XPS 8300, adding USB 3.0 card, last try will be the optional 072YMW

Another way to preserve system is to create a system image on external USB hdd or external HDD in an enclosure connected to pc via usb.

the image can be much smaller in size than the hdd capacity depending on how much space has been used on the HDD.  If your 8300 HDD ever fails you can use the system image to restore an identical system on a new HDD.

8300 part list:

Gigabyte Dell 72YMW PCI Express x1 USB 3.0 Card

part list mentions GB for Gigabyte.

Thanks, redxps630. The 72YMW may have two USB ports, but one is located inside the cabinet, on the back edge of the card, making it practically inaccessible for easy connection. So maybe I don't need to supply power to it from a SATA power connection? The port at the back looks like a USB "A", just like the port at the outside of the card. I just read somewhere about it needing power from somewhere other than card connection at the board.

That's the first I've seen of the first part number you show. Interesting. I'm hoping that I don't have to try one more. LOL. Thanks again. Cheers.

It gets its power from pciex1 slot. it doesn’t need additional power connector. This is a low power device.

That makes sense to me. So I'm feeling as positive as I can about getting the 3.0 USB working once I get the right card in the machine. I just thought that the other Dell card I tried would have worked as well, and gotten me two external USB ports rather than a single.

BTW, I do back up images via Macrium Reflect. So I should have a dependable backup of my system. I just like the idea of plugging a different HDD in and having a seamless, or at least more effortless backup. Call me lazy.

My second to last try with adding a USB 3.0 to my XPS8300 involved installing the 0YJ94F two port card. It's board shows the same part number as both the first one I tried, for which I could find no driver, and the 6C37Y shown in the provided option table. My machine recognized the card as being physically installed, but found no available driver for it. Next try will be the second one listed in the table above, which was a known option for the XPS8300. 

The 0YJ94F is still installed, so if someone knows where to find a driver for it, I'm all eyes. It is a Dell branded card. Or at least it was reportedly removed from a Dell computer. Many thanks. Cheers.

try install 8300 USB 3 Win 7 driver. https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=01ct5&oscode=w764&productcode=xps-8300

If it were Win 10, OS automatically installs driver for YJ94F: Card works great in windows 10 PC. Windows loaded drivers automatically. Works great on older Dell optiplex 3010 that didn't have USB 3.0 ports.  

Thanks, redxps630. That driver looks good on paper. Even the compatibility listing shows W7 64-bit and an XPS 8300 machine. However, when I enter my service tag number it comes up as non-compatible. That said, I suppose it won't hurt to load it and see what happens.

Re: Windows 10. I have W10 loaded on my XPS 8900, and it works fine. However I had a lot of issues with W10 on a Lenovo laptop I have. That said, it does seem like the last couple of updates have made it so the boot time isn't measured in eons anymore, and other apps load faster as well. But I'll be a diehard W7 user until I die that hard death. Cheers.

I loaded the driver successfully but my PC won't do anything with it. When I try to "update driver" manually, I can't find the subject driver. I even copied it to my desktop, where it too is invisible. Maybe my problem runs deeper than a driver.

I may try and restore my Windows services to factory settings. I have made some changes there over the years. Maybe I caused this issue by stopping some services over the years. Thanks again.

When I said, "invisible", I meant as far as it being used by my machine. The icon "R266197.exe" is visible on the desktop.

OK, last ditch effort with the 0YJ94F optional XPS 8300 USB card isn't working either. My machine recognizes the card but can't find a driver for it. I downloaded the driver from the link above but even doing so my machine can't find it. I stored it where it goes by default, as well as on my desktop.

Note: When Dell asks me for my service tag to check for compatibility, it shows that the driver is not compatible with my XPS 8300.

I'm trying to avoid letting the computer do an internet search, as it will go to MSFT, and they end up updating other things on my machine when I attempt such things. I then notice that my PC goes back to acting strangely, and loading various bloat stuff that I disabled. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone. I guess this may be one of those times. Besides, it looks like the drive I wanted to speed data transfer to via the USB 3.0 won't handle anything near the speed capabilities of the 3.0. The 2.0 ports are probably just as good. Oh well...I am surprised that I can't get a card to work that was optional equipment for the same machine. Maybe I have a weird motherboard? 

Additional input is appreciated, but I am in "about to give up" mode. Thanks again. Cheers.

I wonder if I could find the driver on my Drivers and Utilities CD that came with my 8300? OK, tried that. Same result, despite finding the exact filename in the zip file section for drivers. It's there, my machine just won't install it. Or?  Oh well, strike 4. Thanks for the help, folks, esp. redxps630. Cheers.

it has something to do with your Win 7 installation.  I recall after Win 7 installation there is a MS service pack 1 to update it.  your best bet is to use a test blank HDD to install Win 7 Pro fresh and then install the official SP1.  https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB976932

Thanks, redxps630. My machine is running W7 Pro with SP1. I'm not saying that you're not correct about it being an OS problem, just that I have the SP1. Cheers.