Reinstalling Win XP on Dimension 3000 - impossible

Hi ComputersComplete,

Request you to follow the below steps to check if the computer boots from the disk:

(1) Turn on the computer, at the Dell logo keep tapping the F12 key

(2) At the one time boot menu, use the up/down arrow keys, select the option which says and select Boot from CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive.

(3) Then hit enter key.

(4) The computer gives a prompt to press any key to continue, press any key and the boot should initiate.

If this doesn’t work, then change the boot priority in BIOS by following below steps:

(i) Restart the computer, at the Dell logo keep tapping F2 key.

(ii) BIOS screen appears, using the up/down arrow keys scroll down to Boot sequence and hit enter.

(iii) Scroll down to IDE CD-ROM Device, using +/- keys get the CD-ROM device to number 1 position and hit enter.

If you have further questions please reply to this post.

Also with regards to the system drivers. The Dell Drivers and Downloads Page is awful at the current moment in time. Save yourself the hassle and get all the drivers from here (and install in order)

Utility

Dell System Software R121089

Chipset

Intel Chipset R58201

Video

Intel Graphics Controller R106458

Intel Video R96001

Modem

Network

Intel Ethernet Driver R78727

Intel Ethernet Diagnostics R91081

Dell Wireless 1450 R138111 [Optional Hardware]

Audio

Analogue Devices R94481

Likely the above has all you need in the correct install order but see the Dell ftp website. Also my wikies A Clean Install of Windows may be helpful for you.

The Dimension 3000 is quite an old system and hence has an old CD/DVD drive. As such it may sometimes struggle reading CDS with minor scratches.

The Dimension 3000 can boot of some CDS therefore the unit works.

Other computers can boot from the XP CD so the CD works.

To resolve this, there are a few things you can do (both are recommended):

One use a lens cleaning CD this may wipe dust of the CD/DVD player lens and help it to read CDS better.

Two use a newer computer to duplicate (and update) your Windows XP Reinstallation Media. See my wiki Upgrade your Dell XP Reinstallation Disc with Service Pack 3, Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 8. The most important things to slipsteam is the Service Packs (up to 3) and the Intel SATA drivers. The first will make your XP install more secure and ease issues with Windows Updates, the second is often needed for installation on newer hard drives.

As a heads up, since you cannot boot from the original CD/DVD it is likely you will run into issues during the "copying files" part of the install. To resolve this I recommend making 3-5 copies of the XP CD. When the system fails to read a file off the first CD, simply swap it the next. Iterate the process until all files are copied. The reason this works is that old CD lenses often struggle with a particular angle on the CD i.e. the angle the file it cannot copy resides on however on the next CD the data will be at a different angle and so the lens can easily read and copy the file. I have had to do this on several Optiplex GX260s and a Precision 360 which are Dell hardware of a comparable age to the Dimension 3000.

Edit: Note if the system can read DVDs it is often better to burn a XP DVD opposed to an XP CD.