new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video driver

Hi all,

I have a (hopefully not too annoying :-o ) basic question. I recently got a new(-to-me) computer from a friend. He works at a company that was upgrading their computers and gave the employees a chance to buy the used ones for next to nothing. He bought two and gave me one (as a thank you gift for getting him out of a major jam recently).

The computers were basically stripped down to the operating system. I just started trying to set things up today, and ran into a couple problems immediately. I'm no super-advanced techie, but I'm a more-capable-than-average non-techie user, and it seems there are some basic things missing.

Oh, BTW, it's a Dell desktop running windows XP.

In the Device Manager window, under the heading "Other Devices", it shows the following things with a yellow question mark by them:
- Ethernet Controller
- Multimedia Audio Controller
- Video Controller
- Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

Now, I could root around online to find the appropriate drivers. However, I don't have any information as to the actual identity of those components, so I don't know what to look for. I don't even know what model of computer it is, other than it's a Dell desktop. I have the original operating system disk that came with the computer, plus the product key, and that's it.

My question is, should I try to fix these problems one by one, or could this be a complex of problems that would be solvable by reinstalling the operating system?

One reason I ask that is that there seems to be some odd things missing. For example, when I went to set up user accounts, there are no images to choose from as avatars for the user accounts. Also, when I click on "System" in the control panel, in the System Properties window, under the General tab, under "Computer", the only information listed is "2.49 GB of RAM" (Doesn't it usually list more stuff?) And, on the Start Menu, when I click on Help and Support, I get an error message that says, "Windows cannot find 'helpctr.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. (etc.)"

So, it's looking to me that there are some things that are not quite right. And, since I just got the computer and it's got nothing on it that I would worry about losing, maybe it would just be wiser to reinstall windows altogether?

I would be grateful for any advice.

Many Thanks!

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

Sounds like you need to update the drivers from dell.

http://support.dell.com/

Choose drivers and downloads first. then pick your computer from the service tag number of pick from the various lists of desktop computers.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

Hi again,

well, using da.bell's suggestion (below), I went to the dell support site and typed in the code I saw on the back of the computer, and found out that indeed, what i've got is an OptiPlex GX280.

I was able to download and install audio and video drivers from that spot, so now the computer's got sound and the display is working correctly on my new widescreen monitor. Yay!

However, I still have a big fat yellow question mark next to the ethernet controller in the device manager. I downloaded the most recent Broadcom file from the dell support site, but I can't install it. I downloaded it onto a flash drive, and then when I connect it to the new computer and double click the driver file, it starts to install. The Install Sheild Wizard opens up and things look good for a minute, but then it hangs and I get an error message that says "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed."

I googled that error and found a troubleshooting page on the Windows site. I followed the steps here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315353 -- but it did nothing for me.

I could possibly get a driver for the thernet by going to the device manager, and do the "select the device driver from a list" option, but I get a huge number of possible driver choices when I do that, and I havent' the first idea which one to choose.

Soooo, still stuck, and still needing some more help...

thanks again folks.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

it could, possibly, be the wrong driver. i have a older Dell desktop and mine was just the regular ethernet driver that came as "originally installed." i only got the required drivers, including the ethernet controller, to start with.

which Broadcom? without your Service Tag i could only look at the 6 Network ones for your model. my first thought was the urgent one, in case you got a different one. with your tag, it should give you the one that was originally installed when shipped.

i just tried going back with my service tag, to see exactly which one, and now i'm getting intermittent "404's."

if you got the correct one, then ignore what i just said.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

Thanks all for the continuing help.

When I type in my service tag on the dell support site, these are the options that I get under "Network":



I first tried installing the Driver that had the latest release date, and when I do that I get this error message as mentioned before: "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed."

Then I tried installing the other driver on the list (marked 'optional' with a 2004 release date). When I try this one, I get an error message that says: "1607: Unable to install InstallShield Scripting Runtime"

Which all brings me back to my original question: Is this an operating system problem?

:confused

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

I would think that re-installation would be the best course here. Start out with a clean slate and go from there since you are not losing any data.
Also at the Dell support site should be a tab for the original configuration of the comp as it was sold to the first owner. If nothing has changed, that will give all the correct model #'s of the various components.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

^^^ Agreed. I would like to see what error messages are in the Event Viewer before you do this. I wonder if there might be a conflict with hardware that is causing this. Halo's suggestion will definitely fix the issue though.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

Well, I thought it over some more after reading the last few replies -- especially considering the point about it being an "inherited" computer:

And thanks to lbmest for pointing me in the direction of finding the original configuration on the Dell support page. I also found guidance there for reinstalling the OS.

I've just fininshed doing that, and now everything's behaving correctly. I think I still ought to check and make sure I have the most updated drivers for everything, but so far everything's working. Finally!

Thanks to all for help )
:clap

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

I think you made the wise choice.

 

Re: new-to-me used dell desktop, missing essential things like ethernet & video drive

99% of the time the ehternet drivers have to installed BEFOR the sound opn newer dell's. Anytime you reinstall the drives from a new installation your have to do it in this order.1) Dell desktop/laptop system software. 2) CHIPSET drivers. 3) Video drivers. 4) Modem-ethernet drivers. 5) Sound drivers. Unless you have a seperate card for the video and sound. Then do the same but after all the original drivers are installed, then do the drivers for the cards that you have.