Need Help with XP reinstall on Dimension 3000

Question

I am trying to reinstal Win XP on my friends Dimension 3000.  I have gotten the machine to boot with the Windows XP disc in the drive and have formatted the drive and gotten to the point where setup is copying files and asks to reboot to continue.   The problem is, once it reboots it goes right back to to asking me if I want to inspecting the hardware, and asks if I want to install windows, repair windows or quit the install.  It never starts to install the operating system.   What am I doing wrong?   Thanks Mike

simpswr · Answer

Do not respond to the second prompt to 'Press any key to boot from CD' . . just let it continue

simpswr · Answer

You can get a reinstallation guide specific to your Dell here
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/software_reinstall/en/index?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn

This is a great guide for reinstalling on a Dell: http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm

GioAguilar · Answer

Make sure the HDD is set to boot first, looks like the computer still botting to the CD. If you receive the message ' Press any key to boot from CD...' do not press anything, just let the computer run by itself. Also try taking the CD out when the computer is restarting, the computer will not boot to it, but it will not continue the isntallation. So it will ask you the CD when it needs to continue.

Gandfalf218 · Answer

ok thank you for your help, I got the Operating system reinstalled.   I updated the chipset, video, monitor, audio, and network card drivers.   I have 1 problem left.  In device manager under other devices there is a USB controller with no drivers.  If I click on properties I get the following information:   PCI Bus 0 device 29, Function 7  any idea on how to get this recognized?   Thanks Mike

GioAguilar · Answer

Printer, USB modem, webcam... ? With monitor, mouse, keyboard and power cord, plug each device on the computer, keep looking Device Manager and see when that item comes up...

Gandfalf218 · Answer

The computer is my friends, all I have is the monitor which is plugged in, the keyboard (ps2 connection) and mouse (usb).  I don't have any other periphs or accessories.   Is it possible that the system is finding something that is not connected.   I was thinking it had to be something already in the machine.  I did takeout an external PCI video card, but I am not using the original harddrive so tere should be no reference to that on the machine.   Should I reinstall that, and see if it goes away?   Because under the properties it mentions pci bus does that mean it is definately a pci device or could it be something else?   Thanks Mike

GioAguilar · Answer

Do a right click on Device Manager, and select to update driver... If it ask you to search on internet, select No, not this time. Then it will ask you to use the a CD for a manufacter, use the Resource CD and see if it install any kind of driver for that unit.

simpswr · Answer

That is often the Modem . . you can use the Unknown Device Identifier to see if it can decypher the device . .

Windows General

Need Help with XP reinstall on Dimension 3000

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