I'm guessing this is driver related

Hi

That sort of effect you are mentioning with scrolling is normally associated with the need to install or update your Graphics Card Driver, install Chipset first then the Graphics / Video (the Graphics driver will depend on what hardware Dell or you specified when bought).

Drivers from Dell are HERE



As for your second ? on speeds on the net, then its possibel as Vista hsa a new TCP/IP stack installed and works much better for speed and consistancy than XP then this is the cause, but it could also be that you have not installed all your drivers yet, like LAN/Ethernet, Chipset etc

 

Hi

Do you not have original specs from when you bought this PC? if not then try the below and generate an Everest Log and maybe it will help narrow this down.

To find this info you can use the likes of Everest to find this info, at times a summary log of your PC can help, to do this

Install Everest and run
Click Report (top menu) > Report Wizard > Next
Choose All Pages > Next
Choose Plain Text > Finish and wait for report to generate
Click Save to File and leave the File Name as Report, then click the Save as Type dropdown and choose Report files (*txt) and click Save (n.b. Save to desktop is best as easy place to find it, use Browse to locate desktop)



Then attach your log to your next post as per these instructions HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post

 

Hi Ooops! sorry your post slipped by, but NO on the drivers as the ones I listed are the actual Dell Inspiron 531s XP drivers that Dell supply, sadly your log doesnt show which graphics is used, but on your Dell you should have a service tag code, enter that on the driver page in the link Add or Edit Service Tag should narrow the card down.

Also with most PCs they have a sticker on them which may say Nvidia or ATi, does yours? if so whats written on it, a code number, if you bought direct from Dell online then login to your account and check your past purchase as it may list the hardware spec of the PC, but the service tag is the best way.


Just make sure the Operating System chosen on the Dell site in the dropdown is Windows XP.

 

Hi

Could try the DELL Service Tag finder here http://support.dell.com/support/top..._info/en/details?c=us&cs=rc956904&l=en&s=hied the link is the Find my service tag

Could also and I know the Dells in my Office show the Service Tag in System Info in XP, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308549

But if I had to guess, its "possible" its the Nvidia driver 2nd from bottom of the 7 Video drivers listed.

 

Hi

Sadly above doesnt list anything GFX card wise.


Know your frustration but problem is likely is going from Vista to XP, and having no service tag lable on the PC or stickly labels mentioning what video card this Dell has, with lack of info it becomes a slow process to narrow down the correct driver, and if I'm honest in this situation while I woudl rather get the 100% absolute right driver first off, I'm inclinded to say you have nothing to loose in backing up your important files, docs etc and just trying all the GFX drivers, one you can now rule off the list is the Nvidia one, and the top one as its a GFX card bios update, but numbers 2,3,4,5,7 in the list are worth a try. Motherboard chipset is an Nvidia one so would start with 7.



As for another card, you may then have issues with warranty if PC is new, and then as these are small forma factor PCs an issue with lack of slot for card as well as it may need a specific size of card to fit.