I just recently installed windows XP: Home Edition, and now I have a couple problems? I lost my sound, I cannot change the screen resolution, and most of the stuff I had before on my hard drive is still there. First of all, this computer was my grandfather's, so I don't know where he put the Dell Application disks that came with the computer. I had to install Windows XP because my hard drive only had 900 mb of storage. As of the sound, it was working properly before I installed Windows XP again. I looked through the device manager, as of what it said, the audio codecs, Legacy audio drivers, Legacy video capture devices, media control devices, and video codecs are all working properly. However, it says that the Multimedia Audio Controller and Video Controller are NOT installed. When I hit re-install driver, the computer wanted me to insert a disk for the drivers. As I said, I do not know where my grandfather put all of his disks.
I looked through other questions on Yahoo! Answers that had topics similar to what I am asking. One said that there are drivers that you could download. Is that true? If so, could somebody please tell me where I could download those drivers? If that doesn't work, do I have to purchase another sound card, then operate on the computer? As of the screen resolution, it is 640 by 480 pixels. I want my screen resolution to 1024 by 768 pixels. The contol panel only as a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels.
I cannot change the screen resolution. What should I do to fix this problem? Now I noticed that most of the things that I had before I installed Windows XP is still on the hard drive. I tried to install one program, and it gives me an error that says, "cannot install program, installation failed." I am now worried that I cannot install anything else. Is it because of the sound and video cards? Can somebody please help me find a solution to fix my computer?
Windows Type: Windows XP: Home Edition
Model: Dell Dimension 3000
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5 responses so far ↓
1 monkey // Jul 25, 2008
You have not done a clean install. You have installed over previous version. If you have access to internet you can download programs(EVERESThome) to tell you the drivers you need and you can search for the way to clean install your PC.
2 Jerry J // Jul 25, 2008
Go to settings/system/device manager and delete the sound device and shut down. reboot and you will get the message "new device found" with the option to insert disk or install from OS. Select install from OS and see if Windows has the file in the system, if it is you can install from the OS, if not you will need the driver file
3 DieselLives // Jul 25, 2008
Look here
http://www.drivershq.com/Drivers/Dell/Dimension/3000/11/12/23/Drivers.aspx
These are all the drivers you require to ensure all drivers are up to date on your system.
Good luck buddy
4 thelastshade // Jul 25, 2008
you need to reinstall your sound and video drivers use the internet to get the drivers for your pc
5 Serenity // Jul 25, 2008
Yes, you can obtain drivers for your hardware items from Dell. My pages at Dell are loading terribly slow, so I am unable at the moment to provide the link you need.
What you do is this:
Browse to: http://www.dell.com
Click on Support at the top of the page.
Click on Drivers and Downloads.
Enter your model number, Dimension 3000
Enter you unique number found on the Start menu under Dell. I cannot remember what it is called off the top of my head but it is a unique identifier used to obtain support. It is called the Service Tag. Anyway the link finally came up for your systems Drivers and Downloads page, here it is:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=DIM_CEL_3000&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=
Just click that link and all your drivers and downloads are listed.
You should update everything in your system. However, please keep in mind that updating drivers is the #1 cause of BSOD–Blue Screen of Death. Just update one driver at a time, and create a manual restore point at each juncture.
Now, even those items which are working properly should be get updated drivers from Dell because your components are running on generic drivers supplied by Microsoft. To get all of the features and functionality from your components update the drivers from that page.
The first thing you should update is your bios. Dell has an easy bios update system there isn't a need to create a floppy diskette. Thank goodness!
Now, please follow the instructions for flashing your bios very carefully because a restore point will have no affect if anything goes wrong. However, it is very important to update the bios because it supports every other component on your system.
Dell has a great software program called Dell Diagnostics. It would behoove you to take advantage of it. You can read it on the download page.
Before flashing the bios check to see what version you currently have installed. To do this open up System Information by clicking Start–Run. In the Run dialog box type in msinfo32 and hit Enter. In the dialog box use the summary page or overview, scroll down until you see the BIOS and read what version. If it is AO2 or AO1 go ahead and update to AO3. If AO3 is listed you do not need to update.
After updating the bios, if needed, go ahead and download the software which goes with the system. It looks like Sonic is your multimedia suite. If you don't want it you don't have to download and install, but it is free, so it is up to you. Then, download and install the Dell Diagnostics. This utility will help you know what updates you need and inform you if you need to correct any issues on the system.
After the software is finished, go ahead and start at the top of the list and go down. Create a Restore Point between each updated driver. To create a manual restore point simply go to All Programs–Accessories–System Tools–System Restore. Click Create a Manual Restore Point, click Next, create a unique name, such as what you are updating, click Next, click Finish. It is quick and easy and gives peace of mind. If anything goes wrong you can go back and undo that particular update.
Now, about the files still on disk. You did not do a full clean installation, but a upgraded installation. It would behoove you to redo the installation only this time choose Clean Installation, not Upgrade. This way everything is wiped off the disk. You then browse to the Dell page above and install your Drivers and Utilities.
Good luck and much success with updating your system. Please remember you can request the Dell Restore disk and the Dell Drivers and Utilities disk.
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