New HDD in a Dell desktop

[Talk Talk]

I reckon the drive is too big for the BIOS. That's if it's an old-ish Dell.

[Simon Pieman]

Could be, though you'd have thought it would try and boot from the cd.

Maybe it might be time to find a BIOS update.

[Batch]

What model Dell is it?

[oxford_fan]

Dimension 3000.

Argh why can't it just plug in and go!

[oxford_fan]

Its currently got BIOS v. AO2, but AO3 is here, must be worth a go

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R115211&SystemID=DIM_CEL_3000&servicetag=BYVHQ1J&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=308&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=4&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=151932

[oxford_fan]

A little progress. Checked the old HDD and its set to cable select, CS. switched the jumper on the new one and it now recogises it in the BIOS, but still no luck getting anything off the xp cds.

[Simon Pieman]

I've got to ask, when you checked the CDs in your laptop, did they boot before it got to Windows?

[oxford_fan]

Shit i was just putting them in with windows already up and running on the laptop. Just tried them in the cd drive from startup and they don't make a difference, i t loads vista like normal

[Batch]

hahaha

Not sure why CS works and master doesn't, but if it detects it then all is good!

I assume the laptop boots from floppy first, anyway if the disks are duff from a bootable sense then there's ya problem.

[Simon Pieman]

What software do you use to burn cds?

[oxford_fan]

I used Nero for one, Windows explorer for another. Nero for the OEM one.

[Simon Pieman]

In nero there should be an option to create a disc from an image. Select that option then it will ask for file location. Select the iso file you downloaded and then it will burn the bootable cd.

[Batch]

FWIW I just opened the ISO as SI Pie says and it worked fine. Open the Nero burning ROM (close any boxes that open) and select file/open.

[4D]

OF, Just get a new PC 

[oxford_fan]

Its getting there! The CD booted and its formatting.