Reformatting and Install on a Dell

[Lordnine]

I was trying to help a friend yesterday and we were having a lot of problems.  He is running a fairly modern dell system, (I don’t know how old but the warranty is up) but he tried to reinstall Windows but ended up receiving numerous error messages stating that the hard drive usage had changed, or something to that regard, and that he should contact Dell.  The thing is after this I took him through a full reformat and we were still unable to fully install windows.  My question is does Dell do something to imprint their computers somehow so that regular users can’t work on them?  I’ve installed Windows numerous times and never had a problem remotely like this.

[egrudzin]

I work for a University and we only get Dells.  We always blow away the default Dell software and reinstall everything ourselves.  So there is nothing funny about the PCs preventing OS installs.

If you haven't done so you should delete all partitions on the hard disk when you're in Windows setup and then let Windows create a new partition from the resulting free space.

When exactly do these messages occur?  In Windows Setup?  Before that?  What is the exact message.  It could be a hardware problem.  The system should have come with a bootable diagnostics CD.  You can boot to that and run the tests to see if there is any hardware failure.

And if you have to I think you can still call Dell's tech support even if your warranty has expired.  If you need parts replaced you'd have to pay for that though.

[Thin_J]

Just echoing egrudzin's info. I have a dell that I reformatted and reinstalled windows onto a week after I got it.

I also have another Dell that my dad brought home from work that's pretty old. That one didn't have any issues with a reformat either.

[Pyperkub]

Sounds like they just tried doing a reinstall, not a format and reinstall.  Many new dells come with another backup/tools drive/partiition that can cause problems.  Make sure to back anything needed up (files, etc..), then reformat before reinstalling.

Have a CD ready with AntiVirus +recent definitions, as well as Windows XP SP2 ready if your CD doesn't have SP2 integrated, if you possibly can.  Driver CD that came with the Dell is also mandatory (otherwise you might not be able to get a Network or modem driver going to get drivers and patches...