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Question

Windows xp on a dell inspiron laptop

Feb 6, 2014 7:51PM PST

Hi i recently purchased an xp windows software from ebay to install on my laptop. After i had wiped everything and installed it, i cannot get on the internet to install drivers as none of them came with disc. I am useless when it comes to technical stuff and now i am completely stuck. I was told by my ip that i could connect using an ethernet cable but that didn't work. I have a wireless broadband with virgin media. They have basically said i am now stuck unless can get the driver for the cable. I haven't a clue where to get that from. Can anyone please help.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Assuming that the model Dell had WinXP
Feb 6, 2014 8:21PM PST

You can go to the Dell site with another PC (even at a library) and put in the model number for the PC or use the service tag, and download the drivers onto a CD or flash drive. Then installed them on the subject PC. That should get you all that is necessary.

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Answer
This is the trap
Feb 6, 2014 10:27PM PST

This is the trap most inexperienced people fall into. They believe that Windows comes with this huge library of drivers and all they have to do is run the install. As you've found, it's a bit more complicated than that.

With XP support set to expire in about 4 months, I would just write the whole thing off as a lesson learned in the need to be prepared when attempting a clean Windows install. The end of support for XP will be like a starter pistol for all the ne'er do wells of the Internet who have been sitting on known exploits for just that occasion, when Microsoft finally washes its hands completely of XP and those foolish enough to still be using it will be on their own. There seem to be a lot of people who are confused and think that Microsoft's decision to extend support for their Security Essentials product is some kind of extension to the support for XP itself. It's not. Come D-Day, Microsoft will not be supplying any more patches to Windows XP to fix security issues. There will be an 18-month reprieve for protection against viruses and malware that Security Essentials helps protect against, though based on most of the reports that have come out lately it does a pretty poor job of it. So, you have some protection against malware and viruses, but if something is exploiting a flaw in the OS code, all XP users are on their own.

If you haven't managed to activate the copy of Windows yet, you can try getting a refund under the EULA terms. I wouldn't hold my breath on that front, but you may get lucky. Otherwise, just eat the cost and think of it as tuition for learning about the pitfalls of trying to install Windows yourself. If your laptop isn't able to handle Vista or Windows 7, give Linux a go.

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Answer
For the future
Feb 10, 2014 12:34AM PST

Get yourself a boot disc that will always get you onto the internet, at least by ethernet and often for wireless too, if older computer.

www.osdisc.com is the main supplier and a supporter of Linux distros. I'd advise Mint Linux 16, the latest Kubuntu, the latest Ubuntu, as the most friendly for windows users. You put in a DVD or CD and boot to it, and you are up with a complete system including all that's needed for internet access.