[Learner1]

I bought new Dell PC.It came with XP-SP2 CD,Dell Monitor driver for Dell monitor.Had to erase hard drive.I could have used original hard drive,but I bought a new one like a dummy.O.K,...here goes.I installed XP with SP2 CD.Then I installed the NIC driver. HERE'S THE CATCH. When one sets up his/her new pc out of the box,if you have an intergrated NIC card and the computer manufacturer doesn't send you a driver for it on CD,the first thing you need to do is go to the web site(which was Dell for me)and download the driver to CD if at all possible.Without the driver for the intergrated network card, you'll not get online.NOW,.......AFTER ALL THIS,I had to install the graphics driver for the INTERGRATED INTEL GRAPHICS CHIP,...without the driver for this,you'll not get access to your MONITOR PROPERTIES, which will remain "Default Monitor" untill you get the driver loaded for it,then you can access monitor properties to load the monitor drivers from CD which came with new PC. Hope this helps someone.

[HEWANM]

This and the thread 'what to do with an old computer'.

Keep it as a backup internet connection machine, that way if you need a modem driver etc because yours isn't working (the Catch 22 syndome) on your current machine, just use the old machine to download what you need.

I had to use an old laptop when I uplifted my desktop machine to XP and the modem wouldn't work!
Yes, should have checked that out 1st I know!!

Hew

[CouchMaster]

I put my drivers on a floppy disk and keep it locked up.

[Rockn]

You are supposed to install SP2 after you install all of your drivers, not before. EVERY DELL I have purchased for work has the drivers on CD...every one. either you didn't look in the right place or you didn't look in the right place. You also probably did not upgrade your chipset drives that came on the CD so you will also be having more problems down the line.

[Skivvywaver]

Yeah, hardware doesn't like to work without drivers. I have mine on disk and any newer ones saved to the slave in a folder. Reformatting a machine without drivers backed up somewhere is not a good idea.

I see you have learned that.

[iaavagent]

Cool advice folks, now tell us "how to backup drivers" on all Win OS's Thanks!

[Skivvywaver]

Drivers are kept in C /windows /system 32 /drivers but I don't know if you can just burn that folder or not. I have never done it that way.

I just download them and save them to disk. You never know when you are going to need them. Most of us build our machines here so we have driver disks that will at least get you back to a working state. After that if you don't have the newer drivers you can download them again.

I keep the newer ones on the slave but you can always burn them.

[mike5532g]

DriverGuide Toolkit $19.95

Used to be free and was known as WinDriversBackup.

I'm in no way affiliated with this product

[iaavagent]

Found it! Elvandil moderator at this TSG thread provides a free driver backup tool http://forums.techguy.org/t351314&hi...p+drivers.html
Thanks!

[mike5532g]

Free vs $19.95...which to choose, which to choose...Hahaha!

Good find iaavagent.

[Learner1]

If I am suppose to install SP2 AFTER I install my drivers,how come Dell sent me a CD entitled "Reinstallation CD.Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 2"?The other CD's are one for the Dell monitor(Driver for monitor) and Sonic Record now CD.Is SP2 on the reinstallation CD and not loaded when performing a new install of XP from the CD?Curious about this.Oh,..after the reinstallation for my wiped HD,the only drivers I loaded into the system were ,1-The driver for the intergrated NIC card,2-The graphics driver for the intergrated graphics card,...these two I downloaded from Dell and burned them to CD just in case I need them again.Now 3-The driver for the monitor was included with the purchase BUT I couldn't load the monitor driver untill I installed the graphics driver for the graphics card,the monitor properties were set to default and wouldn't let me in to load the monitor driver untill the graphics driver was installed. I HOPE THIS ISN'T CONFUSING, sorry if it is.

[Rockn]

The recovery CD has all of the current drivers from the date it was sold so there is no need to hunt them down and install them first.

If you are doing a standard installation without a recovery disk it goes like this. Install OS, Install drivers, Install Service Releases and Windows updates, Install apps.

[Learner1]

I do not have a recovery CD from dell.I have an installation cd and the name of the OS on the installation cd is WINDOWS XP WITH SERVICE PACK 2.I installed it on my Compaq Deskpro SFF and it worked.The deskpro also has intergrated NIC.XP gave it a driver and I got online.XP did not reconize the NIC in the Dell.Dell did not supply me with a recovery CD,only an installation CD. SADLy,THERE ARE NO INTEGERS ON THIS SCALE,SO YOUR FUTILE ATTEMPT TO BE CLEVER HAS PROVED TO BE GANGLY ADOLESCENT.LOL

[karnak]

I've purchased three Dell computers over the past five years and with every one, I got a cd marked "Dell Resource CD" with all the drivers; chipset, audio, video, NIC, and the like. If you just recently bought that from Dell, I would be calling them. Perhaps they forgot to put it in the box. Just remember, when installing drivers, chipset is always first, then video, audio, and NIC.