Reformatted Computer now only 16 colors

Hello,
I helped my friend reformat her computer because it had some errors on it and she was giving it to someone else and wanted the disk wiped clean.
The formatting went great and we reloaded Windows 98 SE from the windows CD that came with the original software. The problem is that now when we restart the computer it has three device drivers that needs installing but the wizard cannot find any of them on the Dell Dimension Resource CD (or at least we don't know how to get to them). The drivers are:
PCI Multimedia Audio Device
PCI Mass Storage Controller
PCI Communication Device

We tried to get the computer to detect the modem but it didn't find anything and we do not have sound.

We would really appreciate any help we can get to resolve these issues before we give the computer to a friend.

We were able to install the PCI Ethernet Adapter LAN driver so we are now able to get the Windows Update to update the windows program.

The computer is a Dell Dimension XPS-T500 running Windows 98 Second Edition. It is an Intel Pentium III Processor with 640 RAM.

Thank you.

Jean

 

Sorry I accidently hit the Enter Key before I was finished.

I wanted to say that I have tried to troubleshoot why I have only 16 colors but can't figure it out. I am using a Gateway Vivitron 17 monitor. Could this make a difference?

Thanks again.

Jean

 

Looks like you also need to install the driver for the Display Adaptor.

PCI Multimedia Audio Device = this is the sound.
PCI Mass Storage Controller = this could be a RAID or U66/100/133/150 add in card
PCI Communication Device = this would be the modem

What you need to know is the exact path on the Dell CD to each driver, because W98 does not search subdirectories.

As to the monitor - if the display adaptor is loaded properly just go to the advanced settings > monitor and set it to plug and play, it should work fine.

 

Thank you for responding so quickly.

I think that is my problem, I don't know where the paths are to these devices. I'm sure they are on the Restore Disk but where.

When I put the restore disk in the drive, I get the error message, "This application cannot run with the current monitor depth. "

How do I get the correct Monitor Depth. I only have 16 colors and I can't make the screen area more than 640 x 480 pixels.

I did put the CD into the drive and right clicked it to explore it. I see everything in the Win98 folder along with Cab files but I'm lost as to what I should do. Would copying all the files to the hard drive help to locate the drivers?

Thanks.
Jean

 

If a Restore CD;
Did you install windows off of the CD manually?
Or did you boot the CD and let it install?
These Restore CD's will format and install windows to the original installation, as long as it has the original hardware.

You can find the drivers for it at this link. Install the chipset drivers first.
http://support.dell.com/filelib/criteria.aspx

 

Dells come with two CDs. One restores the operating system, the other has all the drivers.

Look around for the second CD...usually called "Resource "...and put it in the CD drive. Read the instructions. Once you know how to use it, it will restore all the drivers. Install the "System" drivers first.

 

Thanks for all the help.

I have managed to get the modem installed and also get the display to run but having many problems getting the sound back. I have been talking to Dell support and they cannot even seem to get it to install correctly. I'll keep working on it and get back to you with results.

Jean

 

PCI Multimedia Audio Device = this is the sound.
***
PCI Communication Device = this would be the modem

I would be willing to bet that the Audio card and the Modem are having an IRQ conflict.

If so it is not a bit unusual with an Internal Modem. They are well noted for causing this problem.

I would bet that if you took the Modem out the Audio would straignten out and fly right.

But then the Modem might be trouble.

If You do decide to try removing the modem. Remove both it and the PCI sound card and put them back into different slots. Starting with the Audio card first. And get it working then put the midem in.

BillyBob

 

Hi All,

I was able to get the audio working and the modem installed. I don't know how for sure as I tried so many things. It seems to be working well except that whenever I restart or boot up the computer, it takes at least 60 seconds before it shows the desktop. It never took that long to load before. I guess I will have to live with it unless someone has a good idea what the problem could be.

Jean