clean install inspiron 1100

When you install windows for the first time it will load the MS generic drivers so your display will not show the proper resolutions or 32 bit color.  You will have to install the current video card driver for that and reset the resolutions at that time. 

 

Did you install the required driver linked below  ?

 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R112112&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100&servicetag =&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3526&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=4&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=6&fileid=146526

Thanks very much for your help. I'm a carpenter not an engineer so I need it!

I noticed the driver at the site you gave was dated 2005. I had the thought that if I had installed the "device drivers/diagnostics and utilities" disc (#3 on the invoice) first instead of #2 (antivirus software,support software,multimedia software,internet software) which I used, I might have got it right because they sent me the discs on 11/28/2006. So I reinstalled the operating system again and I will just wait to hear from you if you think I should try that or use the site.  Thanks again!

After installing the operating system, the next important driver will be the ChipSet.  After the ChipSet driver is installed, the video chip driver ( Linked again below ) should be installed and if necessary, the resolutions should be entered in Display properties if it does not do so automatically.  Do not install the anti virus software or other programs until you install the ChipSet and video chip driver  Dell System Utility driver first.

 

After the two drivers mentioned above are installed, you should install the modem driver and then everything else for your system.

 

ChipSet Driver

 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R50830&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100&servicetag =&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=1134&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=60098

 

 

Video chip driver. 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R112112&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100&servicetag =&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3526&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=4&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=6&fileid=146526

 

 

Dell Notebook System Software driver

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

 

Download all Microsoft Critical Updates as well....

 

 

Other drivers from the driver download site if you have these on your system.  We don't know ourselves

 

 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100

The full list of drivers for the Inspiron 1100, and the order it is recommended they be installed, is:

• Dell Notebook System Software
• Intel Chipset driver
• ATI Mobile Radeon 7500 video driver
• SigmaTel STAC 9750 audio driver
• Broadcom 4401 Integrated Controller driver (LOM)
• MDC (modem) driver
• Wireless MiniPCI driver (if customer has a device)
• Synaptics touchpad drivers

The Notebook System Software needs to be installed first, followed by the Chipset.  All of the drivers after that can be installed in whatever order you wish.  Most people install the video drivers next so they don't have to stay with the default 800x600 (SVGA) resolution the MS default video driver supports.

 

The links SR45 list above are for the latest Dell versions of those specific drivers.  You can view the full list here

Of course the 1100 system does not come with a dedicated video card so the 7500 driver is a no go that was listed just above.  The one I posted is the one to use.  Thanks Dell-Larry about the  Notebook System Software first over the ChipSet driver.

Well when I saw that the notebook system software would take over 2 hours to download on my dial-up I installed it from the disc that dell sent since it says on the website its optional and it seems fairly generic. However everything they sent says "inspiron ME051"....I therefore downloaded your recommended video and chipset drivers and also the modem driver to my dimension desktop, burnt them to disc and they installed fine 0n the 1100 except for the modem driver. It says I have no modem??????

Yeah, the video card driver is for the inspiron 5100, which is mostly identical to the 1100.  In fact, I think the video card was the only real difference between the two.  The page I pulled the list from was for both the 5100 and the 1100, which is why it included that driver.