What display driver do I need for my Dell laptop?

Dave, I have recently had to completely restore the operating system on my sister's Dell Inspiron 2600. Since doing this the resolution has reduced back to 860, and cannto be changed. How do I know what driver to reinstall, (if this is what to do)?

Dave's Answer:

With many major manufacturers, identifying the correct device or display driver can be a relatively easy task ... if you're lucky. Dell, like many manufacturers, stymie this, though, because they make the same "badged" model with entirely different components inside, making it hard to know exactly what driver you need without knowing about the internal components of your specific system.

Today you can go to their website and get one model (say a 6000) with processors ranging from a Celeron to various types of Centrino processors, as well as at least three different types of graphical configurations.

Now, with major manufacturers such as Dell, you can usually track exactly what is in your machine through the serial number, or something similar. Dell happens to use a unique number called the "Service Tag" which you can enter into their website so they can pull up your original hardware configuration. After a bit of menu-hunting, you can find exactly what pieces, including what graphical setup, is in your sister's laptop.

By the way, having a laptop makes the process of identifying the Service Tag number especially easy because these numbers are usually on the bottom of the case itself (and will be on your Dell). Desktops can take a lot more maneuvering to find numbers that are usually in a dark corner on the back of the machine.

Specific to Dell, many models at some points in time have been shipped with driver/software CDs that are separate from the actual Restore CD. Your driver may be here: ask your sister if she remembers getting a CDROM with her unit when shipped from Dell.

Finally, you can also download the latest drivers from the Dell website, which is often the best choice. In many instances across manufacturers, their own video (or modem, or audio) drivers may work better than the actual component manufacturer's drivers.

Two links:

I hope that'll get your laptop up and running again with minimal fuss!

Thanks to Jeff Lawley and Ed Ellis for their usual excellent research assistance on this question.

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Reader Comments To Date: 24

Connie said, on September 18, 2006 1:36 PM:

Hello,
I can not burn on my comp. It says no driver. My Dell comp says I have a CD-ROM Samsung SC-148A what do I need. Please HELP. Thank you Connie.

henry said, on March 1, 2007 1:08 AM:

Hi, Dave
I have just formated my dell inspiron 5100 and ineed the vga driver pls.

Bello femi said, on June 11, 2007 2:24 PM:

Hi,
i just formated my laptop so that i lost my vga, sound drivers. please how do i re-install it on internet.
Thanks!

ray said, on October 29, 2007 3:38 PM:

Need a Hitachi Visionbook 7650 video driver,
please help!

koredian tech said, on January 4, 2008 5:28 AM:

i need display driver for dell c400

Ari said, on January 30, 2008 9:05 AM:

Hi,
i just formated my laptop so that i lost my vga, sound drivers. please how do i re-install it on internet.
Thanks!

Kevin said, on March 19, 2008 5:23 PM:

I have an Inspiron 8100 with a Super VGA monitor. Service tag is 3ZLB711. Can you help me.

Armando said, on April 13, 2008 1:13 PM:

I just formated my laptop Dell C600,so that i lost my vga drivers. please how do I re-install it on internet.
Thanks!

Rocky Acres said, on May 1, 2008 4:19 PM:

Thanks!!! You ROCK!

Rocky Acres said, on May 1, 2008 4:21 PM:

Thanks for all you helpful information...YOU ROCK!!

Akinpelu Olanrewaju said, on August 5, 2008 5:04 AM:

Hi,
i have just formated my laptop Dell D600,so that,i lost my vga, sound drivers. please how do i re-install it on internet or without using internet.
Thanks!

Mir Ahmed Ali said, on October 27, 2008 3:40 AM:

Thanks for helping all

gemabarrios said, on November 5, 2008 12:22 PM:

my computer doesnt have cd-writter!
i can used it i have everything else!
please help me!
were can i find one!

ye thant said, on March 21, 2009 9:13 AM:

i fomatted my notebook and reinstall the drivers. but i can't install teh display driver. what do i need to do?

tracy said, on April 25, 2009 11:52 AM:

hi, i have a dell latitude cxp j laptop - i like to play the game sociotown but am unable to because it freezes up alot and/or the picture is so jerky that it makes it impossible to play. im not sure if i need a driver for the display adapter or what. can someone please help. thanks, tracy

service tag:
7ENMA

nizam said, on July 9, 2009 6:49 PM:

i need display driver for dell c400 version A10... tq

mohammed said, on August 25, 2009 9:12 AM:

hi,

I would like to know that for my dell laptop vostro 1510, which video driver is to be installed.

Ralph said, on October 4, 2009 6:23 PM:

I have a Dell laptop and it shows " Windows error recovery" can you please help me and let me know what I can do to get my laptop back to working?

Kaeren R Duke said, on December 3, 2009 12:38 PM:

what do i do to get my cdrom back on my computer to play cd and put different programs on my computer,,my computer is a 2007 windows vista

alwin` said, on April 15, 2010 6:49 AM:

i need to have dell inspiron webcam drivers.please help me

Yanna said, on May 24, 2010 8:29 PM:

Windows will not boot up on my Dell inspiron 6400 it shows a message sayin: windows could not start up because the following file is missin or corrupt: \system32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of this file... I put in the windows xp restore disk and still no reponse it just stays on the boot screen with that message. Help please!!!

Mustapha said, on June 5, 2010 1:57 PM:

Pls help me. I formated a friends dell laptop and installed windows xp 2005 service pack 2 but it cannot play audio again. Pls help

Marina said, on July 25, 2010 12:36 PM:

Hi,
I formated my dell precision M6400 laptop and installed drivers from dell website, but I can't find any monitor drivers. I have a 17'' Widescreen WUXGA (1920X1200)Antiglare with RGB LED LCD Panel.
Can you help me?

shafqat said, on August 26, 2011 9:08 AM:

Hi Sir.
i have dell d610 laptop
i need video controller and pci modem driver,
plz send website link.
regards
shafqat

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

What display driver do I need for my Dell laptop?

Reader Comments To Date: 24

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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