Seeking advice for resurrecting an old PC, laptop.

Me | today | Zeneta

[Zeneta]

OK, so, I've just acquired an old Dell Laptop and I'm trying to set it up with the ultimate goal of using this machine and it's s-video output to my smart TV.

I want to use my smart TV as "Monitor" that I can control with/from a PC and use the mouse and a keyboard as opposed to the "On-screen" controls that I have with the remote.

First things first.

It's a Dell, Inspiron 1720

Intel core 2 duo CPU T5250 @ 1.50 Ghz 2.00 GB of RAM (this may have been upgraded) 146 GB hard Drive (this may have been partitioned)

I acquired the machine and it would not Boot.

I re-set the boot sequence to CD...etc

I have the Vista OS disk. ( I think the machine originally had Windows 7)

I'm on my second attempt to Install the OS, Vista, because that's the disc I have.

After an hour of waiting for Vista to "Complete Installation", I bailed out and went back into the Bios and "reset the Factory" defaults.

Trying to Install Vista again and it's still hanging up on "Completing Installation" But this time I selected the "Logical Drive" as opposed to "Primary Drive" not sure if it makes any difference.

I have yet to plug it into my Internet connection.

I have a Dell Disc "Drivers and Utilities" That I have yet to run.

The last known functioning state was that Vista was up and running, Internet was connected, an auto update attempted to "Upgrade" to Windows 10 and failed with an error message that said "Not enough Hard drive available" or something to that extent. But this info was from someone that knows far less than I about how these things work.

I can't imagine that I won't be able to get this thing running with the Vista OS, I might be wrong but I don't know.

Assuming I'm able to get Vista running;

Should I upgrade for free to Windows 10?

I hate Vista.

Should I bother with the hundreds of Vista "Upgrades" prior to attempting a Windows 10 upgrade?

BTW, I'm still waiting for it to complete installation on my second attempt. Another 40 minutes as I type this.

No errors and the machine hasn't froze up.

I don't have any other OS's on a disc so I'm not sure what I can do.

I'm looking for ideas.

Advice

[Paladin2]

Pull the HD and give a good testing.

[Zeneta]

Thanks.

But.

I have the original Vista Install disc.

At one point during this most recent install attempt I even got a screen that said something to the effect of “ Welcome to Windows... and your NEW install etc..”

I’m in a catch 22, so to speak.

My current system is fine running XP and I like it that way.

I don’t have any “writable or re-writable CD’s” and I certainly don’t need to buy a pack of 20.

Cheap and stubborn? Yes.

I do have a handfull of USB drives and but I don’t know how or even think I can make a recovery “disc” that will execute from a USB drive.

Oddly enough while attempting these installs (not as recovery or upgrade) as “New” I was never asked of the “Product Key”.

I think I need to wipe my HD(format)but I don’t know how from what I can see so far.

I can look again but I don’t think I can do this from the “f12” or bios?

[kingu]

I just did what you’re doing a couple weeks ago, and was unable to get the Dell to boot off of a thumb drive. I ended up barely getting it to boot into windows and used the upgrade tool to install Windows 10 HOME edition using the following tool:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 — and put it on thumb drive of at least 4GB.

IF you can get it to boot off of a USB, find your Windows Vista key, boot off the thumb drive of the above Windows 10 image, FORMAT the laptop drive from that thumb drive, then install Windows 10 which will give you a clean install with none of the junkware installed. You will lose any and all data, but I’m pretty sure from reading your message that you’ve already kissed those goodbye. Windows 10 will find and install the appropriate drivers for video, sound, etc as you go through the 76 minute install process.

DO NOT install any other software until you have finished downloading and installing the Windows 10 updates. It will just save you a whole lot of time.

[Zeneta]

I know Vista is a POS, but it’s all I got to get me to the next OS.

I’m at least 2 hours into my second “Install” attempt and since the machine hasn’t completely seized up I figure I’ll let it run its course.

I’m getting the impression that although I selected a “A new Install” that would wipe all my old data, it’s still trying to reference components of what is left of the previous OS.

[Company Man]

You’re going to be pretty disappointed in S-video as a computer display. 640i is no way to use a computer.

[Company Man]

Correction; S-video 480i, even worse.

[Zeneta]

I’m trying to work with what I have.

At the end of the day, all I want is an Internet connection on my sofa that I can project on my TV and control with my PC mouse/keyboard.

[ShadowAce]

[AppyPappy]

A new install will wipe the hard drive. You want to make sure the hard drive is empty before you do the install. The hanging may be a bad hard drive. Unfortunately, you won’t know that until you get it running.

[Kirkwood]

If you have a genuine vista installation disk (is it labeled?), you can always get to the advanced recovery options. You probably are not following the instructions exactly, and instead you are letting the automatic repair option continue. Cancel this when the auto repair starts and this brings up the advanced options menu. If that doesn’t happen, you maybe don’t have a genuine installation disk.

Can you get to a command line prompt?
Using a command line to repartition:

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. Type:

diskpart

3. At the DISKPART prompt, type:

list disk

Make note of the disk number of the disk from which you want to delete the partition.

4. At the DISKPART prompt, type:

select diskn

Select the disk n from which you want to delete the partition.

5. At the DISKPART prompt, type:

list partition

Make note of the number of the partition that you want to delete.

6. At the DISKPART prompt, type:

select partitionn

Select the partition n that you want to delete.

7. At the DISKPART prompt, type:

delete partition

You can also use the command line to format the partition after it is created.

copy - Copy a file to another location.
move - Move a file to another location.
rd - Remove an empty directory.
ren - Rename a file or directory.
more - Show the contents of a file one page a time. typically used to read text/ascii files.
type - Show the contents of a file all at once without pausing at each page like the more command. Typically used to read text/ascii files.
xcopy - Copy a folder and all its contents to another location.
mkdir - Make a new directory.
diskpart - Load the Windows disk management program. From this program you can create, delete, shrink, and expand your existing partitions as well as get information about partitions and hard drives.
dir - List the contents of the current directory or the directory you specify as an argument.
cd - Change your current directory to another one.
attrib - Change the file attributes on a particular file or directory.
del - Delete a file
bcdedit - Displays and allows you to change how Windows boots up. This command is useful for people who are having trouble with the Windows Boot Manager.
chkdsk - Scan your hard disk for errors and fix them.

It is also possible that your hard disk controller is toasted and the bios then sees no hard drives available. However from your original comments I understood the drive was accessible.

[Conservative Gato]

Does the laptop still have the Windows 7 product key sticker on it anywhere?

CGato

[Conservative Gato]

The reason I ask is if you the Windows 7 product key sticker is still there and readable, you can download the ISO from Microsoft. You'll have to enter the product key so they can give you the page for the download though.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

[Kirkwood]

“I’m at least 2 hours into my second “Install” attempt and since the machine hasn’t completely seized up I figure I’ll let it run its course.

I’m getting the impression that although I selected a “A new Install” that would wipe all my old data, it’s still trying to reference components of what is left of the previous OS.”

Why keep doing this when you say it doesn’t work? Cancel the automatic repair/install in order to pull up the advanced options menu and then do the repartition and reformat, either using the menu prompts or manually by the command line method. When you use auto repair, the system is most likely trying to access the repair partition on the drive, but if the disk is full based on your earlier comment, it won’t be able to complete a repair and OS reinstallation. This is why you need to wipe that disk yourself. You seem to be stuck on following what you see on the monitor instead of following the instructions from the link I posted.

[Zeneta]

Ah-DOS.

Insert pic of Radar from Mash.

If I could only get there.

Advanced Install fails to provide the those menu items.

I’m not trying the repair/recovery option as it’s not even available.

I have the original install disc.

I’ve let it run and after 2 hours of “Completing Installation”, I’m nearly an hour into a black screen with a functioning mouse pad/cursor and nothing to click on.

[Conservative Gato]

I remember running in to this before but it was awhile back now that I remember. Here is where I found the answer, the quote and source:

At this point during the installation it is needing the SAT drivers installed. The drivers are on the Dell Drivers disk that you received with your computer. You can also follow the steps below.

You will need to install the Sata Driver. On one of the setup screens is an option to install drivers on the lower right side of the screen. Choose this option and put the Dell Driver disk in. The driver it is looking to install is the Intel Matrix Storage Driver. If you need to download this driver and put it on a disk you can click the title below.

Another way to complete the install without first installing the driver is to change the bios setting to ATA. To do this restart the system and press F2 to enter setup. Once there you can TAB down to Onboard Devices and hit Enter. Then tab down to SATA Operation. You will then see at the top of the screen on the right side ATA and AHCI. Change this to ATA. Save the changes and exit out. Once the system restarts you should be able to complete the install. After the install and you have loaded the drivers you will need to go back into the bios and change the setting back to AHCI.

Intel Matrix Storage Manager - Notebooks

Thanks, Dell-Jesse

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_install/black-screen-with-cursor-after-reinstalling/330993b6-e99d-44df-b3b5-cfd8d86a528c?auth=1

[Zeneta]

I’m going to bail out on my second attempt to “Install” Vista from the disc.

Even though it seems I’m further along than my first attempt, an hour plus of a black screen makes no sense.

I’m going to attempt to boot up this machine with the Dell “Drivers and Utilities” disc with the hope that I can re format my hard drive from there.

[Justa]

Lots of issues here.

Firstly, it sounds like you may want to just control the tv with the laptop keyboard. That’s not possible as the tv is merely an extra monitor for the computer via the S-video setup.

A USB keyboard plugged into the smart TV and configured in the TV’s menu will allow controlling the TV with the keyboard vs. the clunky tv remote interface.

On to the computer.

Whelp, you blew out the BIOS settings which previously supported a working OS. Since it’s a laptop lots of issues can result from this.

First thought is the pause at a black screen after 1+ hr.s may indicate BIOS S3 power state has kicked in. Go into BIOS, find S1, S3 aka Power Saving settings and disable both S1 and S3.

Check also that the Plug and Play OS BIOS option is checked -which it should be by default.

And did you blow out the partitions? An OS install should go on the Primary partition otherwise there is trouble later on. The partitions are deleted from the disc during OS setup. Select all partitions it shows, find the delete key and delete them! When you have one, contiguous “Unallocated Space” you are clear to install there, and ONLY there.

The S-video to smart tv is easy. Just plug the tv in with the S-Video cable. Set the smart TV to output via that connection. Go into Windows. R-click Desktop, Properties. The smart TV will show up as an additional monitor. Select a resolution (lower is necessary since it’s a laptop video card). When the Desktop displays on the tv you’re good.

Those Dells are good machines.

[wildbill]

bttt

[Conservative Gato]

Here is a video on how to load the SATA drivers during installation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LS-74lQU8w

Since you have the Intel Matrix Storage Driver already on the Drivers disc, you can just copy and paste it to a USB drive so you can use it during the install process. You can skip the part in the video where he goes to find the right driver since you already have it on disk and go to the end. Or you can go find the latest driver from Dell and save it on a USB drive.

CGato

[Darth Reardon]

I can’t believe it took 45 posts for someone to mention this. S-Video???

Looking at the specs for that laptop, it appears there is no HDMI, so it’s probably best to throw it away if you can’t use VGA (and even then, throwing it away should be kept on the table).