Dell 5150 and XP SP3 - video and audio drivers won't install.

Thanks - that's helpful advice. I'll see how I get on and get back to you.

I clean-installed Windows 7 x64 on a relative's 5150, but as the XP install was healthy, we left it alone and configured a multi-boot instead. The only device missing a driver was the obsolete PCI modem, which said relative had no use for, anyways.

As for XP, to determine which driver to install, look up the vendor and device IDs under the device properties in Device Manager. Once you know the IDs, you can look them up on pcidatabase.com. I haven't installed XP on a 5150, but I've clean-installed XP on other machines, and that's how I figured out which drivers were needed.

Did you install .net Framework after installing Windows XP?  Many AMD driver installation programs require .net Framework 2.0 or its more recent version to run, and Windows XP does not install .net Framework automatically.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/dimension-5150x/drivers

You have to install DOTNET 1.1 DOTNET 2.0 DOTNET 3.5 DOTNET 4.0  The DOTNET directory on the dell cd has 1.1   CHIPSET drivers must be installed BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

http://ftp.us.dell.com/chipset/R114566.EXE

Older ATI Cards DO NOT install with the latest drivers.

You must use Legacy Drivers.

http://downloads.dell.com/video/R118968.EXE

http://downloads.dell.com/audio/R147075.EXE

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16614

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5007

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17718

The dot-NET Framework is an XP add-on, and a standalone installer is available. Apparently Windows Update takes some effort to get it to work on a new install.

Windows 7 costs money, but not only is it currently supported, it is an easy point-and-click install. All of the base drivers are on the install disk.

I've formatted my 5150 hard drive, installed XP SP3 and installed the Dell chipset drivers. When I try to install the video drivers from the Dell website I'm told my system doesn't meet requirements. Audio drivers install but I get a code 10 error on the device. Has anyone succesfully got video and audio drivers working from a clean install, please? Thanks in advance for any help.

Windows XP has reached End of Life time to install Windows 7 which runs beautifully on this model.

However if you must persist with a legacy versions of Windows see my legacy Windows XP guide:

http://philipyip.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/legacy-windows-xp.pdf

On page 5 install the standalone updates. On page 71 provide the hardware IDs of any devices or video controllers. See also here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/checking-hardware-ids-in-the-device-manager/

Thanks, all. Yup, I've given up on XP now. AMD's Catalyst updater did install .NET but it didn't help.

My question now is, as the Dell PC has an XP license, how do I licence the Windows 7 O.S.? My laptop runs Window 7 and I have an re-install disk but I'd rather not buy a new Windows 7 package just to get a licence. I'd rather spend the money on a more modern PC.

You have to buy a new license, as Windows 7 was not offered with this model. Newegg has the Pro version on sale for $125 and Home Premium for $85, both with free shipping.