Dell Latitude with an Attitude

avengerm1

Hi everyone,

Hope you can help . . .

I have a Dell Latitude C610 which was running Windows 2000K. I wanted to reinstall Windows 2000K because of the the junk built up on the hard drive over the past 3 years.

I formated the hard drive then did a successful system transfer sys a: c: I was able to type d: and get a virtual drive although it doesn't see the CD-rom with Windows 2000K. In fact, it doesn't see anything in the CD-ROM drive at all. Keep in mind, after the format I copied the files such as config.sys, autoexcec and MSCDEX.EXE to C:

At this point I'm unable to load the operating system. I don't have the resource CD from Dell and think I need new start-up disks. I tried to make start disks from my home system, but at disk 4 it says there's a missing file and could not complete the process for start disks.

I would greatly appreciate any help you can render.

Thanks!

patje

Hi, welcome to DH.

If you have the windows 2000 Installation disc, you should not need any floppy's or copying files from a to c. Place the CD in your CD-Rom drive and start up your computer.
I believe that with the C610 you can press F12 (just when you start the Pc and you're looking at the Dell logo). What you will need to do is select the CD-rom as the boot device.

The computer will look for bootinformation on the CD and go from there.
you can also enter the bios (F2) and change the boot sequence, but the F12 method will work to.

you will see a "press any key to boot from the CD" line if it worked. press the any key to continue.

Let me know if it worked ok?

Take care

avengerm1

Patje,

I did try that remedy although it didn't work . . . the Windows CD ROM was burned for me sometime ago. It has the serial number embeded. Would this make the difference or do I actually need the DELL resource CD ROM? I was thinking that was the case. I figured I might just go out and buy a copy of Win XP full version. I just don't want to toss good money in the wind. Perhaps buying a full new version XP or Win 2000K might do the trick. Otherwise hate to say it may need to go to the computer store for this situation. Once again, it seems as if the system can't see the CD-ROM Drive for some reason . . . But after formating the hard drive it's not as if I dropped the laptop and something messed it up. Your idea should work, but I'm at a loss. So, overall do you advise buying XP full version or is that the same as using the burned Win2000K Disc?

Thanks for your assistance Patje

Best regards,

AvengerM1

avengerm1

Sorry reposted by6 accident . . .

avengerm1

Patje,

Hey . . . You were right it worked! I think the problem was when it said to continue hit any key and that's where I messed up I hit the enter key and actually the second time around I hit the space bar and that did the trick!!! I guess the Dell doesn't like the enter key, but listen no complaints. You're the best. Thanks for your guru magic. Talk with you on form soon.

AvengerM1

patje

Thats why they sould but an ANY key on a keyboad...

glad I could help

avengerm1

Okay, I hate to say it . . . but it was years ago we had this conversation and since then I've gotten divorced and you just don't wnat to know the other things that have happened. So, I'm back with the same problem, and did everything the same. Now the system simply won't boot from a Win 2K CD at all. The only way to even get anywhere is with some half corrupted floppy that indicated OAKWOOD drivers corrupted and corrupted Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. With the corrupted disk I can at least get to a A: prompt, but from there I'm dead wood-- I figure I screwed up the FDISK, FORMAT and SYS TRANS some where. Ironically I can boot from an old Windows NT Server disk, but there are problems because of hard disk capacity

HELP!!!! I'm freakin' out here. . . Please read my original post for the first situation.

Best regards,
AvengerM!

avengerm1

Oh, sorry . . . yes the original WIN 2K disc is damaged so I used a burned copy thinking it would work just the same. Thanks!

kris23

so does your burned disk work? i was just thinking that was the best course of action.

lol and here is a conflict from before i even got to these forums......

avengerm1

Hi Kris,

Nope, the burned copy isn't working and neither is any other CD-ROM except . . . A Windows NT Server 4.0 Version. This one seems to grab and even identifies my system ATAPI IDE CONTROLLER and loads, but then it gets to the install part, and that's where everything falls apart. It doesn't have large disk support and it dedected that I have at least (1024) Cylinders which it won't work with. The setup screen talks about nasty things related to CMOS and other related bad stuff. So, I am lost in the wake of a really bad problem. My last chance maybe to try and get my hands on a Dell C610 SRC Recovery disk or try a Windows XP full version. Honestly, I just don't know at this point. Once I send back my company laptop next week I'll be without computer access. This couldn't have come at a worse time. Any suggestions from my fellow Driver Heaven members is appreciated.

And buying a new Laptop now is just not possible . . . Help!!!!