Solved filling a totally empty DELL T3400

[vangogh]

I have just been given a DELL T3400 tower with NO HDs and NO OS files/discs. So I can't establish the specs, although I know there are 4 RAM sticks, former owner ran CAD prgs, very quick, so these must be 4G total at least. Liquid cooling installed. TP412 mobo, 500W PSU.

I want to install a SSD 128 for system and WW7 Pro - but 32-bit? 64-bit? (The case has a Vista Business sticker with key but no discs. And SATA II or III drives OK?

Will appreciate your comments

Don G.

 

[Erick Aguilar]

You should be able to see the name of the motherboard on the motherboard, look it up so you can see if it's sata ii and iii compatible, but both sata will work with eachother really.

As for the version of windows it doesn't matter, the motherboard might have an activation hash, but nothing a clean install can't take care of.

 

[pebbly]

Hi vangogh, Welcome to the forums ,Here is a good place to start Drivers & Downloads | Dell United States this will tell you what is required hardware wise for drivers

 

[DeaconFrost]

Little reason to consider 32 bit at this point, especially if the computer may have 4 GB of memory.

 

[roy69]

I would always advise 64bit, just because of the upgrade path.
The max amount of memory for this system is 8GB 800Mhz DDR2
Intel X38 Express Chipset/ICH9R
Processors avail

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors
Intel Core 2 Quad processors​

Intel Core 2 Extreme processors

It looks like SATA 1 but here is the manual so you can check for yourself
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/wst3400/en/ug/ug_en.pdf

 

[bobkn]

Liquid cooling installed.

Really? that didn't come from Dell, I imagine.

 

[vangogh]

cooling - I don't suspect so - but it was installed before I got it. Original owner "had it installed when ordered".

 

[vangogh]

Bought a SSD . now to install it.

I could prepare the SSD on my XP comp with SATA, or do it when installing the OS. Which is better? Can someone give me a link on the OS/SSD install method please?

 

[pebbly]

Hi vangogh, The tutorial section of the forum is a good place to start

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70822-ssd-tweaks-optimizations-windows-7-a.html

these should help you

 

[vangogh]

Thank you, P - will check these out shortly

EDIT:
Wow... will print these out and study. I'm literate, but realize I have so much more to know, especially with WW7 and SSD things to learn. Will close this, if that's OK, when I've followed through all the way.

Don G. / vangogh

 

[vangogh]

I've done all I can think of - opening error lights and beeps indicate "possible BIOS error" and "RAM error". I ran onboard diagnostics (a LONG test) and MS Memtest and all was well. BIOS still a question. Cannot change boot sequence, not even get into the right pane in setup. Cannot figure out how to run BIOS flash without an OS running, and the OS cannot be installed (nothing will boot from the DVD) as long as the new, uninstalled SSD is attached. Black screens. I will put it in a corner until something comes to mind....

Thanks anyway, everyone.

 

[VistaKing]

Hi Vangogh,

Take a look at this link [SOLVED] HOWTO: BIOS Upgrade on DELL Computers WITHOUT a WINDOWS Install - Ubuntu Forums it will show you how to flash the BIOS without an OS installed

 

[FuturDreamz]

I would always advise 64bit, just because of the upgrade path.
The max amount of memory for this system is 8GB 800Mhz DDR2
Intel X38 Express Chipset/ICH9R
Processors avail

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors
Intel Core 2 Quad processors​

Intel Core 2 Extreme processors

It looks like SATA 1 but here is the manual so you can check for yourself
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/wst3400/en/ug/ug_en.pdf

You can problably install a SATA III controller into a PCI slot...

 

[vangogh]

New approach - ???

Back to the problem... in spells... I'm thinking of trying to intialize the SSD in my other comp - Intel mobo DQ35JO with Core2 Duo, XP, 4G RAM...

Will wait to see if anyone says "NO don't do that!"

Thanks

Don G.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Usually the Windows installer will creat a small partition that contains the boot information. If you initialize he drive on a different computer, the installer will have to move the boot information to the main partition.

I'm pretty sure this don't affect the system enough to be noticeable. I like to have the partition, but there are a few people that go out of their way to remove that partition, usually so they can have three more useful partitions.

 

[vangogh]

Solved with some good hands-on help...

A friend who is really savvy came by to help (after I got out of bed with a two-week cold) and in a two-hour session got it up and running.

Thanks also to this post:

How to install an Intel 320 SSD in a Dell Precision workstation? - Desktop General Hardware Forum - Desktop - Dell Community

Really helpful - much thanks to all.

 

[Garfinkle]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I too just inherited one of these, but it came with XP on it and I want to put W7/64 on it & increase the memory to 8 gig and stick a 256 gb SSD in it that I already have. However, the Dell site above won't let me downlod the files.... it wants to install them for me which I don't want it to do since it's not up & running yet. I'd like to simply get all the necessary driver files and burn them to a cd so I have them when needed. The Dell site doesn't allow this. Where else can I get what I need (preferably free)?

 

[Indianatone]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I too just inherited one of these, but it came with XP on it and I want to put W7/64 on it & increase the memory to 8 gig and stick a 256 gb SSD in it that I already have. However, the Dell site above won't let me downlod the files.... it wants to install them for me which I don't want it to do since it's not up & running yet. I'd like to simply get all the necessary driver files and burn them to a cd so I have them when needed. The Dell site doesn't allow this. Where else can I get what I need (preferably free)?

Hi Garfinkle and welcome to Seven Forums. You can install Windows 7 on the T3400 and then go to Dell's website to update the drivers if Windows 7 updates don't offer them. The computer works very well on 7 with the default drivers on the 7 DVD.

Product Support | Dell US

I have one of these machine and I like it a lot.
Good Luck.