XP on a Latitude CPx

I have a Latitude CPx which I recently upgraded.
It is now a CPxJ with 750MHz PIII, 256MB RAM, 30GB disk.

I also recently asked for opinions re. running Windows 2000 or XP on this
machine. Following on from this I decided to install the copy of XP from my
Dimension 8300 onto the Latitude to try it out (prior to getting a legit
copy I might add).
Well, the install didn't work. It seemed to be going nicely but then just
hung at a point saying "registering components" with 13 minutes remaining.
Apparently this is quite a common failure point for XP install.
I tried setting things 'off' in the BIOS, as far as possible but no go.
Talk on this forum suggests that Dell OEM XP disks are only tied to Dell
machines in general, but I wonder if they are in fact tied a little more
closely, perhaps to ranges (Dimension) or something like that?

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might get this install to
work? I'd just like to try XP on the Latitude to see how well (or not) it
works before buying a copy.

Thanks, John

They're only tied to Dells, so you have some other problem.

How long did you wait? Let it sit there overnight.


"John Fryatt" wrote in message
...
I have a Latitude CPx which I recently upgraded.
It is now a CPxJ with 750MHz PIII, 256MB RAM, 30GB disk.

I also recently asked for opinions re. running Windows 2000 or XP on this
machine. Following on from this I decided to install the copy of XP from
my
Dimension 8300 onto the Latitude to try it out (prior to getting a legit
copy I might add).
Well, the install didn't work. It seemed to be going nicely but then just
hung at a point saying "registering components" with 13 minutes remaining.
Apparently this is quite a common failure point for XP install.
I tried setting things 'off' in the BIOS, as far as possible but no go.
Talk on this forum suggests that Dell OEM XP disks are only tied to Dell
machines in general, but I wonder if they are in fact tied a little more
closely, perhaps to ranges (Dimension) or something like that?

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might get this install to
work? I'd just like to try XP on the Latitude to see how well (or not) it
works before buying a copy.

Thanks, John

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...
They're only tied to Dells, so you have some other problem.

How long did you wait? Let it sit there overnight.

About an hour.

Overnight??? What's it doing all that time?

Do you think Win 2000 behaves in a similar way?

Anyone else install XP on a Latitude and have this problem?

Thanks, John

Running XP on a CPxH converted to a CPxJ and it works fine -- I went through
the identical route two years ago (though first to a 650MHz CPU then to a
850). I did use a retail copy of XP and a full install. However I am
positive there is no difference between the Dell versions of XP provided for
desktop and laptop.

Given what little information you have posted, I would say the more likely
cause of the problem is either the BIOS (did you upgrade to the latest
version) or trying an upgrade rather than a full install. I would also
highly recommend upgrading your memory to the maximum 512MB.


"John Fryatt" wrote in message
...
I have a Latitude CPx which I recently upgraded.
It is now a CPxJ with 750MHz PIII, 256MB RAM, 30GB disk.

I also recently asked for opinions re. running Windows 2000 or XP on this
machine. Following on from this I decided to install the copy of XP from
my
Dimension 8300 onto the Latitude to try it out (prior to getting a legit
copy I might add).
Well, the install didn't work. It seemed to be going nicely but then just
hung at a point saying "registering components" with 13 minutes remaining.
Apparently this is quite a common failure point for XP install.
I tried setting things 'off' in the BIOS, as far as possible but no go.
Talk on this forum suggests that Dell OEM XP disks are only tied to Dell
machines in general, but I wonder if they are in fact tied a little more
closely, perhaps to ranges (Dimension) or something like that?

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might get this install to
work? I'd just like to try XP on the Latitude to see how well (or not) it
works before buying a copy.

Thanks, John

"Bill Joy" wrote in message
om...
Running XP on a CPxH converted to a CPxJ and it works fine -- I went
through
the identical route two years ago (though first to a 650MHz CPU then to a
850). I did use a retail copy of XP and a full install. However I am
positive there is no difference between the Dell versions of XP provided
for
desktop and laptop.

Given what little information you have posted, I would say the more likely
cause of the problem is either the BIOS (did you upgrade to the latest
version) or trying an upgrade rather than a full install. I would also
highly recommend upgrading your memory to the maximum 512MB.

Thanks Bill, it's useful to know it can be made to work.

I do have the latest BIOS (A16), and I am doing a fresh install to a new
partition on the disk.

I understand what you mean re. memory but I think XP should at least install
with 256MB.

Given what little information you have posted,

That occurred to me but I can't see what else I should post - any thoughts?

Hmmm, can't see what else I can do to cure this at the moment.

John

"John Fryatt" wrote:

I have a Latitude CPx which I recently upgraded.
It is now a CPxJ with 750MHz PIII, 256MB RAM, 30GB disk.

I've got it running on a PIII/ 733MHz Dimension. It will run OK
in 256, but even for basic office-type use, web browsing, email,
WP, spreadsheets, simple graphics like Power Point, you'll see
some improvement with 512MB.



I also recently asked for opinions re. running Windows 2000 or XP on this
machine. Following on from this I decided to install the copy of XP from my
Dimension 8300 onto the Latitude to try it out (prior to getting a legit
copy I might add).
Well, the install didn't work. It seemed to be going nicely but then just
hung at a point saying "registering components" with 13 minutes remaining.
Apparently this is quite a common failure point for XP install.
I tried setting things 'off' in the BIOS, as far as possible but no go.
Talk on this forum suggests that Dell OEM XP disks are only tied to Dell
machines in general, but I wonder if they are in fact tied a little more
closely, perhaps to ranges (Dimension) or something like that?

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might get this install to
work? I'd just like to try XP on the Latitude to see how well (or not) it
works before buying a copy.

Did you have available and run the Upgrade Advisor

Check out
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...g/default.mspx,
depending on which edition you're talking.

and in particular the third item on that page:

Make Sure Your Hardware and Software Are Compatible

Use the compatibility search tool or download the Upgrade Advisor
to make sure your system, devices, and software will work with
Windows XP, and install updates if available.

The Upgrade Advisor, all 50+ MB of it so it helps if you have a
BB connection, is available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/advisor.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...g/advisor.mspx

It might give you an idea of what is hanging up your install,
e.g., you need to upgrade your bios, or perhaps one of your
hardware drivers, etc.

--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]

Did you have available and run the Upgrade Advisor

No. I have put a new drive in the machine and so no OS is currently
available to run it, except DOS from a floppy.

Check out
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...g/default.mspx,
depending on which edition you're talking.

and in particular the third item on that page:

Make Sure Your Hardware and Software Are Compatible

Use the compatibility search tool or download the Upgrade Advisor
to make sure your system, devices, and software will work with
Windows XP, and install updates if available.

The compatibility search tool yields only a few peripherals, e.g. UPS,
keyboard, printer, if I search for Dell.

The Upgrade Advisor, all 50+ MB of it so it helps if you have a
BB connection, is available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/advisor.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...g/advisor.mspx

It might give you an idea of what is hanging up your install,
e.g., you need to upgrade your bios, or perhaps one of your
hardware drivers, etc.

On the face of it I know that XP is compatibile with my Latitude because
Bill Joy has a similar system and his runs ok (see earlier response). I
would have to load Win 98 just to run the advisor, which is a bit of a drag.
Maybe I will though if I can't get any other options to try.

I am a little confused over this issue of updated drivers though as I am
installing from scratch, so how can I load drivers before the OS? I want to
load plain XP then install drivers as needed.

John

Hi!

Talk on this forum suggests that Dell OEM XP disks are only tied to Dell
machines in general, but I wonder if they are in fact tied a little more
closely, perhaps to ranges (Dimension) or something like that?

The XP Home OEM disc that I received with my Dimension 8300 installed
without comment inside VMware. It even took the key number without issue.

I dunno if it's legal, and I didn't keep it around anyway, but it worked
just fine.

Personally, I'd run Win2000 Pro on that machine. Even if it hasn't got all
the geegaws and doodads that XP has, 2000 Pro is a nice, simple, stable OS
and probably the best job that Microsoft ever did with Windows.

William

"John Fryatt" wrote:

Did you have available and run the Upgrade Advisor

No. I have put a new drive in the machine and so no OS is currently
available to run it, except DOS from a floppy.

My bust - forgot the "don't assume" mantra. ;-

The compatibility search tool yields only a few peripherals, e.g. UPS,
keyboard, printer, if I search for Dell.

On the face of it I know that XP is compatibile with my Latitude because
Bill Joy has a similar system and his runs ok (see earlier response). I
would have to load Win 98 just to run the advisor, which is a bit of a drag.
Maybe I will though if I can't get any other options to try.

I am a little confused over this issue of updated drivers though as I am
installing from scratch, so how can I load drivers before the OS? I want to
load plain XP then install drivers as needed.

In my case, it identified the need for a new driver for a video
card I had installed vice the onboard graphics on the desktop
L733r - bitch finding a newer one, the company had sold out and
the product line had died. A compatible driver for the base S3
[I didn't say it was a new card, it was one I'd had a long time]
chip was recommended that worked.

Told me to upgrade the bios - I didn't and the install went fine,
and the L733 has been working like a champ under XP for two years
plus now.

It was just a thought, though I should have remembered you were
talking laptop. AIUI, you laptop users aren't quite as ready as
the desktop guys to play with replacing components on a whim.

Never mind, I'll go back into my hole quietly, Officer.
--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]

My first XP install was using a retail version before SP1 came out. There
were no problems during the install and all the hardware was recognized.
Since I have upgraded the software up to SP2 and have never had a problem.
I am using the CPxJ A16 BIOS too (originally the system was a CPxH 500MHz).

I was running W2K before doing the upgrades. The power management is not as
nice, it took longer to boot, and it does not have ClearType. I believe you
also have to install some drivers if you want to use SpeedStep. (And
didn't Microsoft recently announced that they were not going to produce the
equivalent of XP SP2 for W2K?)

Since you mentioned in another post that your hard drive is new, maybe that
is the place to start looking. Pull it, check the pins, re-seat it, run
some diagnostics. For comparision, my drive is a TravelStar 40GNX.


"John Fryatt" wrote in message
...

Thanks Bill, it's useful to know it can be made to work.

I do have the latest BIOS (A16), and I am doing a fresh install to a new
partition on the disk.

I understand what you mean re. memory but I think XP should at least
install
with 256MB.

Given what little information you have posted,

That occurred to me but I can't see what else I should post - any
thoughts?

Hmmm, can't see what else I can do to cure this at the moment.

John