Dimension 3000 configuration issue

Question

July 8, 2009

I have come across configuration issue with Dimension 3000 Dell PC and want to know if any one has suggestion to fix the problem. I had a spare hard drive (western digital) with Win XP home edition loaded on it. One day I tried to use this and switch on PC and to my shock it display - " press F1 for help or F2 for setup " It could not find the hard drive or read from it. Then I tried to load Dell CD for Winxp but it did not read this CD. Finally I used DOS Fdisk and Format to delete the existing partition and created new partition on HD and format it. Now when I switched on PC it can read HD and go to C:\ system.

Now I used Dell Winxp CD to load home edition and it went through successfully. I first logged in and created Admin and other accounts. When I tried to initiated Internet Explorer it would not work and PC could not find Modem (I have broadband connection with Verizon modem). The modem was on and running normal as I had another PC on which I opened internet connection and checked different website and it was fine. I checked the network card and its configuration was ok and said it is working. I checked TCP/IP configuration it was set properly. I went into DOC C:\windows and typed - ipconfig /all and it could not bring any address. That means PC is not seeing internet Modem.

I went into My computer -> device manager and found there are bunch of signs with Yellow question mark. Under which I found a)Ethernet controller b) audio driver c) video driver d) others. Individually I opened each tag and uninstalled all these question mark and restarted PC knowing that Plug -in Play mode of Winxp will find the correct driver from Dell XP CD still in drive. But it did not find and still I can see Yellow question mark on these driver. Even I used Dell drivers and other utility CD but it did not correct the issue and my Video and internet and others are still remains to be optimized for proper working.

Questions - Has any one faced such issue and if yes, how could you fix it right??

shesagordie · Answer

indra6

After reinstalling XP, did you load the drivers and applications in the following order?

Desktop System Software [if applicable]
Chipset
Video
Network Interface Card [NIC]
Audio
Modem
Then all other drivers and applications.
Followed by installing the Anti Virus utility, updating the definitions, then all the critical Microsoft updates.

Go HERE for more information.

Bev.

indra6 · Answer

Bev,

Thanks for your quick reply appreciate it !

When I re-installed WinXP from Dell CD, it is presumed that all required drivers will be added to OS (network, video, audio) and if not than Plug - in play mode of XP will take care of it. But it did not. So I removed WinXP CD and uninstalled all 'Yellow mark" drivers in Device manager and inserted Dell Drivers and utility CD. When restarted PC it prompted that found - " new hardware video card " and instead of Automatic recommeded mode I selected " find from location mode CD" and pointed to D:\ drive where driver CD was located. It did not find required drivers from this CD either.

Installing Anti-virus and Microsoft Patch is out of question since my Internet connection is not working due to above problem.

Indra

rdunnill · Answer

If you have access to another PC, I'd suggest downloading the drivers from the Dell site.

shesagordie · Answer

Bev,

Thanks for your quick reply appreciate it !

When I re-installed WinXP from Dell CD, it is presumed that all required drivers will be added to OS (network, video, audio) and if not than Plug - in play mode of XP will take care of it. But it did not. So I removed WinXP CD and uninstalled all 'Yellow mark" drivers in Device manager and inserted Dell Drivers and utility CD. When restarted PC it prompted that found - " new hardware video card " and instead of Automatic recommeded mode I selected " find from location mode CD" and pointed to D:\ drive where driver CD was located. It did not find required drivers from this CD either.

Installing Anti-virus and Microsoft Patch is out of question since my Internet connection is not working due to above problem.

Indra

indra6

That's why they are not installed until all the other drivers and applications installation has been completed.

How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website

Bev.

shesagordie · Answer

indra6  You are welcome. Yep, the forum has a lot of dedicated members, who volunteer their time helping other members.   :emotion-11: Bev.

indra6 · Answer

Bev and Rdrunnill,

Thanks for your reply and contribution to my issue. The knowledge and tips provided are really valuable and I will follow this and let us see how it goes. Mostly it should resolve the issue now. I am really amazed how this forum help each other in quickest possible way when the warranty of PC is expired and Dell technical support is not available except on payment basis.

Thank you all !!

indra6 · Answer

July 13, 2009

Hello Bev and Rdunnill,

I have fixed my PC and load Windows Xp with all required drivers and it just fly fine. This happened during weekend July 11th. First I downloaded all drivers for Dell Dimension 3000 from Dell site on flash drive. I copied drivers to C:\download directory on PC having problem. I started and first un-installed faulty drivers in Device manager. I then loaded one by one driver including chipset which worked just fine. Once the Network card was properly configured requiring right driver it just connected to Broadband connection to internet. Then I updated Winxp with service Pack - 2 and all other security patches and installed McAfee antivirus and all other required software.

Thanks you all again for good suggestion!!

shesagordie · Answer

indra6  Thank you for the heads up and congratulations on a successful reinstallation of XP and I'm happy to have helped.     :emotion-21: Bev.

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Dimension 3000 configuration issue

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