Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

"My big Windows XP dilemma" thread

Dec 20, 2013 1:16PM PST

I don't even know where to start, because this is all such a mess. I'll try though.

Have a Dell XPS 400 from 2005, and just got it up and running at a bare minimum with a fully formatted 300GB HDD. Installed Windows XP, got to the desktop, and now the issues.

PC cannot find any network connections, and the only thing that emits sound is the internal speaker, and I only imagine that the list of problems would grow if I try to dig any deeper. Now, while I'm not a complete newbie to computers, I'm still lacking in many areas of know-how. I understand that I probably need drivers to get all of these things up running. BUT which drivers do I need, where do I get them, and how do I know if they're the right ones once gotten?

I'm basically needing to get my PC working as a functional semi-gaming rig. What I need is sound, LAN connection, and you know what else etc...

I understand what I'm asking for is a large walkthrough of sorts, but I've been working at this all day now, and google is failing to garner any relevant results. Anyone willing to help me I am deeply grateful to as I believe this might end up being one big tedious thing.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Keep in mind you installed the XP OS.
Dec 20, 2013 1:35PM PST

But I found no drivers mentioned. You did list a Dell which should have a service tag that you use to get drivers for that model.

Why not install those next?
Bob

- Collapse -
But get them how?
Dec 20, 2013 2:39PM PST

Let's say that I have no disc in question next to install those said drivers for this Dell. I can't install drivers without a disc, and I have no internet access from the Dell. I thought maybe I would try finding the drivers on my current laptop, and then try putting them on a blank CD-R so I could just install them straight to the Dell from the disc drive. I'm just not sure what all drivers I would need.

- Collapse -
What you need varies with the model.
Dec 21, 2013 1:41AM PST

That's why dell's have that service tag so you can easily find the drivers for your dell. As to internet access I see you figured out how techs and others get the files/drivers to the machine.

-> You are talking about a system more than a decade old. With odd ideas that we would get training on install and more. Today folk feel that this is a given or that it should just work or there is a procedure that fits all machines. All are sadly untrue. There are only guides.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
SOLVED
Dec 21, 2013 6:05AM PST

Figured it out. Went through a mountain of disks, and got ethernet working and audio driversto work somehow(?). Everything was super downhill from there. Beware: Dell does not have audio drivers on their sit any longer for the sound card that came with these PC'S. The only essential thing they had was the driver for the Intel chip. Got Steam going on it, and snagged MSE for anti-virus means. Appreciate the effort guys, as I understand I was being as vague and illiterate as a human possibly could with this.

- Collapse -
Be sure to back it up soon.
Dec 21, 2013 9:45AM PST

In just a few months XP passes on and while that's well discussed there is some rumblings that some companies will let old pages go down and stay down.
Bob

- Collapse -
Also
Dec 21, 2013 10:42AM PST

Also, in addition to Bob's comments, you probably want to find something other than MSE for AV protection. Think I saw something recently about how it misses like 37% of the stuff out there. That's a lot. None of the products on offer from anyone are 100%, but virtually all of the other players are north of 95% IIRC. It's free, so there's that much going for it, but that's about all MSE has going for it lately. Get a copy of Avast or AVG Free or someone can probably recommend some other free AV programs.