Open Device Manager and see if there are any devices listed there as Problem Devices.  Report back what you find.

 

Steve

You don't tell what kind of internet connection you  have.  This information is essential if you want detailed help on these forums.  

 

Assuming that you are trying to connect to a network that uses ethernet, it sounds like you did not install the drivers for your hardware and/or did not install them in the proper order.  You need to install the Chipset drivers before even attempting to install any other device drivers.   After that the order doesn't matter, but you need to install the drivers for your ethernet network adapter, , video adapter, sound card, and modem

Steve

Thanks for helping,

 

Sorry for the lack of info, I did install the drivers on the Dell Dimension Resource CD but I have no idea in what order they were installed or if in fact that they are the chipset drivers you referred to.

 

Where should I start, do I need to reformatt again?

 

Gene

The device manager indicates that the ethernet, sm bus and the video controller have not been istalled.

 

Gene

I must apologize for my ignorance but I do not know what are chipset drivers and where do I find them.

 

Thanks again

 

Gene

All drivers should be on the resource CD.  Individual drivers can be downloaded from the download page for your system:

 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/devices.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_CEL_2400&os=WW1&osl=EN

 

Chipset drivers are under Chipset.  The network drivers are the ones for the Broadcom device under Network,  There are several choices for your video adapter, under Video Adapter.   You will have to look at your invoice to see which of the Intel integrated video adapters you have on your system.

 

Steve

That means that you did not install the chipset drivers.  They need to be installed first, then you can install the drivers for your ethernet network adapter and video adapter.  After the chipset drivers are installed, you may find that there are other device drivers that need to be installed.

 

Steve