Re: Reformatting a Dell Dimension 4550

From: Carey Frisch [MVP] (cnfrisch_at_nospamgmail.com)
Date: 02/12/05 

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 22:16:13 -0600

The Dell Reinstallation CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
             devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
             EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
             hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
             After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

       ===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
       ===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
       Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
       partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
       http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

       [Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
       ==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
       and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
      of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
      available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
      and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

      How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
      http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064
 
      Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
      http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

      [Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot] 

-- 
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups
Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Cbarton" wrote:
| I am having a problem reformatting a Dell Dimension 4550.  My friend got this 
| PC about 2 years ago, and unfortunately, he is not computer literate at all.  
| He had the entire McAfee Security suite on it, but did not have it activated 
| and working.  He thought that it was on there, so it was OK.  Well, his PC 
| completely froze up a few weeks ago, and he called me.  I did a quick virus 
| scan and ran Ewido on it.  I got over 600 spyware, malware, key loggers, and 
| hijackers and 59 viruses.  WOW, no wonder it wouldn't work.  I got all but 1 
| pest out, and it had changed a bunch of registry values, and a quick INET 
| search revealed that the 1 pest that was left was an active desktop hijacker 
| that is used the steal credit card numbers.  Needless to say, I need to 
| ensure that there are no registry changes that will point right back to this 
| pest.  
| 
| Another unfortunate event is that it is a Dell, and their restore disks are 
| terrible.  There is no boot disk at all or a system restore disk of any kind. 
| I have all the driver disks, the OS disk, and an application disk.  I really 
| hate the way Dell treats their customers when it comes to their equipment, 
| and this is no exception.  My friend told me that Dell didn't even send the 
| disks until about a year after they got the PC.  They had called numerous 
| times, and they kept wanting them to buy them.  Personally, I don't think 
| that Dell provided a restore disk.
| 
| So, that is where I am stuck.  I cannot reload the OS without a bootable 
| restore disk because the OS disk won't boot.  I really need to reformat this 
| disk to ensure that I get everything out.  Just re-installing Windows is not 
| going to solve the problem.  
| 
| Can I use the boot disk creator exe file on Microsoft's site for XP home 
| wSP1, or do I have to have one specific for the Dell?
| 
| I am stuck, and I have been working on this thing for 2 days.  If Dell would 
| just use restore disk images like all the other vendors, these people could 
| have fixed this themselves.  
| 
| Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.
| -- 
| Cbarton

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Computer Infected:
    ... Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition ... Dell Application – Backup Dell installed programs, ... SeagateDisk Utility ... You do NOT want to do a Repair or Recovery install. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Can you re-use a XP Product Key?
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    (comp.sys.laptops)
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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Slow Shutdown: Windows XP Professional
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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: Blue Screen - E520 - Best Buy
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    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
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