> Date:    Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:43:53 -0500
> From:    [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Compaq Restore -- OEM
>
> I checked the dell site to see how new their updates were, then
> checked the manufacturer's site.  In most cases the manufacturer
> had newer drivers.
>
>
> Venkat Viswanathan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >[log in to unmask] post (clipped):--
> >
> ><<< I installed drivers from the manufacturers, not dell drivers.>>>
> >
> >are not these supposed to be the same EXCEPT for
> "older/newer/updated" versions?
> >
> >possibly the "manufacturers" is assumed to be the latest?
> >
> >good day---Venkat

On the subject of Dells drivers supplied with the restore disc, I have found
that while the manufacturer of their add-in cards (Creative, ATI and others)
have more recent drivers, theirs is not always the right ones to use. Dells
components are "modified" and somewhat proprietary. While they may have been
manufactured by a name brand company, often they are specifically engineered
according to specific requirements and a lot of functions are either missing
or have been disabled. My 8400 uses an Intel motherboard with a 925X
chipset. The board does not support a lot of the functions that the retail
version of the board does. The same goes for the ATI X300 video card that my
PC uses. It may have been manufactured (or at least powered by) ATI, but it
does not function correctly with the drivers from the ATI site. Dell
components need to use the drivers provided by Dell, and you can get updated
drivers for the components directly from the Dell website. The same is true
for a lot of parts that are "powered by" a particular manufacturer, as the
drivers are specifically tuned for that particular component. They are
usually missing a feature or two, or are "software crippled". Cost is a
primary factor. I suspect that a lot of the problems you are experiencing is
due to the fact that there is a driver conflict with the hardware. You may
be able to restore a lot more functionality with the PC if you just stick
with the drivers supplied with the OEM restore disc and look for updated
versions (if there are any) from the Dell site. Just my 2 cents.

Chris Ryan
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