I did a format of my hard drive, reinstalled XP pro and now have a weird problem.  I can't get a driver for my ethernet contoller, Dell says I don't have one, but found new hardware wizard finds it but can't install it. I have no clue as manufacture, as it came with the computer.
I can't get my LAN up and running and am catching it from Wife and Kid! Any Hope? Help?

If you bought the computer new from Dell, there should be a service tag number somewhere on the computer in the form of a sticker. Copy that down and then go to http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen where you can enter the service tag number to identify your computers required drivers.
If you can't find the service tag number, that same webpage has a tool for identifying it for you, or if you know how to access the BIOS setup function, the number is usually also listed there.
In any case, once the correct service tag number is identified, you should be able to download any and all applicable drivers for your computer.

   As I understand it, there are certain drivers which XP has and the manufacturers are not allowed to distribute.  That is probably why Dell says there isn't one.  In this case, they would have drivers (which will not work in XP) for other Windows versions but not for XP.  The only solution I know of is to reinstall Windows.

I have contacted dell several times,service tag and all they have not been very good a t assistance, that is why I posted the question.

I just did a Google search "find unknown device" which returns some useful pointers. There is a MS KB article for identifying devices and finding drivers under Win98 and ME, which in the past I have successfully used. Unfortunately not for XP, at least, I cannot find one immediately.
Another idea: my own old Dell PC had an extra CD, apart from the Windows OEM install CD, with several drivers. Do you have one like that?
Another idea: use a Linux live CD (if you have one) and see how your NIC is identified.

Go to Belarc.com and download the Belarc advisor.
This is a free program that will identify the hardware and software on your computer and even checks if all the Microsoft patches have been correctly installed.
Hopefully it will identify the NIC on your system. If it doesn't, it is probably on the motherboard and you can get a driver from the m/b manufacturer.