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Dell forum: Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400?

by: cajunpunk December 15, 2009 9:16 AM PST

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Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400?

by cajunpunk - 12/15/09 9:16 AM

I ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and passed with flying colors. However, I went to the Dell website and among the two Dell Dimensions listed that were compatible, the 8400 wasn't listed. I've updated my RAM and my video card and I am in the process of replacing the HDD, which I will install Windows 7 to, and installing a DVD-RW drive. I want to upgrade what I have, rather than buy a new PC.

I am no computer technician by any means, but I am hoping that Dell's website doesn't have the 8400 listed as compatible because of the basic specs of the system. Now that I have upgraded it with RAM and a better video card, I don't see what the problem is.... unless my mother board or something can't handle it.

Any thoughts? I thought I could give it a shot, but I would rather not if it is going to cause major problems. I was going to pick up Windows 7 later today, and it would be great to hear back before then.

Thanks a lot!

Pr: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (speed 2.92 GHz)
RAM: 3g
Video: GeForce 9500GT 1g
Windows XP Home Edition 32bit


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It's no longer a 8400.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 12/15/09 1:22 PM

In Reply to: Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400? by cajunpunk

You've upgraded it so while Windows 7 should be fine I'd take any BIOS upgrade Dell offers then do the clean install. I'd also follow up the install with drivers for the motherboard from intel.com then the rest of the machine.

I don't think anyone will call it compatible but it looks to be fairly generic.
Bob


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Okay, we're making progress...

by cajunpunk - 12/15/09 5:05 PM

In Reply to: It's no longer a 8400. by R. Proffitt Moderator

So where exactly would I get the new BIOS settings, and do I set them up before the new install? Does the motherboard/whatever uses BIOS have the ability to save data on its own?


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What I learned long ago.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 12/16/09 6:28 AM

In Reply to: Okay, we're making progress... by cajunpunk

Is that the BIOS comes from the machine maker. The instructions to install are from the maker. I will never (and so far) tell how to install the new BIOS.

But here's the second what I learned so far. USE the BIOS defaults if you can. The time saved over the years on this is amazing. Change only what you need and write down what you changed on some sticky note and put that on your machine's documentation package and backup media.

Good luck!
Bob


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This were can download the latest bios for your system

by Basket628 - 12/16/09 4:57 AM

In Reply to: Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400? by cajunpunk

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R129671&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=308&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=10&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=172856


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Error. Unable to retrieve the requested information.

by cajunpunk - 12/16/09 3:20 PM

In Reply to: This were can download the latest bios for your system by Basket628

That website is giving me this error. Is there any specific path to that page in particular?


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One more question

by cajunpunk - 12/16/09 7:11 PM

In Reply to: Error. Unable to retrieve the requested information. by cajunpunk

I bought a 1TB HDD for my the 8400, but I've read somewhere that the limit is 400GB. However, some have said that their 500GB is working fine. Any truth to this?


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That limit

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 12/17/09 6:53 AM

In Reply to: One more question by cajunpunk

Is likely due to what Dell's OS and tools support. I'm going with "should be fine" as there is no reason for this not to work IF the OS supports it.
Bob


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Try this one

by Basket628 - 12/17/09 4:14 AM

In Reply to: Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400? by cajunpunk

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=


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Thanks a lot guys!

by cajunpunk - 12/17/09 9:35 AM

In Reply to: Try this one by Basket628

A couple of things...

When I go to the Dell website to download the drivers/updated BIOS, the Dell Driver Download Manager pops us and says that 'There are no files to download. Please go to drivers and downloads to select files.' I have selected files, but nothing is coming up in the Dell Download manager. Know any way around this?


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win 7 compat.

by buchanan273 - 8/9/12 10:58 AM

In Reply to: Is Windows 7 Compatible with a Dell Dimension 8400? by cajunpunk

i just got a 8400 and i put in 7 on it and the only thing i had to add was a sound card. it works like a dream for it being a 3.20 ghz 2 core Intel(R) Pentium(R)
ram 1gig


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