I'm trying to keep my stepson's old PC limping along. It's an old Dell Dimension 1100 with 2 gb memory and onboard video that came with XP pre-installed. Since XP support is going away and I can't afford to set up a new machine for him just yet, I installed an old OEM Vista that I had from another old defunct machine. Runs Vista okay (no aero) but there is no Vista driver for the 826865G Graphics Controller from Dell or anywhere else that I can find. Does anyone know a workaround or source for a driver?

Go here for info regarding Vista support for the on-board video controller: I saw that when I was searching around for a solution, but unfortunately the page only refers me back to the manufacturer (Dell). No help there. Going from their link to the Intel 82865G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub shows no Vista driver either. Tried installing the XP driver, but errors out saying the OS is not supported.

Get drivers and downloads for your Dell Dimension 1100/B110. Download and install the latest drivers, firmware and software.

Is there a way to install the XP driver under Vista compatibility mode?what are the limitations of doing that? You can't use the XP drivers on Vista. Carrier Wireless Thermostat Manual on this page. There are some Windows 7 drivers available. Have you tried those? Given the age of the system, I would revert back to XP and not worry about MS eventually dropping support for the OS. In the end, it will have no real impact to you (or your son).

Hadn't though to try Win7 drivers. Worth a shot. I know Dell's support site doesn't have them for the old systems, though. Know a source? Other than the support (as in patches), my main interest in Vista is the improved parental controls and the UAC (or at least better control over account types).

This last reinstall was necessitated by malware from 'someone' (ahem) thinking that a 'video download manager' he saw on one of his Minecraft sites was a *good* idea. A little extra layer of security would be helpful. If there were any reasonably managed parental control systems under Linux, I'd just install that and be done with it. It would likely run better on his hardware than XP too.

I was mistaken. It seems that there are no Intel drivers for Win 7 available either. So, you are stuck with using XP (what I recommend) or using the generic Windows Vista drivers provided by Windows Update. Note: If Intel doesn't provide generic drivers for the video chipset for Vista/7), then none of the OEMs will have either.

You could also install a PCI based video card in the system and not use the on-board video. One like this would do the trick: This would VASTLY outperform the on-board video adapter.

I was mistaken. It seems that there are no Intel drivers for Win 7 available either.

Kentucky Derby Program Number. So, you are stuck with using XP (what I recommend) or using the generic Windows Vista drivers provided by Windows Update. Note: If Intel doesn't provide generic drivers for the video chipset for Vista/7), then none of the OEMs will have either. You could also install a PCI based video card in the system and not use the on-board video.

One like this would do the trick: This would VASTLY outperform the on-board video adapter. May go that route if all else fails. Not too keen to invest more in the system, but that might keep it going for a bit longer at least.