Reinstalling Windows XP

the checkmark simply means the software was able to detect the particular hardware

most important, install the Dell Desktop System Software (DSS) first, then the chipset, then the video card, the rest is not too important. If possible, download the latest drivers instead of using the Resource CD, but you can always update the drivers later.

once you have done the above, you should see no problems in Device manager

Thanks for your help.

What is the DSS, I do not seem to have this on my resource CD.

When you say "the rest is not too important", what about the drives and the NIC? Are you saying i do not need to install the drivers for these?

I wouldn't bother with the DSS. It is Dell's basic program that tries to help you when something goes wrong with your computer. It's a good idea, but just bad software. Once you install it, it just unnecesarily uses resources. It is not a required program so I wouldn't bother if I was you. I've done thousands of fresh installations of XP and never have needed the DSS software.

Now, for a little bit more explanation on installing Windows XP. During a Windows XP install, the operating system will install drivers as it sees fit such as NIC, chipset, video, audio, etc. The drivers that you can download from Dell usually is the updated driver that Windows XP CD doesn't have on it. You can tell this is the case in the Device Manager. If you see yellow exclamation points in Device Manager, those are the drivers that Dell hopefully has provided to make them work properly. If you right click with your mouse on "My Computer" and select properties, you can select the Hardware tab and then choose to run "Device Manager".

Typically, for me, when I do a fresh install, 9 out of ten times, there's at least one driver that needs to be updated. Usually, it's the sound, video, or ethernet.

Good luck.

I wouldn't bother with the DSS. It is Dell's basic program that tries to help you when something goes wrong with your computer. It's a good idea, but just bad software. Once you install it, it just unnecesarily uses resources. It is not a required program so I wouldn't bother if I was you. I've done thousands of fresh installations of XP and never have needed the DSS software.

Actually, the Desktop System Software (or Notebook System Software on portables) is very much a required driver.  It is Dell specific additions to the chipset software to ensure all of the hardware can properly talk to each other and the operating system.  If your system requires the DSS and you don't install it then you can run into a number of different problems, the most common of which is hardware that just doesn't work.

DSS is Dell's way of fixing their oops. Since you are reinstalling XP and upgrading all the drivers yourself, you are bypassing Dell's way of fixing their oops. This is why I don't recommend installing the DSS.

I've worked on probably 75% of the various models of Dell PC's and laptops that have come out the last 18 years and never have had to install the DSS package. The few that I've put the DSS package on actually made the machines run slower than without it, since it was regularly checking for updated stuff and it started up automatically as a process when you start up the computer.

After the first few years when a computer is introduced, the importance of DSS and similar programs out there exponentially goes away, because all the updates are provided by Dell for downloading. And so, if your machine is more than 2 years old, I again would not recommend installing the DSS software. HP, Lenova, and the other computer companies have similar programs that I don't recommend either.

I have yet to come across one Dell computer that became a paper weight because DSS was "required" which I didn't install.

Datn,  I don't think the Desktop System Software (DSS) or Notebook System Software (NSS) is what you think it is.  It is, essentially, the Dell additions to the chipset driver.  It is not an application that runs on the system, it is the driver that allows the operating system to run on the hardware correctly.  The only way the DSS or NSS would no longer be needed is if the chipset or OS added the functionality provided by the DSS or NSS.  The only time I have seen that (and even then it did not happen all the time) was when one OS needed it, but the next version did not (e.g., a system that ships with both XP and Vista may not need the DSS when running Vista, even if it did need it for XP).

I have seen a large number of cases where video, network adapters, audio and other "minor" parts fail to work properly and the problem is resolved by installing the Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software.  Not installing it is the same as not loading the modem driver on your notebook.  It isn't really a problem, but the modem isn't going to work correctly without it.

Hi Larry. I'm very aware of what DSS is and is not. I don't mean to sound critical about you, but it sounds like you might be the one confused about what DSS is, not me. It is an application and not the driver that you think it is. 

As quoted from Dell when you look up DSS, "Desktop System Software (DSS) is a utility that provides critical updates and patches for your operating system." When you look at any downloads for any Dell system where you can download it, DSS is in the Applications/Utility section for a reason. All the drivers are in their own section, including chipset drivers.

Dell recommends, not requires, installing this first because it provides a way for customers to get the correct patches, drivers, etc. automatically in the first place. However, since brotenberger has already downloaded all the updated stuff, DSS is not necessary.

The cases where you saw DSS/NSS fix problems is probably because it went and got the correct drivers from Dell, not because it is a driver itself.

About once every two weeks, I do a fresh install on a Dell, whether it be an Optiplex, Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, XPS, Vostro, etc. for a friend or for work, and I have yet to install the DSS. A fresh install for me has always worked better than using the complete Dell factory image. You don't need the fluff that comes with any new computer.

Sorry Wapiza for rambling. I also meant you, not "Brotenberger" as in my last reply. He's just another person I'm trying to help and got you two mixed up.

Yes, DSS provides critical updates and patches for the OS.  It does not do this by downloading anything, however.  It works exactly the same as any other driver: it installs needed configuration settings and files.  For the DSS, its mostly registry patches, with some required .inf or .dlls for the chipset to work correctly.

Larry is correct in saying that it doesn't download anything. However, he also omitted the fact that it is still a "utility" application. Like any software, it is limited to when it was written. The DSS version you have on any Dell will only have known drivers at the time it was written. Here is a direct quote when you try to find DSS for your system.

Criticality:  Optional
Description:  Desktop System Software (DSS) is a utility that provides critical updates and patches for your operating system. Install the DSS program to gain support for Dell 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. DSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

As you can see, Dell calls the DSS "optional". I don't know about you, but the definition of "optional" is pretty apparent to me.

For me, DSS is like one of those books for Dummies. It tries to make things simpler for the average consumer. It will check and can tell if your computer is a Dimension 4500 or an Inspiron XPS running Windows 98 or Windows Vista and help you install the correct driver. Instead, you can go to Dell, type in your service tag, and select the appropriate drivers for your specific operating system. This way, you are guaranteed to get the most updated driver that Dell has to offer for your system. The downloaded drivers would have the correct .inf, .dll, registry patch, .exe, .ini, or whatever file or info in it to make your device work that would be more updated than the DSS can provide.

Larry, Datn

While I appreciate it that you guys are debating this on my behalf, I think I may be able to summarize this as follows:

DSS may or may not be necessary given that the drivers on the Dell web site may be even more up to date.  Regardless, installing DSS will not do any real harm, except for hogging a bit more resources.  Is that a fair statement?

Thanks guys

Hi wapiza.

You are correct. It will not harm your PC. Go to Dell Support and click "Drivers & Downloads". It is better to enter your Tag number than just to pick model of PC so that you get exactly what your PC drivers are. If you pick Drivers by Model you are going to find all the drivers for different configurations of that model. Download your main drivers for the moment to the desktop: DSS, Chipset, Video, Network, Sound, and install them one by one rebooting the PC after each of them. Here is a good reference page to start.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&docid=1A0C0937D62A8739E0401E0A55174744&journalid=%204F1F82483DC811DBAE564F9328EE04A4&l=en&s=gen

Hope it helps.

Wapiza, your summary of our debate is correct. Again, sorry for hijacking your thread. However, you don't have to restart after each driver install. The only update that I definitely would recommend a restart is after the last driver is installed and after Windows XP SP3 is installed.

As iroc9555 states, download your drivers now, since you have your machine still running. It's a pain if you get things half installed and later realize you don't have the ethernet working and don't have another computer to use to go to Dell website.

Good luck.

Wapiza.

You may or may not reboot after each driver is installed, your choice. I do it, and then go into Device Manager and make sure the driver installed correctly before I try to install the next one.

By the way. Disconnect every thing but the mouse, keyboard and screen.

Hope it helps.

one last thing....

what is a matrix storage driver and what is Intel Viiv

I can't tell if I have these or not.