Did you try writing to flash stick with the program I linked?
If it let you download updates from the net during install then it wasn't booted. Try install booting the DVD, then the flash stick if necessary: How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD
You can also use the Dell F12 one-time BIOS boot menu key to trigger DVD or flash stick (under USB, Removable or HD's). Try setting HD first to boot in BIOS setup, then using F12 to boot the disk or USB.
Hi Greg,
Please excuse my ignorance, but when I go to the page to download, it says it for Linux. I don't know if I'm missing something here or not. I have built computers from scratch and have repaired them, but I'm not familiar with Linux. Though I did do an upgrade to my DirecTV Tivo unit a few years back and added a second hard drive for extra storage space.
But I'm not sure about this Universal USB Installer, it's asking for I386.iso and I don't see where to find it. I know how to make an ISO image of a disc but the install DVD isn't in ISO format, it is a bootable install DVD for Windows 7 Ultimate. Whoops, I saw the option to check a box to download the iso file.
I do know how to boot from CMOS and how to change the order of the boot devices and so on. It's just I've never come across this problem before and seeing that other members have been able to install Windows 7 on their Dimension 3000, even though Dell says it will only work on 2 models. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, especially when it does install up to the first reboot. Then it says there are no hard drives installed.
Susan
Select Win7 in dropdown menu, browse to ISO file, it will format the stick for you.
Boot the stick, follow these steps to install: Clean Install Windows 7
Report back at which step it fails and exact error message. Often googling the text verbatim will find the solution.
Thank you so much. I don't know if I will be able to try this in the next few days or not, but have already installed the iso file for Windows 7 on my USB stick. Will get back to you with any errors.
Thanks again.
Susan
I wasn't able to use the USB Boot device as the CMOS screen showed there wasn't any installed, but I was able to install Windows 7 directly from the DVD and did Custom Install and it rebooted fine. Then I did the first set of updates and it validated Windows and was running fine.
Then I did the second set of updates and it installed them and rebooted and I received a message "unable to boot from system drive" So I did Ctrl-Alt-Del and tried again and got the same message. So I guess I can't install Windows 7 on my Dimension 3000. But at least this time it did install and run and I actually was able to use Internet Explorer to check a few things before I did the second set of updates, but after that, it wouldn't boot.
There wasn't any error codes or missing ntdll.dll or whatever. It just wouldn't boot from the system drive after the second set of high priority updates.
After the first updates, it did recognize my USB Stick as a drive and it had the files on it for booting from the USB Device, but CMOS wouldn't boot from it.
So I'm stuck with XP on this computer I guess. I spent about 3 hours removing my XP Drive and then installing a frresh drive and installed Windows 7 and then the updates. So it isn't worth the effort. I just don't know who other people are getting it to work on their Dimension 3000.
Susan
Try System Restore to before the problem group of Updates, booting from the System Recovery Options on DVD.
If it starts, install the updates in small groups to zero in on the problem update. You can also study the logs and utilize System Resources to identify problems using these troubleshooting steps
Thanks Greg,
I just don't have the energy to do it all over again. It's not really worth it on this computer. I was hoping it would be an easy process, especially because I was actually able to use it after the first set of updates. It would take to long to do each update by itself.
I have a chance to get a used laptop that is actually faster than my desktop but I just have to come up with the money. And, it has Windows 7 on it and 4GB system ram.
I appreciate all you help though. If I were to do each update one at a time, yes, I might find out which one is causing the problem, but it is just way to much time to waste on such an old computer. And it's a pain disconnectind hard drives and reconnecting them so I will just go with what I have for now until I can get a new desktop, and hopefully the used laptop.
It was worth a shot though.
Susan
Susan -
I understand if you don't want to expend the energy required sometimes to run Win7 smoothly on old hardware. It can take some dedication.
Just so you know: the process when Updates are causing a problem is to install them in small groups first until you run into the problem, then System Restore if necesary from DVD System Recovery Options.
Then install the same group of Updates singly until you find which one is the culprit.
It might also have been a driver if you were installing optional Updates. I install those first since they are integral to System performance.
Here are some tips for the new computer when you get it to Clean up factory bloatware
Hi Greg,
It wasn't any of the driver or hardware updates, just the High Priority/Security updates I didn't even select the Optional updates yet and I didn't even install my soundcard drivers as I wanted to make sure Windows 7 was going to work first.
I have the Windows 7 Drivers for my soundcard, and video card, but evertything was working fine except no sound being I hadn't installed the drivers and then, I hadn't installed the drivers for my printer and scanner. But I did run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor again and there weren't any issues with these items.
I don't know, maybe I will try again because it did a Restore Point before the second set of updates so maybe if I do them a little at a time I might get it to work, but it is a lot of work.
I can't tell you how many computers I have worked on and had to reformat and install Windows-XP and then all the updates. Then when I take the computer back to the owner, I have to install all their drivers for their peripherals. It is a very lengthy process.
They think if it a simple thing and it isn't. If they took it to a computer repair store or even that the Geek Squad fix it for them it would cost well over $100.00 an hour and I often did it for free, but then I started charging them and they stopped coming to me for their repairs.
I'm disabled, but my time is worth money too, and what I charged them was pennys compared to what the Geek Squad would charge them.
If I had a faster laptop so I could do my usual online stuff, I would devote more time to try and get this computer to run Windows 7, but I'm a webmaster for a Forum and I need to be able to fix things with the webiste in a timely fashion.
I think part of the problem is that it is a Dell that I am installing it on and it is only supposed to work on 2 of their older models according to their website for the Dimension make.
Oh well, I will ponder this for awhile and see what happens.
Thanks again.
Susan
Hi all,
Trying to get a Dell Dimension 3000 up and running for a friend. It's a 2.8 P4, 2GB RAM though I have a 3.2GHz P4 w/ HT on the way. I picked up a Sparkle 8400GS 256MB PCI graphics card to allow Blu-ray playback and some Aero action, but the computer does not recognize it. Dell boot up screen does not give adequate info as to if it is recognized, nor does the BIOS. Graphics are set to Auto, the other option is Onboard, which I don't want. Tried in every slot, and I have a PCI Wi-Fi card that works fine in each slot.
I've seen other threads on other sites about issues using graphics card upgrades in the Dimension 3000. Anyone have any experience with a similar upgrade that might be able to add some insight?
Thanks in advance!
Quote