I took my computer to the geeks at Best Buy, and the guy recommended that I uninstall my OS and reinstall it because it's all sorts of messed up. However, I have no idea how to do that.

Here are the CDs I have:
Backup: Dell Installed Programs
Drivers and Utilities: For Reinstalling Dell Inspiron 2500 System Software
Reinstallation CD for the OS


Can anyone help? Or does anyone know a website with instructions? I don't even know where to begin. Thanks!

BACK UP EVERYTHING FIRST, the Dell solutions guide covers XP reinstallation from page 60 on.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins2500/en/4j175bk0.pdf

there are steps to reinstall ME and 2000 here: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins2500/en/sm_en/windows.htm#1099075
(the main support page is here (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins2500/en/sm_en/index.htm))

and there is a step-by-step guide for 2000 here (http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1047424&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=&s=gen)

you could also try to install Windows XP over top of itself, what sort of problems are you actually having?

Well, what I took it there for first was because I was trying to get this wireless card to work. He tried 2 different ones and neither worked. Then I told him that the reason it hadn't been updated in awhile was because the last time it did, it messed things up so bad, my internet wouldn't work. Why, I don't know. And then he was also concerned because it sits and thinks constantly and for no reason (it's not trying to do any particular task). I think it froze up on him too, which doesn't shock me at all. It does that almost once a day.