New to XP SP2

marylee

I have just got my new Dimension 5150 and I am new to XP. Tonight for some unknown reason the sonic cd/dvd will not open and it is only after doing a restore point, it worked. Then the printer did not print and had to re-install, everything seems to be OK now. Please where can I buy a hard copy of the manual, it's such a pain having to read onlilne and so many pages to print. Also I did not get much software from Dell. Is there anything I should copy and how do I go on about doing it? If the system crashes and the computer will not re-boot, what do I do? Does anybody know if you write on cd-r, can you add data bit by bit like you do on floppy drive until it is full?Thanks

Browntoa

you should have a Dell Restore/Repair disk , this accesses a copy of the dell system which is hidden away on part of the hard disk, if the system crashes you can use that to repair/restore. It normally sets the Pc back to the same as it left the factory so the only thing you need to back up are any douments etc that you need to keep or MP3's etc

you need CDRW discs if you wish to add information as you go along

intel

Browntoa wrote:

you should have a Dell Restore/Repair disk , this accesses a copy of the dell system which is hidden away on part of the hard disk, if the system crashes yo can use that to repair/restore

you need CDRW discs if you wish to add information as you go along

Mmm isnt that F11 or F12 didnt you have to whinge to get discs

Browntoa

think the latest ones come with a "ghost" partition on the hard disk now to cut down on the amount of disks they were sending out

might be called a rescue disk, not seen one yet

imsi

Dell support is 24 hours 01344373196 ask for technical support.
They sorted me out a couple of times

Bob_the_Builder_5

marylee wrote:

I have just got my new Dimension 5150 and I am new to XP. Tonight for some unknown reason the sonic cd/dvd will not open and it is only after doing a restore point, it worked.

Sounds a bit weird

marylee wrote:

Then the printer did not print and had to re-install, everything seems to be OK now. Please where can I buy a hard copy of the manual, it's such a pain having to read onlilne and so many pages to print.

Do you mean the printer manual?

marylee wrote:

Also I did not get much software from Dell. Is there anything I should copy and how do I go on about doing it?

I imagine the software that came with the thing will be on the CD

marylee wrote:

If the system crashes and the computer will not re-boot, what do I do?

Answer: It depends how and what has gone wrong. Don't worry about it, it may never happen. It it does, you should be able to boot from the CD that came with the computer.

marylee wrote:

Does anybody know if you write on cd-r, can you add data bit by bit like you do on floppy drive until it is full?Thanks

Yes, that's pretty much how it works. As long as you don't choose to "end the session", it's unlikely you'll do that without going into advanced options.

Here's quite a good book:

Windows XP in Easy Steps by Harshad Kotechna
ISBN: 1840782870
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1840782870

albertross_2

You can write more than one-session to a CD-R, provided that you don't finalise it. RW's are easier though.

intel

@ Browntoa This may help us

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1055856&c=us&l=en&s=gen&cs=

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

Browntoa

I like this one ....lol

How to 'undo' a big mistake in Windows ".

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Mine didn't come with any restore/repair disc, they don't do these anymore. You have to burn one yourself, and it only allows you to burn 1. I think you have to look in Program, Dell, Accessories, sorry can't be more precise.

Installed programs are Creative Media Suite which is organiser/player cd/dvd writer also Mcfee security suite.

You have to install msworks 8
And thats all I can think of, pretty mean really.
I just took all of these off and installed my own programs.

Hope this helps

marylee

Is it me or do you any of you find the computer looks like a big box of tin? I had a look at the Packard Bell and the computer looks very sturdy. This new Dell has got so many vents and slots, I guess, it is for ventilation but I have never seen one like that where can I see all the electricall bits and it is worrying me. It will be difficult for me to get at the back of the computer to clean. I guess, it's me worrying for nothing. Thanks again for all of you who took the trouble to advise me.