Complete Reinstall left me stranded- no drivers, no networking

Question

I have done a complete reinstall of Windows XP on my Dell and am unable to connect to the internet.  I am a newbie and want to be able to do this myself.  These drivers are missing:  Multimedia Audio Controller; SM Bus Controller; Ethernet Controller. The network wizard does not work. I added a D Link wireless router because I want to connect my laptop and my desktop to the Net using my Earthlink DSL.  The laptop works fine.  The LinkSys router worked fine before, but my buddy recommended using D Link for a better firewall (issues with viruses brought in by my teenagers). Every time I try to work things out, I get a message that the modem cannot hear a dial tone.  Do I even need a dial tone, since I'm not dialing? When I pop in the Earthlink CD to try to do SOMETHING, anything, I get this error message: 'MCI Error No wave device is installed that can play files in the current format.  To install a wave device, go to Control Panel, click Pri' That's it - incomplete & I don't know what it means or what to do. I can connect to the internet through the laptop so I can put any necessary drivers on a CD if I need to. Oh, help.  I'm losing my mind.  Thanks!

jmwills · Answer

These files are on your Dell Resource CD.

Denny Denham · Answer

thballard,

Go to the Reinstall Guide (select from the drop-down menu under Product Support above this forum). It will provide you with detailed instructions for installing your drivers. The chipset driver should go first (it would take care of the SM Bus Controller problem). In the event you don't have a Resource CD for your system (Dell no longer routinely ships them with new systems) you can obtain the required drivers from the Downloads link in the same drop-down menu.

thballard · Answer

Yeah, you'd think, but I have run that twice to no avail.  Thank you, though.

thballard · Answer

Denny, thank you, I will try that.  I feel as though I need a lot of handholding during my learning curve.

beachbum4 · Answer

I have the same problem.  Did the XP reinstall, and now have no network adapters listed in Device Manager, tried running the resource disk and had no results.  Also shows 3 Problem devices, Ethernet Controller, Multimedia audio controller and PCI Simple Communications Controller. Any thoughts?

jmwills · Answer

YOu must also install the Chip Set drivers.

thballard · Answer

I did all you said, reinstalled chip drivers from the CD, then the other drivers.  IT ALL WORKED!  The drop down Dell support 'drivers' area had very good explicit directions.  I'm totally set.  Thank you so much.  I had to reinstall the Audio, Networking, and Communication drivers.  All is well. Message Edited by thballard on 02-02-2005 02:19 PM

beachbum4 · Answer

Thanks!  Got it all working but the PCI adapter, but that does not seem to hurt anything. I assume that might be a dial up adapter. They sure don't make it easy!

Windows General

Complete Reinstall left me stranded- no drivers, no networking

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