jbrianchamberlin Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'm really hoping someone can help me. My first time here... My girlfriend has a Dell laptop that's a year or so old. It came with Vista installed. It's been such a slow dog so I reformatted everything and installed a fresh copy of Windows XP. The install went fine but now of course, nothing works on her laptop. I'm not getting the right sound, not getting any access to the internet.. nothing. I tried going to Dells website for the drivers but I can't get the wirless side of things working again. It's almost as if the laptop doesn't even recognize there is a wireless card somewhere in the computer. Any suggestions where to start? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'm really hoping someone can help me. My first time here... My girlfriend has a Dell laptop that's a year or so old. It came with Vista installed. It's been such a slow dog so I reformatted everything and installed a fresh copy of Windows XP. The install went fine but now of course, nothing works on her laptop. I'm not getting the right sound, not getting any access to the internet.. nothing. I tried going to Dells website for the drivers but I can't get the wirless side of things working again. It's almost as if the laptop doesn't even recognize there is a wireless card somewhere in the computer. Any suggestions where to start?Welcome to our little funhouse. I know nothing of XP and later, being a bit of a luddite, but someone with knowledge of the rocket science of all things right up to W7 will be along sometime ere long. So until they arrive:-When you reformatted did you reformat the entire HD or just a partion?I would download, on another machine of course, something like Gparted. That will work from the CD drive and will show you the state of the HD.You could also try downloading a linux live CD which will again run from the CD drive, this will show you if the system is not damaged. It will have all the drivers it needs on the CD. Of course you may have to alter the BIOS, if necessary, to make the CD drive the primary boot source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 What is the exact model ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 It is always risky to revert to previous versions of an operating system. It may well be that there are no drivers for the software which no longer functions, it having been designed specifically for the later system.The machine being a Dell brand further complicates things as they tend to use non-standard hardware and software so that suggestions for fixes that may work on "normal" machines will be ineffective on a Dell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrianchamberlin Posted January 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 It is always risky to revert to previous versions of an operating system. It may well be that there are no drivers for the software which no longer functions, it having been designed specifically for the later system.The machine being a Dell brand further complicates things as they tend to use non-standard hardware and software so that suggestions for fixes that may work on "normal" machines will be ineffective on a Dell.It's an Inspiron 1521. I think I'll be good once I get on the net with the thing... just not sure why I can't connect. I learn this stuff but by the time I have to do it again, I can't remember. I need to just get the wireless end of things working. Not sure how though. I have a wireless network at home... but I can't connect to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 First, make sure that you have the latest service pack (SP3) on XP, so that newer hardware will be supported.Next download DriverMax and check for unknown devices on the computer. Use the free version that allows up to two driver downloads per day.Let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 All the XP drivers for that specific model are here :-/>http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&catid=-1&dateid=-1&impid=-1&osl=EN&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1521&hidos=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=The XP wireless drivers available are shown under "Network" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrianchamberlin Posted January 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 Well thanks.. I got the laptop back on the net so that's a start. Things are good... XP is validated etc but I still can't get certain things working like the sound card and the video doesn't seem to be as sharp as it once was. I can't seem to be able to find any of the drivers online either with Dell or via that Driverfx program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 I can't seem to be able to find any of the drivers online either with Dell or via that Driverfx program.Because you've gone backwards in O/S - there may not be any specific Dell ones ?Just a couple of long shots - Try this for your graphics - https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/9-11_legacy_xp32-64_dd_ccc.exeand this for your sound - http://download.cnet.com/Audio-SIGMATEL-STAC-92XX-C-Major-HD-Audio-Driver-Version-A08/3000-2110_4-107746.htmlI give absolutely no guarantee that they will work .... but it is worth a punt.Good luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrianchamberlin Posted January 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 I can't seem to be able to find any of the drivers online either with Dell or via that Driverfx program.Because you've gone backwards in O/S - there may not be any specific Dell ones ?Just a couple of long shots - Try this for your graphics - https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/9-11_legacy_xp32-64_dd_ccc.exeand this for your sound - http://download.cnet.com/Audio-SIGMATEL-STAC-92XX-C-Major-HD-Audio-Driver-Version-A08/3000-2110_4-107746.htmlI give absolutely no guarantee that they will work .... but it is worth a punt.Good luck !Thanks. I downloaded the sound driver but the link for the graphics driver is no longer valid. Going to go try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Try this for the graphics - look at the bottom of the page :-/>http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Legacy/Pages/integrated_mce-xp.aspx?type=2.7&product=2.7.5.3.2&lang=English Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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