Mala,

First thing that comes to mind is to run a scan for malware. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, update it and do a quick scan. Remove selected. Post back if it finds anything.

Second, did you install the drivers in order?

The Desktop/Notebook Utility needs to be installed first(if applicable), then the chipset drivers. If they are NOT installed first, then the rest of the drivers will fail to install.

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.

:emotion-55: Hint :emotion-55: When downloading the drivers, make a folder for each drivers and name it with the device it belongs with to make it easier to install them in the proper order.

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

QuickSet(Laptop only)

Rick

Hi Rick - Thanks so much!

I believe it is an issue with the drivers as I wasn't sure what order I was to install them in when I installed them.  My Drivers and Utilities cd has different options than what is listed on the link. These are the options on it: 

In case that's hard to read it says this:

Video Drivers
- nVidia GForce 6150 Rev. A00

Audio Drivers
- SIGMATEL STAC 92XX C-Major HD Audio Rev. A09

Controller Drivers
- nVidia SMBus Rev. A02

Miscellaneous Utilities
- Dell OS Tools Rev A03 
- Dell OS Tools Rev. A05

Modem Diagnostics
- Conexant D850 56K V.9X PCI DF Modem ULD Rev. A00

Modem Drivers
- Conexant D850 56K V.9X PCI DF Modem ULD Rev. A02

Networking (NIC) Diagnostics
- Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller A00

Network (NIC) Drivers
- Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller A00

System Applications
- Dell Desktop System Software Rev. A07

System Dell Diagnostics
- Dell 32-bit Diagnostics for Resource CD (Graphical User Interface) Rev. A1284 
- Dell 32-bit Diagnostics for Resource CD (Graphical User Interface) Rev. A1279

System Drivers
- AMD Processor Driver Rev A00

Video Diagnostics
- ATI X 1300 Rev A01 
- ATI X 1300 Pro Rev A01

Thanks.
Mala.

Mala,

Dimension C521 with XP, correct?

Download tnese files and put then on a CD. Download them in your browser. 

The Dell Desktop System Software and AMD Processor Driver and nVidia SMBus need to be installed first.

Then install Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller. Then you should be able to get online, then go to Drivers & Downloads and download and install the other drivers, order not as important after the top three are installed. Look in the device manager for any yellow exclaimination marks or red x's.

Make sure to Download Latest Java, I see yours is outdated. The make sure to get all the windows updates, especially the .net frameword, needed to run many applications. It should be under custom updates.

Rick

Rick:

Yes - I have the Dimension C521. You'll have to bear with me I'm a little slow at understanding the drivers part.

After I download the four you listed first above am I supposed to download all 17 of the drivers listed on the Drivers & Downloads page? Or just the ones listed under "Video, Audio, Input Drivers, Modem, and Network Card"? There are several listed in each category so I'm kind of confused as to which exactly apply to me.

Mala,

After you install the ones I gave you the links to, then go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager) and see if you have any yellow exclaimination marks or red x's and download the drivers needed for them.

Rick

Rick -

No x's or exclamation marks in device manager. They were all good.

I have noticed my firefox browser is going straight to my homepage without any add-ons message popping up at the top.  Now it's just my IE browser that is still having that problem. When you click on IE icon it opens to the error page and has the drop down message at the top. You click home it will go to the home page and you can search the web from there. See the second picture from my original post to see what I mean.

Mala.

Mala,

A couple of things to try.

Start, control panel, internet options, security, default.

start, control panel, internet options, connections, LAN settings, Automatically detect settings should be checked.

Open Internet Explorer and see if you can connect. Test your ActiveX HERE.

If not, then click on tools, manage add-ons, enable or disable add-ons. Disable all add-ons, The close Internet Explorer and wait 20 seconds. Open Internet Explorer. Does it startup?

Rick

Hi Rick -

Did all you suggested and disabled all the add-ons currently on my IE and it's still giving me the error page and message bar at the top. I also went to the Active X test page you linked me and it said "Active X is not supported" on both my IE and Firefox.  Odd because the Firefox doesn't give me this error message but the IE does. Firefox goes straight to my home page (Google) and doesn't give me the message bar at the top.  I also updated my java like you said.

Mala.

Mala,

ActiveX is not supported with Mozilla Firefox. ActiveX should work with Internet Explorer. Go and try to get it to work.

Rick

Rick -

I'm on Internet Explorer still and not having any luck. Part of me tends to think the problem I'm having may be due to the McAfee Anti-virus someone put on this computer for me after I reinstalled XP. The test page said: your browser doesn't recognize ActiveX at all (for my internet explorer).

Along with the  "Internet Explorer is currently running with add-ons disabled. Click here to manage, disable, or remove add-ons." message, it's also saying "To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this site from showing certain content. Click here for options..." (it's saying that on this page right now). The options are: "Add-on blocked" (if you click on this it says "What's the risk?"), "Add-ons Disabled" (this gives you "Manage Add-ons" or "About Add-ons." If I go to Manage Add-ons I'm back to all the add-ons that I disabled earlier, which by the way Active X is not listed as an add-on there.

I have no clue where to go from here.

Mala.

Mala,

ActiveX enable instructions.

Do you use McAfee? If so, then...

Allowing Printer past McAfee

1. Open the McAfee Security Center and then click on the ‘Internet and Network’

2. To the right of ‘Internet and Network’ you would see all the services that are present under it, just below that you would have a button ‘Configure’ please click on that.

3. Now you would have the Internet and Network Configuration, in this window you would have an option ‘Firewall Protection in Enabled’ to the right of that you would have a downward arrow, click on that.

4. Then click on the ‘Advanced’ button which would have a new screen up.

5. To the left of that window you would have ‘System Services’ click on it and to the right pane of the window you would have the ports listed.

6. Please check the option which is for ‘Windows File Sharing’ then click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’

7. Restart the computer

If NOT, then...

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

Rick