ok so i just reformatted my computer. now i dont think my graphics and sound drivers are installed. my resolution is at the smallest and 16 colors, and my speakers are in but no sound is coming out. i think it has something to do with installing drivers but i dont know which ones to install. is that the problem?
any help is appreciated

Same thing happend to me, put in the cd that has to do with the prblem, and re download the driver and it should work. That took me forever to figure out.

the cd for my sounds and graphics? you mean my Windows XP cd? because i dont have a cd for sound and cd for graphics if thats what you meant blank:

Well, with my dell, I got like 7 cd's, only 2-3 you actually need for reformating and such, if you don't have a driver's disk or a disk besides your xp disk, I don't know.

i see what you mean i forgot i do have more disks. ill look for them. thanks

Additional Comment:
i have a dell too and i used the Dell Dimension ResourceCD and i found the drivers that were specified for my model. after i extracted them, it opened an internet browser that had an Install Now button. then it downloaded a setup file. when i tried to run it, it said "could not install iKernel.exe" or something like that

heres what it said:
for the graphics driver "The InstallShield Engine (iKernel.exe) could not be installed The systen cannot find the file specified"

for the sound driver "error installing iKernel.exe: (0x10000) "

If you have to you can get the drivers online from the manufacturers website. There should be a section on drivers.

Post if you need additional help.

NEVERMIND it was all my mistake. i think i got it to run the setup. ill let you know if it works so you can all get on with your day

IT WORKS OMGZZ IT WORKS
wow everything looks hella tiny after being in safe mode for about 2 months

thanks for all the help everyone

Np Shao, it took me a week and about 8 hours of talking to dell support to figure that out.

good job. believe me.. when you build your own computer.. it is much more complicated, but you basically know how to do it b/c you've build it.
anyhows, ya for the dell it is all in the resource cd. there is also an order to which you have to install the drivers. motherboard first, then graphics, then sound, then anything else. make sure you download sp2 asap too.

Download SP2 and all the other critical windows updates. I also suggest you turn off the Windows firewall, stop at least Windows Messenger and NetMeeting in services, install some AV and AntiSpyware stuff...

Good to see you got her back up and running

i heard that sp2 might wreck your computer or something. do you have it now, if you do does it run alright? and if i do install a service pack do i have to reinstall all my programs and drivers

when i reformatt i just go to the driver then click upgrade or w/e and then it searches comp then it checks online.

i heard that sp2 might wreck your computer or something. do you have it now, if you do does it run alright? and if i do install a service pack do i have to reinstall all my programs and driversWorks fine for me, and no you don't have to re install all of your drivers and such again.

Often if you just run windows update it will find most of your required drivers.