Can't get my internet working

What's happend is when you formatted your HDD you erased everything on it, including the device drivers.  When you reinstall your OS you will need to also install all drivers for the devices you have.

Go here: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=&SystemID=XPS_720

Select your operating system then

Click on network and download the broadcom - driver

You are getting this error because the drivers are not installed and windows does not know what it is besides a PCI device.  If you use wireless, download the wireless dirvers.

Since you reinstalled and it does not sound like you have all the drivers, it might be a good idea to download all the driver updates.  You can also save these to an offline location like a USB drive or CD to use when you format again. 

According to the PCI string you provided, it is an nVidia HD audio device.  Below is the driver for Windows Vista 32-bit ... let me know if you have a different Operating System.  So, that is likely not related to your not being able to connect to the Internet.  Open a command prompt and type in IPCONFIG, then hit Enter and let me know what it gives you.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R153751&SystemID=XPS_720&servicetag=&os=WLH&osl=en&deviceid=8907&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=3&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=204951

Ok Flash, I tried that "IPCONFIG" and it came up with the line "Windows IP Configuration" and then displayed the command prompt line again.  I did get the following when I did a search for the "IPCONFIG" file and got three files: 

IPConfig.exe-2395f30b.pf   located in C:\Windows\Prefetch

IPConfig   located in C:\Windows\system32

IPConfig   located in C:\Windows\Softwaredistribution\Download\9866fb57abdc0ea2fb5d4e132c055ba4e

hope that makes some sense to you....oh and I am running XP instead of Vista on the computer that I am having the problem with.

OK ... so, here is a list of what needs to be installed.  Worst case scenario, you might have to reinstall XP, then install these drivers, but you can try each and see if you can get things working.

• Dell Desktop System Software

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R149166&SystemID=XPS_720&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=6317&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=7&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=198162

• NVIDIA® SMBus drivers

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R132919&SystemID=XPS_720&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=9843&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=27&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=176721

• NVIDIA MediaShield™ driver and software application

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R164975&SystemID=XPS_720&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=9711&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=41&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=221848

• SigmaTel® STAC92XX C-Major HD Audio driver

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R138037&SystemID=XPS_720&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8907&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=3&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=184623

• Broadcom® 57XX Gigabit Integrated Controller driver

• Drives for any PCI Express® video cards (which do you have?)
• Drivers for any PCI or PCI Express cards installed

Sadly, no luck.  I am still unable to connect.  This is getting depressing.

Ok ... how do you connect to the internet ... cable?  wireless?  What are you connecting to ... directly your cable/dsl modem, or a router that is connected to a modem?  Depending on what kind of setup you have, you might need to call your ISP to find out the correct configuration.  Did you say you have another machine that connects fine?  Do an IPCONFIG on that one.

Ok, update....reinstalled Windows XP and reinstalled the drivers like ya said...I am back up and running....Thanks Flash, I appreciate your help and I will try to keep from doing the "format" think again....writing this on the internet from the computer that was wiped clean....scary!!!

Thanks again!!

Good!  I'm glad you got it running again.  Sometimes if the Chipset and/or Desktop/Notebook Software aren't installed first, nothing works right, which is what sounds like happened.  Reinstalling isn't a bad thing, just remember Chipset first ;)