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Offline ardentconservative

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Need Help
« on: March 15, 2010, 09:31:31 PM »
Hi, guys, first post in this topic. But I have a problem.  Here goes.

I have a fairly new Dell computer that I bought for $100 because a company was buying new computers.  After I got the computer I found it had an admin and no one knew the password. 

I got out my XP reinstal disc to reinstall XP to wipe out the admin.  After rebooting, I did checked to see if I could boot the computer and, viola, it worked.  Then I connected the puter to my DSL router and could not  access the internet.  After some checking I found that all my programs were missing. 

Then it hit me, I had forgot to back up the computer before I reinstalled XP.  I wiped out all the programs and drivers for auto, video and ethernet. 

Now my question.  Since I can't get online with the computer to reinstall the drivers and programs, does anyone here know how to fix this problem without spending a lot of money for the drivers and programs I erased.  As I said, I only paid $100 for the computer.  I am afraid I will have to make a trip to the local dump.
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2010, 10:00:12 PM »
 Dell computer should have service tag number on the case somewhere.  You should be able to go to Dell.com and get the needed drivers for that computer. 

If you have the XP disk, don't you have the other driver disks?
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Offline Thor

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2010, 11:59:50 PM »
Look for a folder on your laptop called "Dell". It MAY still be there. If you had contacted me prior to reinstalling XP, I probably could have led you in the right direction to work around that pesky admin password. Of course, someone COULD download the drivers and snail mail them to you or email them at whatever PC you're using to access the net.
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"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

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Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2010, 06:30:16 PM »
Quote from: thundley4 on March 15, 2010, 10:00:12 PM
Dell computer should have service tag number on the case somewhere.  You should be able to go to Dell.com and get the needed drivers for that computer.  

 


Dell computer should have service tag number on the case somewhere.

It does and I have already logged that service tag number with Dell. But can't figure out how to get the drives to the Dell computer as I can't access the internet with it.


You should be able to go to Dell.com and get the needed drivers for that computer.

Tried that.  I was going to download the drives on a CD and then install them on the Dell, but the Dell website doesnt' allow downloads except on the computer logged onto the site.  At least I could find no way to download the drivers to anything but the computer logged on.    
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Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2010, 06:34:37 PM »
Quote from: Thor on March 15, 2010, 11:59:50 PM
Look for a folder on your laptop called "Dell". It MAY still be there. If you had contacted me prior to reinstalling XP, I probably could have led you in the right direction to work around that pesky admin password. Of course, someone COULD download the drivers and snail mail them to you or email them at whatever PC you're using to access the net.


Of course, someone COULD download the drivers and snail mail them to you or email them at whatever PC you're using to access the net.


Well I went to Dell site and tried to download the drivers.  But, at least I could not figure out how, the site will not allow the download of drivers and programs except to the computer connected at the time to Dell's site.  If anyone knows hosw to download drives to a CD, please explain it to  me and I will download them from Dell and load them on the Dell computer.
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2010, 06:52:06 PM »
I just went to this link, and chose by model without using a service tag and was able to download different files. I'm on a Gateway PC.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=anavml
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Offline Thor

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2010, 09:53:40 PM »
sheesh, tell us the model # already and any other pertinent info.
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"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2010, 05:15:31 PM »
Ok, guys, here goes.  Sorry about asking questions about my computer without giving the pertinent information.

I have a Dell Optiplex 170L.  I finally got the drivers straightened out and the computer works as it did before I reinstalled Windows XP except for one problem.  I can't get on the internet.

When I connect the computer to my DSL modem through a router, the router shows that the computer is connected. 

Then when I click on the Internet Explorer icon on the task bar, an att dial-up box appears.  For some reason the computer is trying to connect through dial-up.  The USB ports work fine.  All the other features that wouldn't work before now work.

Why is the computer trying to connect through a dial-up instead of connecting throught DSL.

 
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2010, 05:23:04 PM »
Quote from: ardentconservative on March 22, 2010, 05:15:31 PM
Ok, guys, here goes.  Sorry about asking questions about my computer without giving the pertinent information.

I have a Dell Optiplex 170L.  I finally got the drivers straightened out and the computer works as it did before I reinstalled Windows XP except for one problem.  I can't get on the internet.

When I connect the computer to my DSL modem through a router, the router shows that the computer is connected. 

Then when I click on the Internet Explorer icon on the task bar, an att dial-up box appears.  For some reason the computer is trying to connect through dial-up.  The USB ports work fine.  All the other features that wouldn't work before now work.

Why is the computer trying to connect through a dial-up instead of connecting throught DSL.

 

Go to the control panel then take a look at your network connections icon.  You should be able to set it for DSL/Cable modem connectivity.
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Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2010, 05:35:48 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on March 22, 2010, 05:23:04 PM
Go to the control panel then take a look at your network connections icon.  You should be able to set it for DSL/Cable modem connectivity.

Rich, if I did it right, there is no way to set it for DSL/Cable modem connectivity.  I also went to control panel, system, device manager and the[and am not sure how to say this]whole category that had the ethernet connection under it with a yellow question mark beside is is gone.  Somehow when I was reinstalling the Dell drivers this disappeared.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2010, 06:02:12 PM »
OK...

Let's back up a bit.

You say the router shows the computer is connected.

How?  Just the LED on the router?

Can you ping the IP address of the router from your PC?

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"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline rich_t

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2010, 06:04:46 PM »
Quote from: ardentconservative on March 22, 2010, 05:35:48 PM
Rich, if I did it right, there is no way to set it for DSL/Cable modem connectivity.  I also went to control panel, system, device manager and the[and am not sure how to say this]whole category that had the ethernet connection under it with a yellow question mark beside is is gone.  Somehow when I was reinstalling the Dell drivers this disappeared.

Check your PM.  I just sent you my number.

I'll try to walk you through a few things to check.
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"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline Thor

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2010, 06:05:51 PM »
internet options, connections,  always connected and make sure you check the box that says "never dial up for a connection" or similar. Then look at your proxy (LAN) setting and just set it to automatically detect.
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"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2010, 07:45:37 PM »
Well, guys, I finally got the beast to work.  After almost giving up I typed "network" in the search to see what was there.  When it stopped searching I saw a wizard listed that said it was for finding problems with DSL modens.  When I ran the wizard and looked at the log I saw that during testing the wizard had connected to three Microsoft sites.  I decided that if it would connect to Microsoft it might now connect to my homepage and, viola, the homepage appeared.

Thor, thanks for all your help.  And thanks to Rich T for his help.

Rich gave me his phone number and I called to thank him and ask if he could help me with one last problem.  Here it is.  The screen, on homepage and sites, runs off the right side of the moniter.  Can anyone help me to understand how to fit the screen to the moniter.

The computer will be using a 13" CRT moniter, but the screen also runs of the side of the 17" flat screen that it is not connected to.  Thanks again for your help.
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Offline Thor

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2010, 10:17:14 PM »
Your monitor should have some adjustments on it. That will give you some adjustments to the screen. Just google up your monitor's manual. They're typically out there if you don't have one.
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"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson

Offline ardentconservative

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Re: Need Help
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2010, 08:17:33 AM »
Quote from: Thor on March 22, 2010, 10:17:14 PM
Your monitor should have some adjustments on it. That will give you some adjustments to the screen. Just google up your monitor's manual. They're typically out there if you don't have one.

Thanks Thor, problem fixed.  You guy are good.

 :cheersmate: :cheersmate: :cheersmate:
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