jb39 (AT) trillium (DOT) net wrote:
Dear Jb,

the owner's manual for the 8300 is here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...m/M2972A02.pdf

On page 67 of 146: looks like you hit "F12" immediately after the Dell
logo appears.

If it boots into Windows or does not otherwise give you the "boot from
CD" option, try it again.

When "press any key to boot from CD" appears, press the Any key.

HTH,

BC

"I guessing there may be some restriction that Dell has in place to prevent
"private" OS installs (those without there software present)."

In my (limited) experience, that's sort of the reverse of the truth. Dell
used to supply a version of an OS installation CD that would only work with
a machine identified by its BIOS as a Dell.

You ought to be able to install a retail or generic OEM copy of XP on the
Dell. (I have not done this, though.)

I have a semi-random suggestion: clear the CMOS. There seems to be no jumper
to do this, so Dell prescribes the following:

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1. Clear the NVRAM on DellT DimensionT Systems without a jumper.


To clear the NVRAM, perform the following steps:


1.. Restart your computer.
2.. At the first text on the screen or at the Dell logo, press the
<F2> key every three seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
The System Setup screen appears.
3.. Press the <Caps Lock> key, the <Scroll Lock> key, and the <Num
Lock> key to light up all three lights on the keyboard.
4.. Press the <Alt> and <E> keys at the same time.
The system will emit a beep tone to indicate that NVRAM has been
cleared.
5.. Press the <Esc> key, and then press the <Enter> key to save the
changes and reboot the system.
Proceed with the installation or troubleshooting that you were
attempting.


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Hope this helps.

Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.


<jb39 (AT) trillium (DOT) net> wrote