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Dell Precision M6300 (M90 Successor) Revealed! - Page 4

post #61 of 74
9/26/07 at 3:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandra View Post
Did you get XP or Vista? Sandy
Vista Ultimate Plan on dual booting to XP but haven't yet.
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post #62 of 74
9/26/07 at 3:38pm
are the SATA drives running in AHCI mode?
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post #63 of 74
9/26/07 at 5:33pm
Yes it is in AHCI. I'll disable it before my next install attempt, since literature states this can caus BOD during XP or Vista install if no drivers are available during install. Thank you.

I've been researching how to include additional drivers during a Vista install. Apparently one can create an image disk of the Vista disk and add extra drivers using a program called Package Manager. I'm trying to read through all the info to determine if I can actually do this. I'd appreciate any help.
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post #64 of 74
9/26/07 at 6:14pm
Np. After you install vista in IDE mode you can enable AHCI in vista using this-


<TABLE class="list ol"><TBODY><TR><TD class=number>1.</TD><TD class=text>Exit all Windows-based programs.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>2.</TD><TD class=text>Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>3.</TD><TD class=text>If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>4.</TD><TD class=text>Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>5.</TD><TD class=text>In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>6.</TD><TD class=text>In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=number>7.</TD><TD class=text>On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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post #65 of 74
9/27/07 at 4:00am
I did the registry edit, but AHCI did not change to enabled in the BIOS. Before I did the registry edit I tried changing the bios setting from ATA to AHCI and I got the BOD reboot infinite cycle. I booted with the vista cd, repaired, and restored to an earlier x64 installation and it worked. I'm afraid to try the BIOS setting again.

Bottom line, it was the AHCI preventing installation and I at least got past that point. I just would like to reactivate AHCI.
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post #66 of 74
9/27/07 at 4:09am
the reg edit is applied after an installation in IDE mode. You install in IDE mode then edit reg, reboot, enter BIOS, enable AHCI, exit & Vista should start fine.

That's what I did on my desktop system in order to get AHCI working properly. Though you have another option with a Vista install, as it allows you to use several methods (other than the XP archaic floppy option) to install a 3rd party driver as needed to enable the AHCI.

I suspect that the Vista setup DVD does not have the particular driver you need for the laptop (it does come AHCI compliant)
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=205611
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post #67 of 74
9/28/07 at 11:46am
You can add any driver you want to a Windows XP or Vista disk with the following utilities...

nlite - for Windows XP
vlite - for Windows Vista

I'm working on some how-to videos on how to exactly use nlite.
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post #68 of 74
9/28/07 at 9:47pm
I succeded enabling AHCI in the bios after failing an extra time (thank you SolApathy, I almost returned the damn computer out of ignorance and poor Dell tech support). An important point to note after the registry change. One can enable AHCI in the BIOS and the computer will boot up the first time after changing the bios from ATA to AHCI. The computer will then find hardware and loade drivers and request a reboot. Well I rebooted and got into the same BOD/reboot cycle. I had to repair with the Vista cd and restore to an earlier version. The next time after the computer found hardware and requested a reboot, I loaded the Dell drivers for the Intel: matrix memory, turbo cache, and the chip set drivers. I got more hadware found notification followed by a popup of a succesful installation identifying my hard disk by brand (Hitachi*****) followed by some alphanumeric code. I had a restart request, restarted, and everything appears to work with AHCI enabled.

I had to reactivate Vista.
I do have a new problem now with microsoft update. Windows Microsoft Update will not update. It gives me an error code 8*****EE2. I looked this up and followed repair instructions, but I keep getting the same error.
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post #69 of 74
9/28/07 at 9:54pm
you error code got the magic "*" so can't help you on that. try to re-enter it in your post.
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post #70 of 74
9/28/07 at 11:22pm
Yay!

Shipped Date:9/28/2007
Est. Delivery Date:10/3/2007 - 10/5/2007

I'm excited, but you all have me really afraid to do a clean install of XP!

Sandy
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post #71 of 74
9/29/07 at 1:47pm
Microsoft updates is working now. I don't know why, but everything is working correctly. Thanks for the help.
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post #72 of 74
10/2/07 at 4:23pm
It came yesterday.

I have a really stupid question...how do you remove the hard drive caddy. The whole body of this laptop is virtually identical to my Inspiron 9200, and I'm trying to see if I can remove the drive. I want to buy another to try a clean XP install. If it works, I 'd use this drive as backup.

After removing the screws, the caddy doesn't simply slide out like the 9200 does. It seems like there's something else that needs to be released maybe...? Darned if I can find it.

(I HATE the touch pad! God Bless my wireless mouse.)

Sandy
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post #73 of 74
10/2/07 at 6:01pm
Sandra, try pulling harder. You remove it the same as you do on the 9200, but the connection may have slightly more tension than the 9200 does.
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post #74 of 74
10/3/07 at 9:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrEvil View Post
Sandra, try pulling harder. You remove it the same as you do on the 9200, but the connection may have slightly more tension than the 9200 does.

Thank you

I had to pry it with a flat-head screw driver. After that it was fine. It's like when my kids were babies...I was afraid to cut their fingernails for the first month and made my husband do it. This is the new baby that I'm afraid of hurting!

Right now I'm in the middle of moving over all my data, but want to wait until I get the new drive to re-format and "un-Dell" this thing. After that I'll play!

Sandy
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