Hi 

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@FEl44 wrote:
Just clean-installed xp media center,after finishing the install,I checked Device Manager and there is not a single problem in Device Manager.Do I still have to install drivers,chipset,ect, etc,etc? Thanks.

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Yes you need to do install drivers and chipset,ect

Correct reinstalltion sequence is (1) Install Windows (2) install chipset drivers (3) install device drivers (such as the sound).

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&cs=19&docid=1A0C0937D62A8739E0401E0A55174744&journalid=4F1F82483DC811DBAE564F9328EE04A4&l=en&s=gen


From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.14
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

Thanks for your response and the link,however, I couldn't find desktop system software (DSS) or chipset drivers on the drivers download page and the rest of the drivers for my system Dimension 8200 are only optional, not important or urgent,just optional.Any ideas?

Also windows automatic update has already installed some critical update right after windows clean-installed,would installing the above drivers be a problem since the drivers were not installed first?:smileysurprised:

Most of the drivers on the Dell support website are listed as "optional" because, if you already have a working driver installed, you don't have to update to that newer version.

If, on the other hand, you have just installed Windows and do not have any drivers installed yet then you must install drivers in order to use the hardware installed in the computer.

The list of drivers for the Dimension 8200 are:

• Intel Chipset Software (850 Driver)
• Intel ATA Ultra
• AD 1885 Audio Controller
• Yamaha Wave Table Software (audio)
• Video controller

The chipset should be first, and I would recommend the ATA driver second (since it affects access to the hard drive).  All of the other drivers can be installed in any order you wish.

I recommend checking Device Manager for any entries that start with a !, ? or red X after loading the drivers to make sure you haven't missed anything. 

At the drivers download page,there are no Intel chipset software, Intel ATA Ultra,etc,that I can see.As mention before,there are no !, ? or red X in device manager for now. If I select chipset from the Category box,I received zero returns.So how can I get the Intel chipset and Intel ultra ATA storage drivers?

If I must install these drivers, then please I need help findind them at the download page, even though I used my service tag and went through all the list under  Category and still could not find the above drivers (Intel chipset software)(850 driver),Intel ATA Ultra. Is it because I'm now using windows media center as my os has something to do with it? Original factory configuration was xp home.

Any more ideas? Thanks.

I apologize; apparently I did not have enough caffeine this morning before replying to your post.

The information on the drivers I was looking at was for Win2K (the info I have for the system show that it shipped with ME and 2K).  It is possibly that the drivers are part of WindowsXP, and thus do not need to be loaded.  If that is the case, and if Device Manager shows all drivers loaded properly it is highly likely, then you would only be required to install driver updates if those updates fixed a problem you are having with the system (e.g., newer video drivers so a particular game would run).

You were not all wrong,at least the first 3 drivers you post are listed in the dimension 8200 Solution Guide as Dell Installed drivers on dimension 8200 system with xp home.

Again I'm not having any driver problem now,only that xp media center is clean-installed,right after that I looked thru device manager expecting red x or any potential problem but found none,that was my whole reason for this post.

As I recalled,previous reinstalled xp home required drivers to be loaded after installation,unless this current media center OS CD Dell sent was stripsteamed with all the needed drivers.

Just want to be sure if  I do  need to install chipset or any important drivers or not before I install my applications and other programs.

It is possible that you may need to update some of the drivers later, but that would depend on whether you are running into any problems (as you stated, none were listed as urgent or critical updates).

Personally, I would still get the latest updates from the Dell support site since it is a clean install.  I like to have all the drivers up to date before installing applications in a situation like that.  If all of your hardware is showing up in Device Manager properly, and nothing has a !, ? or red X on it, then more than likely you are good to go as far as drivers are concerned so updates would be a matter of personal preference at that point.