New hard drive question here.

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February 5th, 2013, 12:16 PM
Mudflap

New hard drive question here.

So I bought a new Western Digital "WD5000AAKX" 500 GIG 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5 hard drive. I am trying to install Windows XP Pro 32 bit.
It's going into a Dell 4700c tower which is the space saving style.
Its service tag is 4WN5L71.
I went to the Dell Drivers site to see the correct order of their installation and to save the drivers to a memory stick.
I have a few questions.
If you go to that same page I was on at Dell's site about installing the drivers in a certain order they list it as being done in 7 steps.

1. Desktop System Software.
2. Chipset.
3. PCMCIA/Smartcard controller.
4. Intel Storage.
5. Audio.
6. Video.
7. Network Interface Card/Ethernet Controller

I've got the drivers for steps 1 and 2 but cannot find the PCMCIA/Smartcard controller driver they list. In fact, its not there! What is this "PCMCIA/Smartcard controller" anyway??

Step 4 "Intel Storage"
This is what I assume as being the driver for the hard drive? But I won't need this will I, as the replacement hard drive I'm installing is not the same as the original that came with the system? How do new Hard Drive drivers install themselves?
Or am I wrong?

Step 5 "Audio" I have the drivers

Step 6 "Video". I am a little confused here as I see a list of drivers but I have the current driver for my video card ( Radeon 300 series) on a memory stick. I got it from the ATI site. Will I need any of these drivers listed on the DELL site if I choose to install the driver I have from ATI?

Step 7 "Network Interface Card". I have the drivers for.

Now, one other thing. This here new drive! Do I have to set the jumpers to a different position? Seems to me that in another of my posts someone stated that I would have to do that because of the current configuration of the "DELL 4700C" model.

I know its a lot to ask from you folks but any help to this post is greatly appreciated. "Hey!!" I'm learning!
February 5th, 2013, 12:28 PM
jstanek7

Pcmcia cards are for laptops they are the expansion cards like network and serial port or parallel port.
February 5th, 2013, 12:39 PM
Mudflap

Thanks "jstanek7". Why would it tell me to install that then, as this is a desktop.
February 5th, 2013, 12:47 PM
jdc2000

As jstanek7 pointed out, you likely don't have a PCMCIA controller on that system, or any cards for it if you did, so that is unlikely to be an issue.

The Intel Storage drivers are for the hard drive controller on the motherboard, not the drive itself, so you will want those.

The Video drivers would be for the onboard video, if there is any. I would download and save these in case you need them in the future, but if you are using an add-in card, you probably won't need to install them.

That new drive is a SATA 6 drive. If it has any jumpers, I would leave them as they are and try installing. There should be no problems.
February 5th, 2013, 01:20 PM
Mudflap

Thanks "jdc2000". But when I go to the Dell driver site and choose the "Serial ATA" category all that is listed is "Maxtor" options. I took a Maxtor drive out of this system years ago but my new drive is Western Digital. Can anyone explain this?
February 5th, 2013, 01:51 PM
jdc2000

I have no idea why Dell would list the drive manufacturer instead of the motherboard controller info. While that was the drive used in the original system, you would think that it might occur to them that if it failed, it might get replaced with a drive from a different manufacturer. What happens when you select that driver download? Do you get any other options or information displayed?
February 5th, 2013, 02:11 PM
Mudflap

Nope

No other options. Just the Maxtor deal!
February 5th, 2013, 02:30 PM
jdc2000

I'd download in case you need it, regardless of the name.
February 5th, 2013, 02:56 PM
Train

Quote:

1. Desktop System Software.

And that includes any and all SP s if there are any.
February 5th, 2013, 03:08 PM
Midknyte

Note that Dells are usually built-to-order (BTO), so you may not have all the hardware listed.

I would ignore 3 and 4, unless you see something missing in Device Manager after you install everything else.

Like Train mentioned, update XP to SP3 first. What is the SP level of the original installation disc?
February 6th, 2013, 12:21 AM
Mudflap

I'll keep plugging away here.
February 6th, 2013, 10:56 AM
Mudflap

So after running several tests on my hard drive and having them all pass I have sent the new drive back and will troubleshoot again.
February 6th, 2013, 04:52 PM
falcon2000

Confused. So what exactly is (are) the problem(s)? So far, you have asked a bunch of questions about installing drivers and now you say you ran tests (what tests?) on the hard drive and it passes, yet you sent the drive back. :confused:
February 7th, 2013, 12:14 AM
Mudflap

I'll explain

Falcon.My whole issue began about 2 months ago. I would cruise the internet and most sites would make my computer rev really fast and use 100 percent of the CPU power. It would freeze up and report that "This program is not responding".(Internet Explorer 8).
Wait about a minute then the system would be ok until I clicked on any link and then it would start all over again.
I reformatted in hopes of killing this problem but it came back immediatly.I suspected a bum hard drive. I ordered a new one. While waiting for its arrival I ran Western Digital's tests on my suspect bad hard drive. The tests all passed. I ran the Dell diagnostics and they passed too. The hard drive is not that old and as it passed all the tests I sent the new one back.
Long story short, I am back at square one.
The memory tests did reveal a Modulo 20 error though so I now have to dig into what that means. RAM I think.
February 7th, 2013, 07:00 AM
SpywareDr

Run Memtest86+. If you get _any_ errors, replace the RAM.

(Download, unzip, burn the .iso file to CD and then boot from the CD).
February 7th, 2013, 09:53 AM
Shinma

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudflap

... memory tests did reveal a Modulo 20 error though so I now have to dig into what that means...

If Memtest86+ was used to test memory,
As SpywareDr already stated, there should be no error(s) displayed, PERIOD.

If there are any error(s) displayed,
Defective/damaged memory
and/or
Defective/damaged mobo.
February 8th, 2013, 12:12 AM
Mudflap

Memtest

So after 4 passes Memtest says all is ok! I didi notice though that some of the capacitors on my motherboard are leaking.Kinda like an old battery does. Thats probably bad huh.
Whats weird though is all the tests are passing.
I just changed the "Visual Settings" over to "Adjust For Best Performance" so I'll see what that does.
February 8th, 2013, 03:21 AM
Train

Quote:

capacitors on my motherboard are leaking.Kinda like an old battery does.

Hate to say this, but it is time to get a new motherboard.
It may last a few minutes, or even years, but darn if I would trust it!
February 8th, 2013, 01:09 PM
Mudflap

Time for a whole new system I think.

Bahhhhh!! I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and look into a new desktop. What does everyone think of the Lenovo desktops? Any ideas?
February 8th, 2013, 03:26 PM
Train

I build my own or have them custom built for me. Post a link to the one you are looking at.
February 9th, 2013, 11:25 PM
Mudflap

Lenovo

I was thinking of the Lenovo A720. it comes out soon and I'm not too sure I want another Dell! although there are a few Dell that don't look bad. I've never built one before and wouldn't know the first thing about it. Where do you order you're stuff from Train?
February 10th, 2013, 01:39 AM
Train

You can change a tire on a car?

Actually that is harder.

Newegg.ca and of coarse you have Futureshop up there.
http://www.newegg.ca/
I know Futureshop when the were in the Seattle area.
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-ca/home.aspx

But if you have many doubts a off the shelf with win 7 would be good.
February 10th, 2013, 07:37 AM
SpywareDr
PCMag:
Quote:
Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 - MSRP $1449.00 (4 of 5 stars)

Pros - Large screen. Slim, attractive design. Blu-ray. HDMI-in and HDMI-out.

Cons - IR dongle for the remote. Could've gone higher resolution with a 27-inch screen. Middling performance on benchmark tests.

Bottom Line - The Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 is one of the better touch-screen desktops out there, and sports an innovative design. But in terms of performance and features, it lags behind competing desktops.

Apple iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt) - MSRP $1999.00 (4 of 5 stars)

Pros - Huge 27-inch display. 2,560-by-1,440 (larger than 1080p HD) screen resolution. High-end discrete 3D graphics. Two Thunderbolt ports. Supports two external displays. 802.11a/b/g/n 5GHz Wi-Fi. Wireless keyboard and mouse. No cost optional Magic Trackpad. No bloatware. Includes iLife suite and FaceTime HD. New ambient light sensor. Color calibrated display.

Cons - Only Thunderbolt input for display (No HDMI in, no mini DisplayPort in). No Blu-ray. Could use a matte screen. Pricier than other high-end all-in-one desktops.

Bottom Line - It's pricey, has a huge screen, and is as powerful as an Asgardian thunder god. If you need a graphics PC for your business, the new Apple iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt) will rival the huge tower workstations currently available. For the rest of us who don't live and die by deliverable deadlines, however, other recent all-in-one PCs out-innovate the Aluminum beast.

Samsung Series 7 (DP700A38-01) - MSRP $999.99 (4 of 5 stars)

Pros - Stunning design. HDMI in and out. Slim, bright screen tilts 90 degrees to lie flat. Sleep-and-charge USB port. Easy settings. Tablet-like touch launcher.

Cons - Screen wobbles. No Blu-ray option. Needs a brake/lock for the screen tilt. Low-powered integrated graphics. A bit of bloatware.

Bottom Line - The Series 7 All-in-One PC (DP700A38-01), Samsung's first foray into desktops for the U.S., is a svelte all-in-one PC. It has one of the more innovative screens on any PC, but there are a couple of factors that keep it from beating the competition.

Dell XPS One 27 - MSRP $1999.00 (4-1/2 of 5 stars) - Editor's Choice

Pros - Has a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution screen. USB 3.0 ports. HDMI in and out. Nice styling. Fast processor. DX11 graphics. mSATA with Intel SRT. 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. Internal power supply (No power brick). Nice sound. No confusing USB 2.0 ports. Sleep Charge. Performance is at mSATA speeds.

Cons - USB 3.0 ports aren't blue. No touch option. No height adjustment.

Bottom Line - There are more 27-inch all-in-one desktops these days, but very few are done right. The Dell XPS One 27 manages to put almost every technology and feature we're looking for in a compact stylish chassis.