Looks like you have a problem son. I haven't formated my computer in a long time, but when I use to do this, I made sure I had all of the drivers. That is computer 101. My advice would be to call dell tech support and get another driver disk or at least find out what components require drivers and try to download the lastest driver for that component. Lil Pun, seriously, this was not smart!!!!
I found out the problem. I have all the drivers I need but they will not install properly without Service Pack 2. Anyway to get this without being online? I have an XP disk with SP2 version on it but it is the one that came with my Dell system so I figure if I use it he'll get that message about it being a non-genuine product. So is there anyplace I can get SP2 downloaded on another PC and then install it on his?
Windows XP has an automatic update program on the start > all programs menu. It is also called windows update. Look for that. Then you install everything it say for sp1. After that it should allow you to install sp2.
So you have an old version of Windows XP Pro CD that needs SP2 to complete installation. OK.........perhaps a Slipstream will work. Slipstream Another Slipstream
This is totally unreal. So you have a dell computer in which you cannot install all of the drivers because you need sp2 and you cannot install sp2 because you can't connect to the internet. I find this so hard to believe that xp can't install a generic driver to get you connected to the internet, but of course I don't work on crappy dell computers. I think that you have done something wrong. One of the post said that you should install the chipset driver first and that is correct. Have you done that? Because that is the most important thing otherwise your system doesn't know what integrated hardware is installed on the motherboard.
Go to Fry's or something, get you a cheap USB-Ethernet adapter, plug directly in so you can get online. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1354224&CatId=589
I've finally got everything. All drivers and such are installed and everything is listed as working properly. The only problem I have left is that the person using this laptop does not have a wireless connection so they still use a LAN cable to connect directly to the internet. I unplugged my cable modem from my wireless router and plugged it into the laptop. I then got the message that it has limited connectivity. I am not sure why it is listed as this. I am able to connect to my wireless network just fine but whenever I try the wired connection I get the connectivity limited message. I looked at the connection under Network Connections and it says limited as well and there is a little lock on it. Any idea why this is happening?
