Finding driver for an old laptop

n88tr

So I'm handing down my old alienware to a relative but I needed to wipe it, which I did and put on xp and it all works but I need

graphics driver
direct x
sound drivers
lan/wireless drivers

There is no sticker on the computer or anything so I don't know where to start to get these old drivers.
I don't know WHAT grahpics, sound, etc hardware I have in there so I don't know where to start looking

Any idea how i'd start this?

I googled myself and alienware to see what hits i could get. I thought I might find an old post I made somewhere posting my alienware specs and that would give me more to go on.

EarthQuake

If you know the model number of the laptop you should be able to find the drivers from Alienware's website. The model number should be on the laptop somewhere.

Even if you can't find drivers on alienware's site, just search "alienware XXXX drivers".

Kwramm

direct x is from MS - get the rest via Alienware/Dell's website. They have a pretty nifty system for finding the right drivers - do it via the service number (either on the PC or in the BIOS), select your system via a picture or try the website to have it autodetect the system (MSIE only).

Also if your ethernet is detected by windows, try running windows update. While it may not always give you the newest drivers, you'll get a clue what's inside the machine.

St.Sabath

download and install Everest:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml
it will scan the hardware,and tell you exactly what hardware is in there,from model make,to even what bus/irq it is using,so you can search for drivers a lot easier,we used to use it a lot in IT..

n88tr

it's funny

I go to the alienware site and this
http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Pages/driver_downloads.aspx

They don't have my model so I select the link for other models
after 6 page loads I'm back to this page again
http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Pages/driver_downloads.aspx

I can select my OS, xp, but nothing else comes up in the dropdown menus

Justin Meisse

what model video card does it use? Chances are you just have to download the drivers from the manufacturer (ATi or Nvidia) same with the sound drivers.