Windows 2000 Professional

[Dave123us]

Hello:

I have a Dell Latitude CPi Laptop that runs on Pentium II 266 Mhz. It used to run on Windows 98 Second Edition until the graphics became distorted. Do you think that it will run on Windows 2000 Professional?

Thank you!

Dave

[ronjor]

Windows 2000 System Requirements (http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/sysreqs/default.asp)

[Close_Hauled]

It will run just fine. We have a few 300MHz machines that use 2000. The biggest issue is RAM, and how many processes are running at one time. When the system is idle, and there are no applications running, use the Task Manager to view the number of task. If there are more than 30, then you will want to trim it down some. Basically, keep the Windows system and the applications to a minimum.

[pcalvert]

-{ Quote: "
I have a Dell Latitude CPi Laptop that runs on Pentium II 266 Mhz. It used to run on Windows 98 Second Edition until the graphics became distorted.
" }-

I'm not sure what you mean by "the graphics became distorted." Have you tried reinstalling Windows 98 SE?

-{ Quote: "
Do you think that it will run on Windows 2000 Professional?
" }-

That depends. How much RAM does your laptop have?

Phil

[Dave123us]

The Win 98 installation CD was damaged while I was moving. So I purchased Win 2000 Porfessional.

The laptop has 128MB RAM.

Dave

[Trooper]

It should run, but might not be that fast. I just had to rebuild a PII 233 mhz box over the weekend! Has 128 MB of RAM and running Win2k Pro.

Running NOD32 for AV and have the services tweaked to the bare minimum. You should be fine, altho more RAM would be nice. ;)

[Dave123us]

Okay. I have a big problem. I formatted my c: drive and I didn't create system files. Now, I formatted a 3.5" floppy disk from my desktop computer (runs on Win XP) and had the computer create system files on my formatted floppy disk. I was hoping to boot my laptop computer by using my floppy disk (with system files). The problem is that I have an external floppy drive connected to my laptop. The laptop computer does not read the external floppy drive and I don't have a bootable CD either (the laptop computer does read from the CD drive though). So it seems like I am working with a clean slate computer. All I need is to have something to boot up my laptop so I can install Windows 2000. Anybody have a solution to this problem. Does this mean I messed up and I have to buy a new laptop computer? May I burn the system files from the floppy disk into a writable CD; therefore, creating a bootable CD?

To recap, I have a Dell Latitude Cpi Pentium II 266 Mhz 128MB RAM Laptop computer.

Anyway, thank you all for your replies.

Dave

[bigc73542]

If you restart start the computer with the win 2000 disc in the drive it should boot the computer into the win 2000 install setup. If it doesn't make sure the bios is set to boot from cd. your win 2000 install disc will format the Hdd as it installs.

[Dave 123us]

What I did was insert the Win 2000 installation CD in the CD drive and when I restart the computer, the DELL logo comes on and there is a option on the top right corner of the screen that says "F2 - Setup". So I pressed F2 and I set the computer to boot from the CD drive as a first boot device. However, the computer will say "Invalid, replace and press any key" or something like that.

Dave

[Trooper]

If you are having problems with booting from the CD, make some Windows 2000 startup disks.

Go to a good computer and open up the W2K CD. Then look for the bootdisk folder. Double click on makeboot.exe

You will be prompted to put in a floppy diskette. (You will need four). Follow the prompts to create your startup diskettes.

Then put in startup disk 1 and fire up your computer. You will then be prompted for startup diskettes 2-4 and finally the CD.

Good luck.

[pcalvert]

Dave,

How is the external floppy drive connected to the computer? Is it a USB drive, or some other type?

When you're in the BIOS setup screen, carefully study everything. Sometimes it is a little hard to figure out what key(s) you're supposed to push to change a value or setting. It may be that you just didn't push the right key.

Phil

[Dave123us]

The external floppy drive is connected to a USB port. However, when I set the BIOS to boot from diskette first, it doesn't read the external drive. By the way, I don't have an A drive (floppy) because it broke. This is why I bought an external floppy drive to replace my broken floppy drive. When I had Windows 98 as an OS, the computer named the external floppy drive "E:" and the CD-ROM drive "D:" So, my computer named the following drives in this order:
C: = Hard Drive
D: = CD-ROM Drive
E: = External USB floppy drive

How do I create a bootable CD? I think this might be the only option I have before I can install Win 2000.

The way how I configure the BIOS is listed below:
Boot First Device: CD-ROM/DVD Drive
Boot Second Device = Diskette Drive
Boot Third Device = Internal HDD

Everything else in the BIOS is left the same as it used to be.

Dave

[Close_Hauled]

-{ Quote: "The external floppy drive is connected to a USB port. However, when I set the BIOS to boot from diskette first, it doesn't read the external drive. By the way, I don't have an A drive (floppy) because it broke. This is why I bought an external floppy drive to replace my broken floppy drive. When I had Windows 98 as an OS, the computer named the external floppy drive "E:" and the CD-ROM drive "D:" So, my computer named the following drives in this order:
C: = Hard Drive
D: = CD-ROM Drive
E: = External USB floppy drive

How do I create a bootable CD? I think this might be the only option I have before I can install Win 2000.

The way how I configure the BIOS is listed below:
Boot First Device: CD-ROM/DVD Drive
Boot Second Device = Diskette Drive
Boot Third Device = Internal HDD

Everything else in the BIOS is left the same as it used to be.

Dave" }-

The Windows 2000 CD is already bootable. Some older systems had a hard time booting from a CD. Make sure that you have the latest BIOS version for your laptop. You may also be able to update the flash on the CDROM drive.

Bootdisk.com (http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm) is a good source for bootdisks.

There is another trick that you could try if you had a desktop and the right adapter. You could remove the hard drive from the desktop and plug in the laptop drive with the right connector. Then you start the install process. When the system goes to reboot for the first time, shut the machine off and plug the laptop drive back in to the laptop. Continue the install process from there.

[Dave123us]

Is there a way to update the BIOS? How do I update the flash on the CD ROM drive?

Dave

[Trooper]

Dave you need your hardware make and model number before you flash the bios. If not, you will end up rendering your system useless if you use the incorrect bios.

I would see if you could go to Dell's website first. (The support part of it). Hopefully you can login with your username and password to download the correct bios and firmware for your cd rom drive.

[Close_Hauled]

-{ Quote: "Is there a way to update the BIOS? How do I update the flash on the CD ROM drive?

Dave" }-
Go to support.dell.com. Create an account for yourself their. Have the service tag of the computer handy if you can. You want this because you can create profiles for each of the Dell computers that you own. In the future, access to support for those systems is quicker, a lot less searching. Dell provides a link called "My Systems & Peripherals". That is where you can store all of your Dell system profiles.

Dell will provide everything you need to know about that system. If you want to know what was options were selected for that system, it is there.

There will be a "Resources" tab there. Click on it and it will provide these list:

Default System
Service Tag
System Type
Product Support
Troubleshooting
Downloads
Manuals
Request Service
Upgrades

You can click on "view" in the Downloads column, and you can select what you want to download. Download the BIOS there.

But the problem is, you need some way to boot the system to get the BIOS onto it. So you will have to get the internal floppy replaced. Dell does not have your floppy drive on their site, so it has been orphaned.

You may want to do what I suggested before with this little adapter:

http://www.startech.com/ststore/ItemDetail.cfm?ProductID=BRACKET25&mt=

[Trooper]

Oh geez. Are you Dell support Close Hauled? :o :P

[Close_Hauled]

-{ Quote: "Oh geez. Are you Dell support Close Hauled? :o :P" }-Na, just support a whole bunch for years. So i know the drill.

Good office machines, great for beginners, but I build my own.

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "Na, just support a whole bunch for years. So i know the drill.

Good office machines, great for beginners, but I build my own." }-


That's cool. You gave him some good advice. I just did not have the time to go into so much detail with him. Good job!

I hear you. Im in support as well, and I prefer to build my own. 8)

[Close_Hauled]

-{ Quote: "Na, just support a whole bunch for years." }-


Oh my! I just realized. Almost 20 years. I started using them when they were PC's Limited. Bwaaahaaa. Oh I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

They were great machines in the late eighties. The system BIOS was ahead of its time for IBM compatibles. I owned a Mac (that I still have), a TI-99/4A, and Sinclair ZX81.

[Dav123us]

May I just burn system files from my floppy disk into a writable CD from my desktop computer? Will that work? Just to make things simpler.

Dave

[Comp01]

If you an boot from a CD you can just boot from the Win2k installation disk. All 2k disks are bootable. Even the old NT4 Workstation disk is bootable.

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "May I just burn system files from my floppy disk into a writable CD from my desktop computer? Will that work? Just to make things simpler.

Dave" }-


Have you even followed or tried what you have been told Dave?

[pcalvert]

-{ Quote: "May I just burn system files from my floppy disk into a writable CD from my desktop computer? Will that work? Just to make things simpler.

Dave" }-

Dave,

You don't need to do that. The Windows 2000 CD is already bootable. Go into the BIOS configuration again and make sure that it is set to boot from the CD-ROM. Then, before saving the settings and exiting, open the drawer for the CD-ROM drive and insert the Win2K CD. Close the drawer and then exit the BIOS configuration screen. If everything is working properly then the laptop should boot from the Win2K CD.

Phil

[Dave123us]

I guess my laptop computer is old and it's time has come.

Dave

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "I guess my laptop computer is old and it's time has come.

Dave" }-

It could be. :-\

If you were close to me I would offer to stop by and check it out. :)

[Close_Hauled]

-{ Quote: "I guess my laptop computer is old and it's time has come.

Dave" }-
Ya, get a shovel, and a little head stone for it. Say some last words, and then go buy another Dell.

The good news is that the new ones will boot off of an external USB drive. I have a USB floppy and DVD burner and can boot from either.

Drive speed and RAM is a big thing with laptops. So make sure that you get the fastest drive they have available (7200 RPM), and as much RAM as you can afford (1 gig min).

Don't let the slow clock speed of the Pentium M fool you. They are actually much faster than their Pentium 4 equivalent:

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20050525/index.html

Finally, get Windows XP Pro, not Home.

[pcalvert]

-{ Quote: "I guess my laptop computer is old and it's time has come.

Dave" }-

Nonsense. It's not impossible to install Win2K on that laptop. It may not be the easiest way, but it's still possible. Close_Hauled already told you how. He said:

-{ Quote: "
There is another trick that you could try if you had a desktop and the right adapter. You could remove the hard drive from the desktop and plug in the laptop drive with the right connector. Then you start the install process. When the system goes to reboot for the first time, shut the machine off and plug the laptop drive back in to the laptop. Continue the install process from there.
" }-


You'll need to buy an adapter, but they're fairly cheap-- about $10 to $20.

Here's one:

LAPTOP to IDE HARD DRIVE ADAPTER (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=906&sku=17705)
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=906&sku=17705


There's a pretty good article on it here:

Extracting data from a dead laptop with a laptop hard drive adapter (http://techrepublic.com.com/5102-6255-5160538.html)
http://techrepublic.com.com/5102-6255-5160538.html

Your situation calls for a slightly different approach than what's in the above article. You'll need to disconnect the desktop's hard disk drive (HDD) and connect the laptop's HDD in its place. Because of that, you shouldn't need to change the jumpers on the laptop HDD. It will also prevent you from accidently messing up the desktop's HDD.


Phil

[Dave123us]

I want to try to boot up the computer with my Win 2000 CD one more time. If it fails than I will go with the adapter suggestion. If the adapter solution fails than I'm going to find a proper burial ground for my laptop. I will be the one giving the eulogy and you are all invited to attend.

Dave

[pcalvert]

Dave,

Here are some additional thoughts that may be helpful:

Maybe the Win2K CD is bad? Did you try to see if it would boot on a newer computer?

Sometimes CD-ROM drives have difficulty reading certain media. If the Win2K CD boots fine on another computer, try making a copy of it onto CD-R and/or CD-RW media. Then see if the laptop can boot from the copy.

Do you have a Knoppix CD, or do you have the ability to create one? If so, see if your laptop will boot with that.


Phil

[Dave123us]

The Win 2000 CD is not bad because it boots fine with my desktop computer. I was able to install Win 2000 in my laptop after I retried the CD again. It turned out that I've overlooked a command on my screen all these times when I restart the computer after I've inserted my Win 2000 CD. The command said, "Press any key to boot from CD" and then it creates three dots (one dot at a time) after the command. When it reaches the third dot the computer is not able to boot from the CD and it displays a statement that said, "Invalid system disk". In other words, I have to restart the computer again and press any key as soon as the "Press any key to boot from CD" command is displayed. Well, DUUHHHHH!!! Why didn't do that earlier? Anyway, I appreciate all of your help. The problem is now solved.

Dave

[pcalvert]

Thanks for updating us. How's it running? Is Win2K running fast enough for you?

Phil

[Dave123us]

I don't realize any difference in speed when I run Win 2000 as compared with Win 98. I have Office 2000 Professional installed in it and the overall speed of Win 2000 is great.

Dave