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Richard K Quote:It will be a week or two before I can get back to this.
Okay--let us know when you're able to continue--I think we are close to having all the mysteries cleared up as far as the optical drive issues are concerned.
Quote:My WinXP installation CD came with the computer. It is a Dell installation CD.
Well, I don't know for sure, but if it's provided by Dell, then there's a possibility that they have added the needed SATA controller driver to that CD--it's a process called *slip-streaming* added drivers to a WinXP installation CD so you do not have to use the *F6* procedure to add those drivers when booting to the WinXP installation CD. I will download those drivers and take a look at the file names--we can then search the Dell *installation CD* to see if those drivers are already present!
Also, I'm betting that the *Recovery Console* function has not been included on that Dell CD--wish someone with a Dell that has a similar *installation CD* could confirm if the Recovery Console in on their CD or not!