First time Formatting. Small issues

I'm formatting a Dell 8600 for the first time ever. Running with WinXP home I was hoping for a clean sweep that would restore everything back to factory. I saved everything I needed on an Ipod.

So i got the 98 Boot disk and began the process.
The formatting took the computer over two hours (I'm not sure if that is normal)

When the start up began it was normal. Installing XP forms and settings. Creating new users. Everything seems fine. but these small issues were not ever a problem before

Firstly and most importantly my control panel tells me there is 'no sound device' when clicking sound. The device manager - sound, video and game controls have no question marks. There are however question marks for the 'Other devices' column. such as camera, dell photo printer 720, ect. I use a Creative Studios card, model SB0410.
So I have no sound and hear the annoying computer beeps coming from my tower whenever someone, say logs in on MSN messenger.

My next issue is that my main hard drive (C) is now amazingly named F:drive. The f:drive used to be an external USB pen i used. Now the pen is called C:drive when plugged in.

Aside from all that nothing seems to be a problem. There is some minor shakyness that was not there before (like when scrolling in a browser or folder) but i will fight that battle another day.
Thanks to anyone with any time to assist.

 

The CDs that came with the Dells I have contain a full installation of XP. When you boot with the CD, it offers several choices, one of which is to reformat and reinstall.

Once Windows has been reinstalled, look through your Dell CDs for one labeled "Resource" or "Drivers and Utilities" or something similar. With Windows running, insert that CD. It should automatically start but if not, open My Computer and double click the CD drive.

Read the instructions and install the "System Drivers" first, making sure you have told it which model Dell you have and which operating system. These CDs are shipped with a number of different models and contain most of the drivers for all of them which is why you have to make sure it knows the model it's being used on.

Once you've installed all the drivers that CD has for your model, look through the rest of the CDs that came with the computer. My newest Dell has separate installation CDs for the monitor (LCD) and the sound card. If you find any, run them one at a time to get the rest of the drivers installed.

Finally, see if you have any "Application" CDs that came with the computer. Install the ones you want back on the computer.

 

Pete - Since I really, really dislike doing hardware work, I let somebody else do the assembly. I've decided that all hardware must be anointed with geek blood in order to work correctly and I got tired of being that geek.

Clint - let us know how it goes.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone.
I unplugged my usb and formatted again. My main drive is now C.
I also installed all the software i needed from my dell disks. So audio is working fine. I stumbled upon the Dell De-Crapifier (http://www.yorkspace.com/dell-de-crapifier/) and worked that in aswell.

My only remaining problem is that I still get that shakey notion when i scroll or say click and drag. It is not as smooth. Like when I use the wheel on my mouse to scroll down a page. or in a folder.
Anyone have any input in that?
Any other advice for a newly formatted computer would be great (ie. defrag, ect.)