Skip to main content
Start a Conversation

Unsolved

This post is more than 5 years old

mllikes

34 Posts

3328

July 16th, 2005 03:00

Reformatting

I recently reformatted and reinstalled Windows to cure a problem with a new graphics card. It didn't fix the problem and now I have a few other problems since the reformat. Does it hurt to reformat and reinstall Windows again or is once enough. Also, I have been told to reinstall the chipset drivers the first thing after reformatting. Do you download the drivers to a floppy disk to install them after the reformat? I was told to install chipset drivers before the drivers for the video card and to do all of this before reinstalling the firewall and antivirus programs. Dell only sent me the Windows reinstall CD so I will have to go online to download the chipset and video drivers and I don't want to do that without those programs installed.

use2b2t2

82 Posts

July 16th, 2005 08:00

yes, the chipset must be installed first.  u can find your chipset drivers on the dell site.  If u do not load the chipsets first, your mb may not work up to par.  It is okay to reinstall windows, but do not use repair option..IE do not over install.  I suggest reformat and fdisk drive to clean it up.  also make sure u do not have bad sectors on the drive as it can cuase problems also. generally waht I do is format fdisk install windows,install chipset..then any other driver software is required.  Then install programs u want.

SR45

2 Intern

 • 

12.1K Posts

July 16th, 2005 08:00

No, it does not hurt anything when you reformat, and reinstall windows again.  I have lost count how many times I have reinstalled windows in the last three years on the same system.  http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?~ck=mn  This is Dells download site.  You fill in the blanks about your system, and it will show you all that can be downloaded to the desktop to either be copied to a disk or to save somewhere on your system, including the chipset driver.   Chipset can be downloaded to the desktop or to Documents.  Anywhere you want as long as you can find it to install later.  I have burned to a disk, my chipset driver for safe keeping.
 
This is one of the proper order to reinstall everything :
 
1.  Reformat and re-install windows xp, not a repair, but a complete reformat
2.  Install SP-2, unless it is already included with your disk that came with the system.  We don't know this because you did not list your system
3.  Install the chipset driver  ( Some reinstallation disks already have this chipset driver included, so some may not have to install it separately
4.  Install the video card driver, than reset the monitors resolution
5.  Install your anti virus software, and make sure your firewall is on before you connect to the internet
6.  Install everything else.

Was this post helpful?

View All

No Events found!

Top