BleepingComputer.com: Reinstall WinXp SP3 on a Dell Inspiron 1100 - Now Nothing Really Works

Something or another was wrong with my mom's old laptop and she decided to reinstall Windows to fix it. Now I don't know whats wrong, I don't know a ton about computers and neither does she really. Basically the resolution is stuck on 640x480 and the color 4bit. Its hard to do anything like that, it doesn't recognize the internet either if you plug it in or the video card or the sound card or anything much. I have no clue what to do at this point and we can't afford to get it repaired professionally. Is there anything I can do? Please help if you can, this is all the information I know but tell me if you need more. Thanks.

After you reinstalled windows did you then use the "Drivers and Utilities" disks to reload all the hardware drivers?

I'm guessing no seeing as whats going on but I'll ask her. I've never reinstalled windows myself so I don't even know there was a disc like that. I hope she has one.

The Dell computers here in our office come with 2 Drivers and Utilities CDs.

She says she doesn't have a disc like that anymore, she's had the laptop for a while and probably lost it. Can I download drivers online? They have some on the Dell support site I found by typing in the service tag but I don't know what I need. I was going to put them on a disc from my good computer and install them over on the laptop.

You should install all the drivers they have for that model on the Dell website.

Inspiron 1100 drivers

Download from another system. Burn onto a cd in case you need them in the future.
Install chipset drivers first then video, sound, and network.

You dont need any of the utilities that they have listed

That should get you on your way

Thank you very much, I will try and see what happens.

Edit - Thanks again to the both of you who helped, it worked.

This post has been edited by wonkycrayons: 02 March 2010 - 08:17 PM