Reinstalled XP now monitor and audio card are not working

[Frustrated DET]

My wife's computer was hopelessly virus-ridden so I copied all text files
then reinstalled XP Home Edition using the CD that came with the Dell. No
viruses now! BUT the monitor is grainy and I can't reset it even after going
into display-settings-advanced-monitor. There is no option there except for
"default monitor." I have the original CD with the monitor driver but can't
get it recognized. The computer is also very quiet - no sound card seems to
be working. Am I missing something?

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

My wife's computer was hopelessly virus-ridden so I copied all text
files then reinstalled XP Home Edition using the CD that came with
the Dell. No viruses now! BUT the monitor is grainy and I can't reset
it even after going into display-settings-advanced-monitor. There is
no option there except for "default monitor." I have the original CD
with the monitor driver but can't get it recognized. The computer is
also very quiet - no sound card seems to be working. Am I missing
something?

You have to reinstall the motherboard, sound and graphics drivers etc. These
would have been supplied on a CD that came with the machine. If you can no
longer find this CD then a visit to the Dell site is recomended, make sure
you get the correct drivers for the model of Dell that your wife has.

 

[Bob Harris]

You may need drivers for the video card (or video chips on the motherboard).
These are usually more important than the drivers for the monitor.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My wife's computer was hopelessly virus-ridden so I copied all text files
then reinstalled XP Home Edition using the CD that came with the Dell. No
viruses now! BUT the monitor is grainy and I can't reset it even after
going
into display-settings-advanced-monitor. There is no option there except
for
"default monitor." I have the original CD with the monitor driver but
can't
get it recognized. The computer is also very quiet - no sound card seems
to
be working. Am I missing something?

As suggested, you need to install the drivers. Fortunately Dell makes
identifying the drivers *very* easy.

On the back or bottom of the system there is a Service Tag number. Write
it down and take it to the Dell site, and it will display all the drivers
specific to your system, and none that don't apply to your system. This
process works very well.

HTH
-pk