[SharpieBandit]

Ok so we had an old laptop that had been running XP. We've had it since XP first came out and I found a copy of XP Pro and I installed it and the screen that shows is only a quater of the entire LCD screen! Did I do something wrong?

I'm in the process of clean installing XP Pro again, but this time I am reformatting the C drive. I hope that will fix my problem. I've attached pics, taken with my iPhone, to help show you what I mean. How do I fix this?

[sziklassy]

did you install drivers for your video card?

[SharpieBandit]

Uh.... No.... I did the same thing with this same cd and didn't have to install any drivers on my teachers laptop. It booted up without a hitch.

[z3r01]

check to see if you have a alt screen function on your keyboard, some dell laptops do this sometimes , if not check your bios screen

edit: yea, i just saw your screen shot and that's definitely the dell that has a keyboard function for the video
thanx button in advanced

[SharpieBandit]

Um but I'm trying the button that says "CRT/LCD" and it's not doing crap. And yes I am hitting the Fn key.

[sziklassy]

seriously jsut try and update you video card drivers...

[SharpieBandit]

Alright. Except I can't connect to the Internet from that laptop and I have no clue as to what video card is in it....

[sziklassy]

That makes things fun....
Connect with another computer and do a search online for the laptop's model number... that should get you the info you need. You can also try doing the following google search: " display drivers" Obviously just type the model number where I wrote model number.

EDIT: another thing you can do (just as a test) is plug a monitor into your video out and see if it is doing the same thing. At least this way you will know it is your video card, and most probably drivers.

[SharpieBandit]

Alright then. I've found the video driver that I think I need. Now, I'm assuming I need to find the other drivers too? Like to be able to use my ethernet cable and/or Belkin WirelessG card.... Heh....

[sziklassy]

Probably, yes... I would just give them a try before I go searching for too long. I know I had a hell of a time getting drivers on my mom's old lappy for one of the wireless G cards, but I eventually found it.

[SharpieBandit]

Ok then. The Dell Support page is giving me hell right now. My connection keeps timing out. I think they just know that I'm on my newer HP running Vista :]

[sziklassy]

LOL... it pains me that you have an HP though

[Poseidon79]

The Dell support page is where you need to be. The laptop should have a service key sticker on it which you will input into the Dell page to bring up all the specs and driver downloads.

[SharpieBandit]

And why is that? Other than two of my friends computers, this is the best computer I've ever used, desktop or laptop.

Btw, Dell Support sucks....

[sziklassy]

Every hp i have ever owned has failed me... be that desktop, laptop, printer, camera... i finally just quit. I was required to get a tablet PC for school and the best deal Best Buy had was HP. Against my better judgement I got it... here are the problems...

After 6 weeks there is a line of stuck pixels on the left side of the screen
Sound is popping with wifi turned on
Sometimes takes up to 3.5 minutes (yes i counted) for the thing to load...

If you are having success, great for you. Maybe HP thinks I am evil and is trying to push me to my limit so I will finally commit.

EDIT: My judgement was NOT poor enough not to buya warranty. I took that POS back to best buy and they are "checking it out" now. Will be getting one of the new MacBooks sintead and looking elsewhere for a tablet.