Old Dell / New Win XP

OK.... here we go,

I have an old Dell Dimension L866r which had Win98 SE on it and now I am trying to install WinXP Home.

I upgrade the BIOS. Then I go into BIOS and change the boot sequence but I still am having issues with the computer starting the installation CD.

Now, the WinXP CD is from another Dell system that no longer uses this specific CD. This CD is WinXP Home and is a Dell Reinstallation disk. I have done this same process on another Dell system and had much better results than I am having now.

The hard drive is a Maxtor and I have also tried using the MaxBlast program to assist in formating the HDD and installing the OS.... no luck.

Anyone up for some discussion? Or assistance?
thanks

 

As it is a Dell Re-installation disk I would assume that it is for a specific PC with specfic hardware - and it is probably only licensed for the original PC too.

 

Don't bother. The XP CD will only activate according to the other machine's BIOS. So even if you did get it installed, you would not have alegit copy, and activation would expire.

 

not always true .I just installed Xp on a inspron 7000...10 years old! with a disk from a 5160 inspiron...3 years old. Dell is a Dell. BUt some of your hardware might and probaly not compatable with xp. The 7000 mpeg card and multimedia card isn't compatable with xp nor does it have a driver for it. So it could be a hardware problem. (and no I didn't leave XP on it, I just wanted to see if it still worked. REAL SLOOOOOOOOWWWW!)

 

Its very true, and this thread died many months ago.

If it was activated, it was hacked.