[Alvin]

So last couple of days Mrs Dell XPS has acted for the 1st time ever.

Last night - While we were readying an email to send with attachments it suddenly self-rebooted! Then it worked fine for a long enough period to complete the tasks, and no documents lost fortunately.

Been running the XP Pro w SP3, Antivirus updates, etc.
So last night I restart it after email sent and received and the "Blue Screen Of Death" appears and I say "Oh snit!" Thinking "And here we go with the hard-drive crashed, XP BS, Malware, etc." Bing searched on other device the error msg and followed some diag. suggestions Rebooted in Safe Mode several x's then Black Screen, then Yada, Yada, Yada, worse today where it wouldn't even display on the screen.

Found the Service Manual, opened up the box, little to no dust & like new inside, check connections, cables etc, and discovered via the Svc Man the Panel lights indicating problem.

Followed a 3rd party step-by-step on bad memory test and rebooted and fired right up. So trip to Micro Center, two new Faster sticks of RAM for cheap $$$, installed fired right up!

Ran chkdsk in safe mode etc and everything is fine. Backed up the entire system w a new external drive in case it fakes me out and the drive burns up next usage! New drive for this box is cheap so may just get one for inventory...wanting to wait for Win 9 to replace whole new systems...XP support end discussion was pretty in depth regarding updates available, etc...until then or within the end of yr perhaps.

The Take Away: Keep It Simple and Don't believe the first things you read about "The Dreaded Blue Screen Of Death!" It might be a simple solution to a simple issue.

I'm extremely happy to have dodged a bullet for cheap!

[KS circutguy]

Can't beat Windows 7 pro version [which has XP mode] and cheap too.
For what you save you can stick a 120gb SSD drive in it.
http://www.go2keys.com/

[Dens71TA]

While you were looking inside the case, did you check for bulging or leaking capacitors on the system board? Common problem on Dells(especially WinXP vintage machines). Usually a good indicator on how much longer the computer is going to function ...

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by KS circutguy

Can't beat Windows 7 pro version [which has XP mode] and cheap too.
For what you save you can stick a 120gb SSD drive in it.
http://www.go2keys.com/

Thxs for the link and Yes - considering that the next step Win 7 Pro & replace SATA drive...on two boxes.

Micro center peep also mentioned Win 7 upgrade was easiest upgrade to match hardware configuration while looking up system on their database. My usual IT bud has been unavailable for a few weeks, we'll be having lunch next wk to discuss his mfg direct Software & Hardware sources. Laptops and iPads alternates so No worries for now.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Dens71TA

While you were looking inside the case, did you check for bulging or leaking capacitors on the system board? Common problem on Dells(especially WinXP vintage machines). Usually a good indicator on how much longer the computer is going to function ...

TY Yes did look @ sys caps and all other areas mentioned on Dell Specific issue R&R forums and all appeared normal - for now!

[GT182]

Windows 8.1 has the Compatability mode for XP too. The more I run 8.1 the more I like it. And it tells you more about your computer and what you have installed than XP ever thought of or could.

I've got a dead slot for DDR3 RAM on the motherboard I now have in my desktop PC. Instead of 16GHs like it's supposed to be with 4 4GHs sticks in it, it's only showing 12. Now if you have XP Home which is 32bit, you can only use a max of 3 out of 4. XP Pro 64bit will let you use over 4. I'm going to move up from an Asus P4P55D-E LX to a P8P77 board that's set up to run with Windows 8 as soon as I can afford one.

[KS circutguy]

When Windows 9 is released, Windows 8 will be like millieum WA to XP?

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[KS circutguy]

Like millennium (ME) was to XP. But word is 8.1 will receive more updates soon for the better to put back start menu,way to many people hat in it cause of that.

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[Alvin]

Originally Posted by GT182

Windows 8.1 has the Compatability mode for XP too. The more I run 8.1 the more I like it. And it tells you more about your computer and what you have installed than XP ever thought of or could.

I've got a dead slot for DDR3 RAM on the motherboard I now have in my desktop PC. Instead of 16GHs like it's supposed to be with 4 4GHs sticks in it, it's only showing 12. Now if you have XP Home which is 32bit, you can only use a max of 3 out of 4. XP Pro 64bit will let you use over 4. I'm going to move up from an Asus P4P55D-E LX to a P8P77 board that's set up to run with Windows 8 as soon as I can afford one.

I've been considering new MB, Pwr Sup, and upgrade mem, but may just get whole new system w MoBo, etc. for same $ due to old considerations like these:

Actually, you don't even have to contact Dell to get a 9200/410 mobo. They are occasionally avaialbe on ebay for 50-70 bucks. The problems with putting a 9200/410 mobo in a 9100/9150/400 are:

- The back plate is not compatible, so you will have to cut new opennings for I/O, ports, etc
- The 9200/410 motherboard does not have legacy IDE drive connector, so if you have any CD/DVD drive or hard disk that is not SATA, you can't use them with the new motherboard.

Once I was going to replace the mobo in my Dim 9100 but given above facts, I gave up and settled for a dual core cpu upgrade, which should be enough for any thing you want to do with your pc for now and 1-2 years to come. Then, the technology will be much more advanced (XDDR/DDR3 rams, PCI-e 2.0, multicore cpus, much higher FSBs, etc) that even the current 9200/410 systems will be obsolete to justify getting a brand new cutting-edge system.

Just don't let the current hype around C2D push you. 10-20% performance increase is only good on paper. Most people even don't notice.

Best,
Mazyar
Message Edited by mazyar on 01-09-200710:03 AM

Obviously Available from many sources you may also want to look here for yours http://www.microcenter.com/category/...6/Motherboards

We have a local brick & motar location...watch for continuous sales (like everywhere) from them.

If this is the Asus board you meant it looks very interesting
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8Z77M/

http://event.asus.com/2012/mb/P8Z77_..._Motherboards/

[Deadhead]

Sometimes MSFT just kills you with 10000 cuts. Mine recently gave me an error Msg after being unwilling to shut down after an hour, and I gave up. Not updating, just hung up. It switched over to running itself off my HD instead of RAM memory when I restarted according to the helpful pop-up window. Then it started giving me a message that I was running out of space on C: I hate Windows so much that I just ignored it hoping it would die. Out of curiosity I looked and, it was using 63G to run Windows and one other program that primarily exists in the cloud. So worthless.

Change to Mac and save yourself a ton of unnecessary aggravation.

[KS circutguy]

Ah,the great debate;Good info here.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/mac-vs-...onsumer-guide/
I would also say that most web user's only need a nice Chrome book,cheap and secure for most web surfing.
http://chromebooks-review.toptenreviews.com/

[misterp266]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

Change to Mac and save yourself a ton of unnecessary aggravation.

That's where I'm at. I hate MS and all the BS. My desktop died and I am using an older laptop { XP } for now until I decide what to do. Never owned a MAC and wonder why they cost so much but if they work, I guess it's worth it to not deal with MS anymore.

Rob...

[KS circutguy]

But, I do still love this nexus 7 2013 edition.?

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[KS circutguy]

They cost a lot cause they over price the hardware.

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[KS circutguy]

Google Mac problems if you think they don't have troubles too.

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