Problem with dell dimension 8400

I posted this in another topic thing too... but this is for "extra help".

I know..it's a desktop, but maybe someone can help anyway. A while back I reformatted and every since i've had this probl;em when booting up with my PCI thing. I have to press F1 before windows will start but once it does, everything is fine. In device manager I get a ? mark by multimedia audio controller.I try to reinstall drivers for it, but the computer can't find the drivers. Details say it's PCI Bus 0, Device 30, function 2. That means nothing ot me, but maybe it will to one of you guys. I can't find the right driver on Dell.com cause there are too many options.

Under details I get this.

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01771028&REV_03\3&172E68DD&0&F2


Any information is appreciated. Thanks.

Oh, It's a Dimension 8400 with windows xp, 512 ddr2 ram, 160 harddrive, p4 @ 3.4 Ghz.

 

Have you installed your Audio driver? You probably need the integrated one.

Also, did you install Desktop System Software (under System & Configuration Utilities).

 

I did install my audio driver before. I don't know what the desktop system software is or where system/configureation utilities is. please explain

 

I shall continue to await.

 

LOL sorry. I didn't see you post your previous post.

If you goto support.dell.com it will take you to the drivers & downloads page. Here is the link to drivers page for your desktop:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...s=gen&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&os=WW1&osl=EN#

If you are not sure about what drivers you need to install here is the list of mandatory drivers. You should download at least 1 driver from each of the following categories
*Audio
*Communications
*Display Devices - only if your monitor is listed.
*FlashBIOS
*Network
*System & Configuration Utilities --> desktop system software is the only mandatory one.
*Video Drivers

The others might apply to you, but without knowing what hardware you have, I tell you. I can give you some hints about those:
*Applications - most of those are updates for your current software.
*Diagnostic Utilty- software that runs a series of tests on your laptop to determine if anything is wrong. Helpful when trying to troubleshoot hardware problems
*Printer - only if you have one of the printers that is listed
*Removable Storage - most likely you need one from this category. This is for your cd/dvd drive as well as any USB memory keys that you bought from dell.
*Serial ATA - looks like it applies to Windows 2000, but not 100% sure

If nothing else, I would at least update all of your mandatory drivers. It could be that the audio driver problem was fixed in a recent update, and if you are getting the drivers off of your disc, they'll be outdated.

The chipset as well as Desktop System Software should fix your PCI device. You'll need to reboot after that. I'll look into the multimedia Audio controller. Does it say something before multimedia like Modem?

 

Wow I'm so confused. I wish I was more computer savvy.. Either way I'm at work now adn later on tonight I'll try to fix it with your advice. Thanks alot. Hopefully I'll get it fixed.

 

Basically, all i did was split the driver categories into 2 categories. The top section is mandatory, the bottom section is optional.

Your PCI problem should be fixed once you update your chipset driver. The audio driver, I wonder if it is not the modem driver (located in the Communications category). We had another user just recently say that they were missing the Modem Multimedia Audio Driver.

 

Hey like, my dell is being weird again. I can't sign on the msn messenger. When I troubleshoot it, it says it's because th ere's a DNS and Key Ports problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks