Hi I would not call my self a computer wizard. However it would be helpful if you could mention the computer details on which you intend to install the XP.

The XP disk that you've got could be a retail or an OEM version.

I just did a install of a retail XP on a very old computer [that was running on windows98SE] -Pentium 450MHz, RAM-64MB[100MHz] on a home made computer that has Abit-BX440 MOBO with ATi Rage and Creative sound card . All my Hardware are bought in 1999. I am very pleased with my XP home that I installed a day ago. The XP disc come with drivers and that works perfectly with my very old computer hardware. Iattached my HP 360 printer and it was recognised as a new hardware but I needed the new printer driver installed .

I also installed my latest MS Office XP 2003 with no problem.

My humble basic understanding is that XP disk will have drivers for most hardware.-Someone here will correct me with the appropriate wording.

Now you can only burn the drivers from the vendour site only if your CD/DVD are writeable. If it is Read Only Memory[ROM] type of CD/DVD then you will need a different computer with the facilities to save on a disc so that you could later install on your re-installed computer.

snow

Leah,

You have a few options. You colud takee the computer back to factory using the restore partition.

Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

You could make a slipstream disk of your operating system using nLite, since you're using XP. I use this program to backup my drivers, so I didn't have to look foir them. Wndrvrbckup Backup Utilities You can slipstream the drivers into the disk or you can burn a seperate disk.

If you decide the option of a clean installation, then you need this information...

How to Install Drivers in Microsoft® Windows® on Dell Systems

Since the operating system was re-installed did you remember to go to drivers and downloads, enter your service tag(DO NOT POST SERVICE TAG here or your post will get deleted, since it contains your personal information), and install these drivers in this order.

Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software
Chipset or SMBus driver
Processor Driver (if applicable)
Video
Audio (sound)
Input Drivers (keyboard/mouse)
Modem
Network Card

Rick

I will assume it is a dell latitude D610 you are wanting to do a clean install of windows xp, from your tags. A note if you haven't already installed run belarc advisor to get any keys off your system for example if it has microsoft office installed you may want a product key: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Edit: Note, I had a browse at your other posts and you had problems getting a xp professional cd. Note all xp professional dell discs will unlock in a dell BIOs if installed via BIOs (the method I am going to suggest) for a dell system, and thus require no activation. An even better way is to get a hold of a dell xp professional disc  9providing you have a dell xp professional COA at the base of your computer)and to use nlite to copy it, but to slipstream the service packs on it and replace the product key with the key provided on the base of your system. Thus creating yourself a dell xp professional disc for use with your system only and if it needs activated it should activate fine on your system.

First of all back up data on your system onto a USB flash stick or an external harddrive or both. Proceeding via this method will wipe your system clean.

For best performance do a clean install from BIOs though, insert disc press F12 at the dell BIOs Screen:

Need to select partition C: install, leave the rest all alone then do a full format. 

Then just follow the set-up it will ask you afew questions such as regional settings, keyboard settings and your name.

Next you will need to configure your drivers and updates, download the following and save them on a usb flash stick external harddrive dvd or cd. External harddrive or flashstick will be better.

1. Download xp service pack 3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en

If your xp disc does not include service pack 2 then you will need to download that aswell (most likely will):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

I will add in more information about nlite, download here: http://www.nliteos.com/ Insert you windows xp disc into your cd drive and go to my computer, right click your cd/dvd drive and click explore, press control and a (select all) and control and then c (copy). go to your desktop and make a new folder call it xp for example. Open the folder and then press control and v (paste). Install and open nlite, select this folder on your desktop and slipstream the service packs. Note do not attempt anything with nlite if using media centre edition of xp. Then create an iso file after changing any desired settings - see through nlite yourself its very to use. Use a program such as roxio to burn the .iso file to a cd and use this new disc to install windows. Note can just ignore all information regarding nlite and install the service packs immediately after installing windows but nlite is really useful if you plan on reinstalling windows several times on your computer.

Download the following drivers from here:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=&SystemID=LAT_PNT_PM_D610

2. Dell System Notebook Software Under System Utilities (prob won't need internet explorer scaling utility - included in service pack)

3. The Chipset drivers

4. Then the Intel video or ATI video drivers (enter service tag on page for system specifity or alternatively download and install via trial and error if you do not know). 

5. Then the Conexant Drivers Under Communications

6. Then the three Broadcom Drivers Under Network (again inputting the service tag into the driver page will tell you)

7. Then depending what you have Dell Wireless Card or Intel PROSET Wireless under network (again inputting the service tag into the driver page will tell you)

8. Then the Sigmatel Driver under Audio

9. Then Touchpad under Input Devices (and if you have that mouse and keyboard - for the logitech one its best to go directly to the logitech website to get the driver)

10. Then the Dell Quickset under Applications

11. The two Diagnostic Drivers under Diagnostics (May not need to do as your diagnostics partition should be fine)

12. Go here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/ and you can download a Black XP and XP Media Centre Edition Colours.

13. Download and install windows media player 11

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1d224714-e238-4e45-8668-5166114010ca&DisplayLang=en

14. Also recommend you download and install Adobe Reader 9 and PDF Creator here in order to read and print PDFs:

http://www.adobe.com/

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57796

Install the service packs and then the drivers in this order after installling windows xp. Note you may have a driver disc for a docking station if you have one or the driver will be somewhere on the drivers & downloads page.

Note do not touch cd/dvd firmware updates or system firmware apart from the dock one which you may need. Don't think you will need to install any system management drivers but have a look just incase.

Leave the BIOs update alone, unless you really really need to update it to A06, your version will be displayed on the Dell BIOs screen. Note if updating the BIOs do not have any programs open as a failed BIOs attempt can break your main board rendering your computer useless.

After thats done install MS Office from your discs or if you don't have ms office you could try open office (which I don't really like but never mind its your choice): http://www.openoffice.org/. Install whatever you plan on installing.

Then go to windows update: Start > all programs > windows update (Can get Internet explorer 7 and other updates)

Install a security program, I use McAfee but alot of folk have mixed views on security programs, so its your call.

Hope that helps.

Oh and if you have bluetooth download and install it at the very end.

As for microsoft office it may be harder to get a hold of the same version of office as the one that may have been installed on your system oem/retail professional/standard etc but if you can then use the disc and the Code you get from belarc advisor (if you have not already wiped your system).

Thanks alot for all the help..

               Thanks so much for the help..My main question (this time lol) was that my system has quite a few more drivers than I get on Dell drivers site and I just didn't know if I should find and reinstall those also..I have had alot of great people help me out so I hope I can get it intalled ok.I got a flash drive tonight so I know that will make things alot easier.I'm planning on doing my install tom after I get off work so I have plenty of time. If you have any other suggestions feel free to post lol...Thanks so much..

Did you get everything up and running?

Inputting your service tag into the drivers and download page should give you all the drivers you need. I don't know what extra stuff you had but if it was initially a corporate computer may be some of thier stuff for networking and stuff that you prob won't need. However I don't know what programs they would have loaded on it for you that you would lose.

Note all the Dell drivers currently installed on your system will be in this folder: C:\dell\drivers

Here are some free applications which you may want / need:

PDF Creator: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/ (would not install the toolbar)

Open Office: http://www.openoffice.org/ (Although I prefer microsoft office but this is free)

Java: http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp 

Adobe Reader 9 Light: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Adobe-Reader-Lite-Download-90151.html

Adobe Flash Player: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (Would not install the google toolbar)

Adobe Shockwave player: http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/

Page Defrag: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx (completes the job of disc defragmenter)

Switch Music Converter (Free version): http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

They are all included on the windows xp disc and in the chipset driver. 

Inputting your service tag here (not on the forums): http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen will give you all the ones that applicable to your system, you probably have all these downloaded already. Just make sure you download the correct drivers and save them in folders named 1. Dell Notebook Software, 2. Chipset, 3. Video etc so you know what driver is what. Copy them to a USB flash stick (some recommend using a cd) and then copy them onto your desktop once xp is installed.

There shouldn't be any bother installing it providing you install the drivers in the proper order listed, especially dell notebook software then chipset then video then rest. :emotion-1:

After booting from the disc and formatting your drive, the disc continues through the setup and asks you a few minor things, for example product key, region settings your name, computer name. And other then that its press next.

Same for the drivers most the time its a double click, next, next, finished, reboot.

ok good deal.. I feel alot better and more confident now.. I appreciate all the help..Have a great day:emotion-21:

Hey Leah

Your very welcome :) Just wondering if you managed to get everything up and running.

No Havn't yet still. I wanted to give myself plenty of time cause I know I'll need it and between work and kids havn't had it and I need to hurry up before I forget everything I've learned..Thanks for askin..