New HDD in a Dell desktop

[oxford_fan]

My Dads shitty Dell has been playing up so I ordered a new HDD:

Western Digital WD800JB 80GB Hard Drive 7200RPM 8MB Cache

I've screwed it into the case and connected the relevant wires, but now I think I need to do something in the BIOS settings which appear if I press F2 on startup. Trouble is I have no idea, and it didn't come with any instructions. I've twiddled with some HDD settings in the BIOS menu but no success as yet.

Any ideas please?

[Samdy Gray]

Straight swap for the existing HDD? SATA or IDE?

[oxford_fan]

Its not identical to the old one but I matched up the interfaces and wotnot. I think. I really hope.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/34419

Its EIDE, ATA-100

[oxford_fan]

It replaced this

http://www.samsung.com/ph/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=computerperipherals&type=harddiskdrive&subtype=35patahdd&model_cd=SP0401N

[Simon Pieman]

There will be a little plastic jumper on the back of the hard drive which connects to a couple of pins. The pins should be labeled master and slave. Make sure the drive's jumper is connected to the master pins.

Make sure the power connection is secure on the back of the HDD.

Also, you will need to load the operating system e.g. windows onto the drive before it will do anything.

Finally, if you've connected the hard drive to the same slot on the motherboard (circuit board) you shouldn't need to change anything in the bios.

[oxford_fan]

Did the master thing, covered the M for master one up with the plastic bit.

Plugged in the big long connector, and little one, to the back of the HDD.

How do I load the OS onto it? He's lost his Windows CD so I've downloaded a dodgy version of XP and have it burnt to CD.

[Simon Pieman]

Put the cd into the computer and when hopefully it asks if you want to boot from disk, press any key. Then the disk will load and should guide you through the options. Use the serial number on the sticker on the back of the pc though, and you will have a legit copy installed.

If it does not ask/want to boot from disk you need to change the boot order in the bios so dvd/cd drive is the first device to boot from. Remember to change this back to the pre-adjusted setting after windows is installed though.

[oxford_fan]

At the moment when I turn the comp on with HDD all plugged in it says

Diskette drive 0 seek failure
Primary drive 0 not found
F1 to continue, F2 to run setup utility

Hope thats not a bad sign.

[oxford_fan]

Ah sounds good, cheers Si I'll try it now.

[Simon Pieman]

It looks heavily modified. If you want the full version I'd find another torrent or someone with a normal disk just in case.

The version you have will work though.

[Simon Pieman]

Yes I think so. I'd try and use the legit serial which Dell would sticker onto the machine rather than the crack which comes with that one though.

[Batch]

Just PM'd you OF.
 
@Si Pie - isn't it the case XP OEM key will only install with an XP OEM CD unless you modify something or other?

[oxford_fan]

Cheers, I'm getting an OEM one now.

[Simon Pieman]

Just PM'd you OF.
 
@Si Pie - isn't it the case XP OEM key will only install with an XP OEM CD unless you modify something or other?

Nope, you can buy OEM discs of XP intended to put on your own system builds/for system builders.

I bought an OEM XP disc for my pc and have used it on loads of people's computers with a 'standard' license and also manufacturer licenses (e.g. Dells).

[Peter Venkman]

Dell (and HP/Compaq) use tattooed motherboards/bios - Eprom, one reason I despise them.

Some early OEM keys will actually install in 3 different PC's with no bother, the newer ones are limited to 1 installation.