I am working on a Dell Dimension 4500 which I reinstalled the OS to. I deleted the old partition and created a new one after discovering that it was showing 2 Windows XP Home Editions to choose from, 1 that worked (sorta)and 1 that didn't. So I got rid of both and started fresh. Anyhow, after successfully installing a fresh OS I downloaded 50 Critical Updates off of Microsoft's site. After doing so, I lost the drivers the USB Host Controller (2.0) in the rear, not the front, of the tower, the Multimedia Audio Controller, and the SM Bus Controller. I finally got a hold of the Dell Drivers and Utilities cd for this machine and was able to successfully install the drivers ONLY for the USB 2.0. The SM Bus Controller drivers I downloaded/installed from Dell's website (don't ask). But the Multimedia Audio Controller I have not been able to install from Dell's site, the Drivers and Utilities ResourceCD, nor Intel's site. Intel appears to have the correct drivers "displayed" on their site, but they're just not available to download. Incidentally, I ran the ResourceCD at bootup instead of booting from hard drive and it brought up a dos diagnostic utility which I ran a single test on that particular piece of troublesome hardware, and guess what, it TEMPORARILY installed the drivers enough for me to hear sound out of my headset, first a left channel test, then right, then stereo. BUT after exiting and running Windows THE DRIVERS STILL AREN'T LOADED!! What am I missing here? Please help. I want this machine outta here today... P.S. I have ran the Found New Hardware Wizard about 50 times in every way imaginable, "Install software automatically", " "Install from a list or specific location", have it look on the driver cd root directory, various sub-directories that look "driver intriguing" :-D, the local C:\Windows\Inf or variations of that, etc. All to no avail. Just in case you were wondering... Brain is cooked!

Windows - definetely got the best compatibility out there:) Can you call up Dell and ask them? Generally when you get a Dell comp, it comes with loads of stuff on it. They might be able to tell you how to restore some of it.

Ah the joys of upgrading Dells...I'd rather eat nails... Sorry I don't have anything more to add except don't upgrade pre-builts unless you really love these challenges =) J. j e r u v y a t y a h o o d o t c o m

Okay, guess what? Got it working. Called Dell, the guy was nice and helpful (I know, shocker) even though he was in India. They are finally starting to listen to us :-) He still couldn't figure out the problem though after about an hour on the phone. I deleted the partition again (3rd time y'all) and installed XP Home Edition again, 3 drivers came up missing (Multimedia Audio controller, sm bus controller and usb controller, again) I popped in the diagnostic cd from dell and after some trials and tribulation and about 10 mins it worked! Thanks guys for your input, I just had to be a lil more patient. To the tune of 1 week and a half. I will never fix a Dell pc again. This I vow. :-P