for a copy)

The entire file system being corrupt- and not being able to install a retail version of XP makes me think there is something wrong with the hardware. According to a quick Google search- it's a desktop machine from 2004? Motherboard could be failing, power supply going bad, hard drive, CPU needs new thermal paste, Machine full of "Dust bunnies", (Full of dust) etc. I mention this as during a install (at certain parts) the CPU runs at 100%- and this may cause problems.
(On a secondary machine I have XP would NOT install- I R&R'd the CPU, replaced the thermal paste and the machine for the past several years will run at 110% load for hours on end..Rock Solid.)

I'd hunt down some utilities and test the hardware.
I'd also try another DVD drive / drive might not be reading the disc correctly.

Secondary- Once you do get the system back up and running- Use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE to:

A: Create a "restore" partiton on the hard drive
B: Create a "restore" DVD
C: Archive a "restore" image on a external hard drive

Review: Acronis True Image vs Symantec Ghost
http://www.techsupportalert.com/driv...ng-reviews.htm

When does this error occur? What is a error code 5?

Missing dll files= Use a OEM Dell disc, Install all Dell drivers. updates for machine.

As you noted in your previous post "if" using a SATA HD you need to have the SATA drivers slipstreamed in the XP install disc.

Since you're not- you don't need info on that, but here's the link for someone who may be having problems installing a retail copy of XP to a machine that has a SATA hard drive:

How to Install-Windows-XP machines with SATA hard drives.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Insta...F6-47807.shtml


Clean machine, test hardware, obtain a OEM DELL install disc... Image hard drive afterwards, create on hd restore partition, restore cd/dvd via ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE.

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