I agree I would just purchase an IDE drive from pricewatch.com it's that sata-to-ide adapter that will cause the problem as I assume you are using the OEM install of of windows XP drivers likely won't be available. You don't have to buy exclusively from dell when it comes to drives, even the optical ones. Get a 250 gig (PATA) also know as IDE and reimage the original OEM software and you should be fine.