Dell Inspiron 5100 - OS Problems
Discussion
Hi all, occasional visitor to this forum as I'm a bit of a ITphobe.
Mentioned this in another thread and was advised to start anew for some help.
I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 which I had planned to use for menial tasks in the office but it seems to have developed some serious problems with the operating system. Dell aren't interested, saying I should have a backup CD (which I don't). Very helpful, not.
Essentially, the machine doesn't find the graphics card, sound card and who knows what else. Sometimes I can connect to the internet, but recently it's given up on that aswell so I can't even run updates.
Is it scrap (not the end of the world as it's old) or is there anythign I can do?
Mentioned this in another thread and was advised to start anew for some help.
I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 which I had planned to use for menial tasks in the office but it seems to have developed some serious problems with the operating system. Dell aren't interested, saying I should have a backup CD (which I don't). Very helpful, not.
Essentially, the machine doesn't find the graphics card, sound card and who knows what else. Sometimes I can connect to the internet, but recently it's given up on that aswell so I can't even run updates.
Is it scrap (not the end of the world as it's old) or is there anythign I can do?
Tried going to the Dell website and downloading a few drivers etc which seemed to have no effect. Then intended to get the wifes IT support company (form work) to do us a favour and have a bash sorting it out remotely (unnficial, like) but we then couldn't get it to connect to the internet.
Unfortunatley, I'm only clued up enough to use the things, not fault find.
Unfortunatley, I'm only clued up enough to use the things, not fault find.
Well i'm sure they can easily get to the bottom of it.
Nonetheless, if it was me dealing with it, i would most likely enter the Device Manager and DELETE the entries for the components that you are currently having problems with. It is most likely that you have a few icons with either an exclamation or question marks. Removing the components and rebooting the laptop will allow Windows to redetect and reinstall the correct drivers automatically.
If you don't feel brave enough, it may be best to print this off for them. However, if you do go that route, i am sure they'll have you back up and running in no time.
Regards
Popolou
Nonetheless, if it was me dealing with it, i would most likely enter the Device Manager and DELETE the entries for the components that you are currently having problems with. It is most likely that you have a few icons with either an exclamation or question marks. Removing the components and rebooting the laptop will allow Windows to redetect and reinstall the correct drivers automatically.
If you don't feel brave enough, it may be best to print this off for them. However, if you do go that route, i am sure they'll have you back up and running in no time.
Regards
Popolou
Popolou said:
Nonetheless, if it was me dealing with it, i would most likely enter the Device Manager and DELETE the entries for the components that you are currently having problems with. It is most likely that you have a few icons with either an exclamation or question marks. Removing the components and rebooting the laptop will allow Windows to redetect and reinstall the correct drivers automatically.
That's be my first port of call as well.
If it's Windows XP based (and has System Restore) you could try selecting the earliest restore point available and go back to that.
If you still have either the OS CD (but not the driver CD) or the restore parition still on the machine... you could download all the drivers, burn them to a disk, then restore the OS... actually the restore partition (if it exists) would have the default drivers already inserted.
I'd also suggest whacking the thing with the usual tools (SpyBot, AdAware, regcleaner, etc) just to blitz all the possible cruft off that could be causing the problem.
If Windows won't play ball... try downloading Knoppix or Ubuntu, they're Linux but come in LiveCD flavours; so if you download, burn and then boot of that CD... if it makes the sound/screen/network run properly... you know it absolutely has to be Windows and not the logic board
Opps... sorry, it does read like a techie shopping list of possibilities doesn't it Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff