Need help with the XPS 630i

I have the Dell XPS 630i.

I had to buy a new hard drive due to a crash (SeaGate Barracuda 1TB SATA).
Also, I am going with Windows XP Professional rather than Vista.

When I put in the windows xp installation disc, it goes through the Windows Setup screen, loading all the install files, drivers, etc. and just before it gets to the screen (29 minute windows installation) where you set everything up, I get the blue screen of death.

I went to the Dell website and got the MediaShield drivers and put them onto a floppy to install in the windows setup screen.

When I push Enter when ready, it says please wait in the bottom left corner and acts as if its going to work, then it pops back up with "Please insert the disk labeled Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk into drive A:" * Press ENTER when ready.

Leaving me the options - ENTER: Continue / ESC: Cancel / F3: Exit -

When I tried to go with the nvrd32.sys drivers, I hit enter to continue and it took about 10 minutes to load the nvrd32.sys drivers and then finished loading the remaining windows installation files and THEN went to the BSOD.

I have been trying to fix this issue for going on a week now and really need the help of major geeks! Thanks guys.

 

Although I haven't specifically worked through this issue on a Dell, I have a suspicion the motherboard's BIOS may not recognize or work with XP.

• When the board posts, does it show a "restore" option on the boot screen?
• Was there a restore partition on the original drive?

If the answer is "yes" to either or both, try using a Vista or 7 install disk if available (you do not need to enter a license code - just let it install and see if it completes the process; this will also give you 30 days in trial mode to sort things out).

If Vista or 7 loads properly (ruling out a hardware defect) you will have to root around Dell's support site or e-mail them to see if a BIOS upgrade (downgrade?) is available that allows the installation of XP (and, if so, what SP (SP1, SP2 or SP3) is required).

I ran into this over a year ago when attempting to downgrade a HP desktop from Vista to XP Home. HP's web site was evasive on the topic, I finally had to call them to confirm the model in question would not accept XP.

I know this isn't the answer you wanted; however I hope it helps.

 

Well it originally had Vista on it and it also had a recovery partition on the original drive (which crashed anyways).

About 6 months ago I put windows XP professional on that computer and ran it successfully since, until the recent crash. I do remember there being some crazy alternate route we had to take to install windows XP on it but the guy who helped me is no longer around for me to ask, hence me asking you guys.

So I do know it can work with windows xp pro no problem, just putting it on proves to be very difficult.

I do not see a restore option when the board posts, I get "Floppy disk(s) fail (40)" and "Audio Cable Not Connected" - Followed by (at the bottom) - Press F1 to continue, F2 to enter SETUP.

BTW, at the top it says - Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG

 

Sadly the key phrase is "crazy alternate route". If you can't get in touch with the guy who helped you before (and if nobody here knows the solution), it might be worth digging through Dell's support site or shooting them an e-mail for help.

 

Are you using only one HD? How big was the old HD? Which Service pack is XP Pro?

 

Yeah, the crazy alternate route is something I'm sure someone here knows about. By crazy route, I mean some step or driver or thing I have to do to make it work regarding raid or something along those lines. Dell wants $75 to help me out because I am not under warranty.

 

The old HD was 750GB - and it is Windows XP Professional SP2 I believe. (I go download SP2)

 

I'm really not sure. Let's see what advice you get.

I was originally thinking either a need to slipstream SATA drivers using nlite onto a new disc but if you get to 29 minutes the install sees your HD and can work with it as far as I can tell.

I was also thinking it may have something to do with the 137gb limit for XP but that is pre-SP1 so I don't think that is a consideration. (Was your last XP installation on a partition larger than 137GB?)

Is it possible that you loosened a memory module while replacing the HD? You might give them a push to make sure they are firmly in place.

Do you have a link to the Dell drivers page for your laptop, I am having trouble finding it?

I believe the MediaShield drivers are only a consideration if you are using two HD and RAID.

 

Maybe, I am wrong on both counts. This guy resolved his problem using nlite and the nvidia MediaShield drivers. I can't tell for sure exactly when in the process his installation blue-screened.

 

One final shot on my part: Be sure the copy of XP you're loading is SP3 (although the BIOS could be set to Vista; I have seen some newer boards that won't load XP SP1 or 2 -- only XP SP3).

If you have an older XP disc that's no SP, SP1 or SP2, download the SP3 at microsoft.com and slipstream it into your SP2. No guarantees, but it's worth a try.

If it's an original Microsoft CD, the SP# should be printed on the front.

 

It says service pack 2 on the front of my windows XP pro CD, now how exactly do I slipstream service pack 3? Do you have a link with a step by step guide or something perhaps that I could use?

 

Here's a freeware program that will add SP3 and automatically overwrite older (SP2) files:

http://majorgeeks.com/RVM_Integrator_d5945.html

 

It will do that to my original xp pro cd? the store bought one?

 

Any blue screens I've encountered during installation have been resolved by incorporating drivers into the boot disk using nLite.

But that's just me. :major

 

I've never had to slipstream drivers but I believe it fairly simple using nlite or the RVM_integrator program. nlite is the most used program I don't know which is easier to use.

You are not overwriting your original disc. You basically copy the original disc to your HD then use the program to add your files (say SP3 and the MediaShield drivers) to the correct folders of the copy of the disc on your HD. The program creates an image file of a new updated installation disc that you write to a blank CD/DVD depending on the size of the image.

Your original installation disc is unchanged but the new one you created should install more easily.

 

Haven't done it in a while; however I believe you copy the OEM disc as an .iso image to your hard drive. Using the program, you combine the .iso image (original CD contents) with SP3 and burn them to a new CD. During the process, the slipstream program merges the two and overwrites old or obsolete files with the newer ones in SP3.

 

So, to be absolutely clear... I pop in my store bought windows xp pro cd... and during windows setup when prompted, insert the burned CD that contains the drivers and SP3 I need... once they're loaded, pop in the original XP Pro cd and continue normally with installation?

 

No. Using another PC, you create and burn a single new CD with the contents of your XP Pro CD that is merged with SP3. This new CD is what you use for the install process.

The instructions in the software will guide you through the process.

 

I'm not really sure thats the issue though, because when I previously installed windows xp pro on that computer I used the same CD (sp2). I'm not in contact with the guy who did it though. I do remember... that when we were on the blue windows setup screen (blue) - He hit F6 to be prompted to install drivers or whatnot, we had 2 choices and we installed the top one first then the bottom choice. Once those 2 things were put in, it loaded windows xp pro perfectly. I just can't remember/find what those to files were we put on there.

 

The problem is loading the drivers at F6 without an old floppy drive which is where the XP installation disc is looking for them. This is what nlite is designed to work around.

I really think nlite is your best/simplest way forward. You could try google with "F6 SATA drivers XP using USB" but I think it will end up being more complicated and time-consuming than nlite.

Take a look at this guide which makes it sound simple. You only have to slipstream the unzipped MediaShield drivers into the new CD. You can skip the SP3 files and just let Windows update after it installs.

Should only take 15 minutes or so to try it and see if it can create an ISO file that includes the MediaShield drivers. If it does then burn the ISO to CD using ImgBurn using the Write Image File To Disc option.

 

No, I put the drivers on a floppy. I used an external USB Floppy and enabled floppy in bios to boot with the computer... it finds the drivers and loads them during windows setup via Floppy... but I'm not sure that I have the right drivers I guess... I'm using the service tag specific media shield drivers provided by the Dell website. But that is the only thing I'm using as far as drivers and I remember having to use TWO previously to get it to take windows xp.

 

This looks like just the driver file.

Try running the exe to extract the files (make sure you pick a location you can find or it will create a confusing C:/Dell/drivers/r9872... folder. Copy them to floppy and at F6 try pointing to the .inf file. See if you have better luck.

 

That was what I did originally... before I posted here on major geeks. It says it is loading the nvrd32 driver... says please wait... then continues with loading the remaining windows setup files, then the screen goes black and just before the next windows setup screen pops up (where it takes 29 minutes, you set your time/date settings etc.) it goes to the BSOD.

 

Yes, I realized that after I posted. I don't know what to tell you--the 29 minute mark is a decent way into the install process for it to quit.

I don't think it is a SATA problem but I guess you could go into BIOS and see what your options are under Advanced>IDE/SATA Configuration.

 

Sach2,

I'm not sure if this will be any help, but the 29-minute BSOD was the identical problem I had when attempting to downgrade an HP desktop from Vista to XP (see my first post in this thread). HP's support site was useless on addressing the issue, let alone offering a solution. As I recall, searching Microsoft's KBs and TechNet threads were also futile.

I'm not being negative - just offering a tip.

 

Are you using an original XP disc? I think the 29 min mark is popular fail point on copied disc, sometimes due to being copied to fast above 4x can produce errors...
Is your disc clean?
If you have more than one drive try another..

Nlite is an awesome utility for slip-streaming I've been using for yrs you can add/remove all kinds of stuff, updates, service packs, drivers, windows key and apps and really make a custom install disc.... make CD or DVD
What Ever Floats Ya Boat:major

Nlite guide available in 16 or so languages http://www.nliteos.com/guides.html

 

Hi gman863, For this particular model DELL has a host of XP drivers so I think the machine supports XP OS without problems. I don't know why loading the drivers at F6 won't work for the entire install.

Could this be a memory issue? I believe installation copies all the files over to the HD and then starts the countdown at 37 minutes. How intensive does XP installation work between 37min and 29min.?