From your list of issues, it sounds like you either didn't install the chipset driver and/or didn't install the drivers in the correct order:

1. Chipset
2. Video driver
3. Audio driver
4. Ethernet driver
5. Modem driver
6. Other drivers

The chipset driver should be the first driver installed after installing Windows. Unless the chipset is installed first, other drivers either won't install or won't work.

Download the chipset, video driver, etc and this ethernet driver onto your USB stick and then copy them onto to the desktop of. the 8250. Reboot in Safe Mode (reboot and press F8 before Windows starts to load).. When you get to the desktop in Safe Mode (which will look strange!), double-click on the chipset file. When that's done, reboot normally.

You'll have to pick the correct video and audio drivers from those offered because I don't know which hardware you have. Now install all the other drivers in the order listed. To do that, double-click on the driver file you copied onto the desktop. Do not try to ask Windows to install them from Device Manager because that won't work. :emotion-5:

Hi paule_uk,

Welcome to the community.

Please check the link below which outlines the steps for installing drivers in correct order:

http://dell.to/X1IKGu

You can also download all the drivers for your system from the link below:

http://dell.to/1025nAZ

If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks and Regards
Sandeep P
#iworkfordell

What's the highest Service Pack you have installed? If you don't have SP3 installed, I suggest you download it to your laptop, copy it over and install it.

The chipset software is here. The network driver is here, but I don't know your video hardware so I can't suggest a driver. You might try browsing the drivers here.

Thanks for all the replies. I installed the chipset driver as suggested (it wasn't installed) and installed the Ethernet driver manually from the desktop but still have the same problem. The Ethernet controller and other controllers are still showing a yellow question mark as error in the device table with no driver installed and I cannot connect to the internet. Getting desperate now!!

Did you try installing SP3?

No I didn't but it worked previously without SP3.... do you think this is crucial to this problem?

The 8250 is a very old model and was bundled with an early version of XP. I am speculating that the drivers may be incompatible with the early versions and that this can be corrected by applying the service pack.

It's recommended to apply all service packs and updates anyways, because otherwise XP is highly vulnerable to malware, including drive-by hijackings.

Chipset Drivers are Required before others.

Hi paule_uk,

You do not need the Desktop System Software for this system. Click on the link below to install network driver:

ftp.dell.com/.../R48857.EXE

Please let us know if you face any issues in installing it. Check the link below to update windows to Service Pack 3:

http://bit.ly/1085vt0

If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks and Regards
Sandeep P
#iworkfordell

Thanks again for your reply... I've searched for SP3 but cannot find a link to it, can you advise?

Also I have seen reference to needing Desktop System Software but I cannot find a version for the 8250, do you think not having this loaded could be the problem?

Hi paule_uk,

I appreciate the time and effort that you took to troubleshoot the issue. Please let us know more details about the issue we have the system. Kindly provide us with the information below:

Do you receive any errors in installing the drivers?

If the drivers are installed successfully then how does it reflect in device manager?

Do we receive any error message when we try to connect to internet?

Is the Ethernet cable connected and we have link link to the network card?

Have you updated XP SP 3?

Kindly provide us this information so that we can be in a better position to resolve this issue.

Thanks and Regards
Sandeep P
#iworkfordell

Thanks again for your reply... I've searched for SP3 but cannot find a link to it, can you advise?

http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=24

Also I have seen reference to needing Desktop System Software but I cannot find a version for the 8250, do you think not having this loaded could be the problem?

As was pointed out earlier, it's not needed.

Hi Sandeep thanks for your reply. I have installed the network driver you recommended but still have the same problem. Any further suggestions most welcome. Thanks.

Hi Sandeep, I very much appreciate your help with this issue.

To give you more information, the machine was working OK until I decided to reinstall Windows. I have the original Windows CD and Drivers CD and the install went OK with no errors displayed.  However I cannot connect to the internet and In the device manager list I now see a yellow question mark against the Ethernet Controller, Multimedia Audio Controller and PCI Simple Communications Controller. All 3 show that there is no driver installed for the device but when I select "Install Driver" it searches and then displays the error message "the Wizard could not find the software on your computer".

I have installed a couple of different Ethernet drivers by downloading them on my laptop to a USB stick and then putting them on the PC desktop and they seem to install OK with no error messages but still they are not seen in the device manage list.

The Ethernet cable from my BT hub is installed OK and line activity lights are flashing.

When I try to access any web pages in Explorer it cannot find any web sites.

I have now downloaded SP3 but this has made no difference.

I hope this helps and thanks again for your assistance.

Regards, Paul