Solved Windows XP Unmountable_Boot_Volume possible to fix and upgrade?

[Kesha]

So when you try to install the Driver from Dell it gives you that message, even though you still have Standard VGA Display driver in Device Manager?

I would try it to see if it offers you different and better screen resolutions, allows Sleep and Hibernate in Power Options. Again you may have to install it in XP SP2 Compatibility mode.

If it doesn't work better and offer those options then I would roll it back to Standard VGA in Device Manager.

How is performance overall once this driver is resolved? Is it better than XP, as it should be or I would go back to XP?

When I did tried to update the driver from Dell I end up getting an error message about the OS. Then I tried the Compatibility Mode to use XP SP2 which it gave me an error message. Then I tried the driver from the Intel website gave me an error message. Tried the driver from Intel again and was able to install but I got the message, but wasn't sure if I should do the that or not and showed you the picture.

Before doing the driver update from Intel, I decided to try to Compatibility Mode with the driver from Dell again, it install and restarted the PC. The screen "looks normal" now! Finally! I know the monitor that I'm using is old probably a 15 or 17 inch monitor that came w/ the PC, but it's looks normal right?

 

[gregrocker]

What is the highest screen resolution offered when you click the drop down menu?

Type Power Options in Start Search box to see if it is showing the Sleep timeout box which means the driver will allow Sleep and Hibernate. If so I recommend Display at 20, Sleept at 30 and Hibernate at 45-60 so you can walk away from the PC without having to save your work. Old hardware needs to not run endlessly so this will help.

 

[Kesha]

What is the highest screen resolution offered when you click the drop down menu?

Type Power Options in Start Search box to see if it is showing the Sleep timeout box which means the driver will allow Sleep and Hibernate. If so I recommend Display at 20, Sleept at 30 and Hibernate at 45-60 so you can walk away from the PC without having to save your work. Old hardware needs to not run endlessly so this will help.

Here's a picture of the screen resolution options I have and I changed my Power Options.

 

[gregrocker]

Good, seems like you got an older XP driver to work favorably in Compatibility Mode. Nice job. Most owners of this chipset probably gave up or didn't try.

You have the highest resolution. The next lower choice would be to change the shape of your screen which is being interpreted by the shape of the sample screen with the 1 on it. Is it that shape? If so then I'd leave it.

Now how is performance otherwise? Win7 should never hang or bog down.

 

[Kesha]

Good, seems like you got an older XP driver to work favorably in Compatibility Mode. Nice job. Most owners of this chipset probably gave up or didn't try.

You have the highest resolution. The next lower choice would be to change the shape of your screen which is being interpreted by the shape of the sample screen with the 1 on it. Is it that shape? If so then I'd leave it.

Now how is performance otherwise? Win7 should never hang or bog down.

I agree! The Compatibility Mode made it run real smooth, before it would take around 10 seconds or so for my IE page to load when going to Google or to this website. Now it's just as good as my other Dell PC that has more memory and a bigger hard drive. Maybe a little slow to load certain website like YouTube, but nothing like it was before. Before it felt like I was using a dial up internet connection, just slow.. Now it's a lot better.


Thanks again for your help! AND for being SO patience w/ me!!

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds good.

Now set up your install the rest of the way using the other suggestions in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for what works best.

An older lower resource install can also benefit by suggestions in Optimize Windows 7 including editing Visual Effects of fading, sliding, dragging intact, selection rectangle.

Enjoy Win7!

 

[Kesha]

Sounds good.

Now set up your install the rest of the way using the other suggestions in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for what works best.

An older lower resource install can also benefit by suggestions in Optimize Windows 7 including editing Visual Effects of fading, sliding, dragging intact, selection rectangle.

Enjoy Win7!

It's me again! Don't run! Lol. Eventually I was able to get an update for my driver which works great, searching the internet & waiting for each website page loads didn't take that long. The main reason for me using this PC again was for The Sims 2 which actually run pretty good w/ W7 but had some issues to getting the game to recognize the video card to allow me to change to the monitor's setting (1366x768). The Sims 2 only had one setting 800x600. After altering a few .SGR files for the game and getting DirectX drivers in Compatibility Mode I was able to have the correct monitor settings. But...........

The game would lag & freeze or crash. Having Windows XP I didn't experience any unusual issues, but w/ W7 on the PC The Sims 2 does not load well since it's mainly for Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000 and 98.

I don't have a Windows XP disk to reinstall it back on the PC but I do still have the product key on the tower. What can I do?

I don't know any trusted/safe website to get Windows XP from.

 

[gregrocker]

Kesha the tag number for that Dell Dimension shows that it shipped with WIn7 Home Premium. Isn't the Product Key on COA sticker for Win7? Check now.

If XP maybe our Dell resident Sandeep can help get an XP REinstallation disk for you to use.

If not I am wary to advise using torrents and always advise to avoid them if possible, but if it comes down to needing to use one it's important to read all of the specs and comments to try to determine and avoid any activation exploit or other undesirable add-on.

 

[SandeepP]

Sounds good.

Now set up your install the rest of the way using the other suggestions in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for what works best.

An older lower resource install can also benefit by suggestions in Optimize Windows 7 including editing Visual Effects of fading, sliding, dragging intact, selection rectangle.

Enjoy Win7!

It's me again! Don't run! Lol. Eventually I was able to get an update for my driver which works great, searching the internet & waiting for each website page loads didn't take that long. The main reason for me using this PC again was for The Sims 2 which actually run pretty good w/ W7 but had some issues to getting the game to recognize the video card to allow me to change to the monitor's setting (1366x768). The Sims 2 only had one setting 800x600. After altering a few .SGR files for the game and getting DirectX drivers in Compatibility Mode I was able to have the correct monitor settings. But...........

The game would lag & freeze or crash. Having Windows XP I didn't experience any unusual issues, but w/ W7 on the PC The Sims 2 does not load well since it's mainly for Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000 and 98.

I don't have a Windows XP disk to reinstall it back on the PC but I do still have the product key on the tower. What can I do?

I don't know any trusted/safe website to get Windows XP from.

Hi Kesha,

Greg suggested me to check on this post. Dimension 3000 system is an old one and it stopped shipping I believe somewhere in 2006-2007 so I am sure it must have a XP COA only.

You can request the backup disks from the link below:

http://dell.to/Zj7oHA

If you are not in US let me know your Country so that I can check if it can be arranged. Also, please remove the information stating service tag as it is a unique information associated to the system and owner details and should not be posted on open forum.

If it is required we would ask you the same on private mssage onlly. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

 

[Kesha]

Kesha the tag number for that Dell Dimension shows that it shipped with WIn7 Home Premium. Isn't the Product Key on COA sticker for Win7? Check now.




If XP maybe our Dell resident Sandeep can help get an XP REinstallation disk for you to use.

If not I am wary to advise using torrents and always advise to avoid them if possible, but if it comes down to needing to use one it's important to read all of the specs and comments to try to determine and avoid any activation exploit or other undesirable add-on.

Sounds good.

Now set up your install the rest of the way using the other suggestions in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for what works best.

An older lower resource install can also benefit by suggestions in Optimize Windows 7 including editing Visual Effects of fading, sliding, dragging intact, selection rectangle.

Enjoy Win7!

No, this PC had Windows XP on it. Thanks for asking SandeepP to help!

 

[Kesha]

Sounds good.

Now set up your install the rest of the way using the other suggestions in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for what works best.

An older lower resource install can also benefit by suggestions in Optimize Windows 7 including editing Visual Effects of fading, sliding, dragging intact, selection rectangle.

Enjoy Win7!

It's me again! Don't run! Lol. Eventually I was able to get an update for my driver which works great, searching the internet & waiting for each website page loads didn't take that long. The main reason for me using this PC again was for The Sims 2 which actually run pretty good w/ W7 but had some issues to getting the game to recognize the video card to allow me to change to the monitor's setting (1366x768). The Sims 2 only had one setting 800x600. After altering a few .SGR files for the game and getting DirectX drivers in Compatibility Mode I was able to have the correct monitor settings. But...........

The game would lag & freeze or crash. Having Windows XP I didn't experience any unusual issues, but w/ W7 on the PC The Sims 2 does not load well since it's mainly for Windows Vista, XP, Me, 2000 and 98.

I don't have a Windows XP disk to reinstall it back on the PC but I do still have the product key on the tower. What can I do?

I don't know any trusted/safe website to get Windows XP from.

Hi Kesha,

Greg suggested me to check on this post. Dimension 3000 system is an old one and it stopped shipping I believe somewhere in 2006-2007 so I am sure it must have a XP COA only.

You can request the backup disks from the link below:

http://dell.to/Zj7oHA

If you are not in US let me know your Country so that I can check if it can be arranged. Also, please remove the information stating service tag as it is a unique information associated to the system and owner details and should not be posted on open forum.

If it is required we would ask you the same on private mssage onlly. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks for helping! I removed my service tag on it from the posts I made. Sure, I won't post it on an open forum & in private messages.

I will request the back up disk using the link you provided.

Thanks again!

 

[SandeepP]

hanks for helping! I removed my service tag on it from the posts I made. Sure, I won't post it on an open forum & in private messages.

I will request the back up disk using the link you provided.

Thanks again!

Hi Kesha,

Please use the link to request the same and if you face any issues feel free to reach out to us. You can share the service tag on private message with us if required.

However, it is advisable to not share it on open forums as someone with your service tag and name and address of the original owner is authorized to make changes in our records.

If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

 

[gregrocker]

Guess we'll need to stop asking for tag number in open forums, tho there's still no access to the owner name and address. :huh:

It helps to have the Dell Dude here.

 

[SandeepP]

Guess we'll need to stop asking for tag number in open forums, tho there's still no access to the owner name and address. :huh:

It helps to have the Dell Dude here.

Hi Greg,

I believe that is we should follow. Because anyone with the service tag and name and address of the owner of the system can make any changes on the account.

They can transfer the ownership of the system as well. That is the reason we always refrain our customers for providing service tag and any other details on public forum.

 

[Kesha]

Guess we'll need to stop asking for tag number in open forums, tho there's still no access to the owner name and address. :huh:

It helps to have the Dell Dude here.

I'm back!

I have my Windows XP CD and try to install Windows XP, but the option to install it is not selected. I even choose to boot from the hard drive that didn't work W7 still loaded. Next I changed the bios to boot from the hard drive, but still end up loading Window 7 desktop. Then I tried to see if I can install using the disk, and it gives the option to install but getting an error message about compatibility.

 

[gregrocker]

You actually need to set the BIOS to boot the XP CD, as it can't run from Win7. Any OS install should be done from the booted installer, not another OS, for many reasons.

How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube

 

[Kesha]

You actually need to set the BIOS to boot the XP CD, as it can't run from Win7. Any OS install should be done from the booted installer, not another OS, for many reasons.

How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube

Thanks! That work! I was able to install Windows XP, but now I'm unable to connect to the internet. I have an Ethernet cable already connected from my router, even tried unplug it and plug it back in. Didn't have any problems w/ W7 recognizing it.

 

[gregrocker]

Import the driver from the Support Downloads webpage for the PC or ethernet adapter. If there' no XP driver, try the oldest one available installing it if necessary in XP Compatibility Mode.

If that fails google the device model for an XP driver, or ask back here for our help to find it.

 

[Kesha]

Import the driver from the Support Downloads webpage for the PC or ethernet adapter. If there' no XP driver, try the oldest one available installing it if necessary in XP Compatibility Mode.

If that fails google the device model for an XP driver, or ask back here for our help to find it.

I tried to update the driver but end up getting an error message about the driver not being on the PC. If I did this wrong let me know. I took the pictures using my cell phone..

 

[gregrocker]

You're not connected to the internet so it's not going to connect to Windows Update to look for a driver.

What's required is to import the driver from the Dell Support Downloads webpage.

Two weeks ago earlier in this thread we went through the most extensive explanation of how to do this as I have ever seen online. Absolutely everything possible to find a driver was given, in order. Did you learn anything?

Going to the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number which we used then, we find the XP driver for your model here to download and install: Intel (R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection, v.8.4.0.0_98754, A01

Once online and connected run all rounds of Important and Optional WIndows Updates until exhausted, with reboots. Then import any drivers still missing in Device Manager from the Dell page here: Drivers & Downloads | Dell US