Hi Stuart,

The unknown device is the "Metolious Vendor-Defined Sensor," in other words, the E-Support Button Sensor underneath your Power Button on the 8100. To update the device in device manager, you can do 1 of 2 things:

1. If you want this button to work and drain startup resources (as shipped from Dell), go to your Applications CD (Backup: Dell-Installed Programs CD) that should have shipped with your system. If the CD autostarts, cancel out of the installation process and use Windows Explorer to find the apps\DSC folder and run setup.exe This will install Dell Solution Center and install the drivers for the E-Support Button.

2. If you want the button driver installed so Device Manager will be happy, but don't want the Dell Solution Center to install or run at startup, select properties in Device Manager for the "Unknown Device" and update the driver, selecting your own location, which would be on the same CD at D:\apps\DSC\SUPPORT\METDRVR\WIN9X (assuming your CD Drive is D; otherwise exchange drive letter.)

Hope this helps.
Russell :-)

Thanks! that fixed it! I opted for the second choice. The tech I talked to for almost an hour didn't have a clue and didn't call back.

Dimension 8100
P4 1.3Ghz
WinME
128 Meg PC800
20GB HD
48x8x4 CDRW
250 MB ZIP
GFORCE 2 32M
SB Live
COMM21 Cable Modem

I have the same problem on a 4100 after reinstalling Win2000 from scratch. The Dell restore CD that shipped with my system does not have the directory you mention. The unknown PCI device is listed as device 31, function 3, unknown vendor. Does the 4100 have the same support button as the 8100? Any ideas where I can get a driver for this unknown device?