Ok, i dont know much about computer, but i found my uncles laptop after he passed away. it says its an acer travelmate 290e series with windows XP home edition. when i plus it in a bunch of lights blink, but nothing shows up on the screen at all. i cant even tell what half of the lights are because i dont recognize the pictures that go along with them. any information would be helpful. thank you.

You can download the original drivers from Acer directly.
Driver Acer TravelMate 4100 Windows XP Acer Driver Support Centre

In order to remove unwanted drivers:

1. Click on Start and then Run.
2. Type the following command in the Open: text box, and then hit the Enter key or click on the OK button. devmgmt.msc Device Manager should display right away.
   
3. Use Device Manager to update device drivers, view the system resources that Windows XP has assigned to your hardware devices, etc.

• Find and double-click the category of device whose driver you wish to uninstall (for example, the graphics card would be listed under Display Adapters).
• Right-click the device, and click Uninstall.Windows will prompt you to confirm the device's removal.
• Click OK to remove the driver.After the uninstallation is complete, reboot your computer as soon as possible.
• Install the appropriate driver and again reboot.

Caution: After rebooting while uninstalled a device, windows might try to install again the same driver, because it found new hardware. Press Cancel and install your new driver.

no reason why it shouldn't
run this adviser there is also one for window 8 if you look for it
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor

It seems you have not install the driver for the WLAN, I'll suggest you to download the proper driver for your Network connection from the official Accer website and install it. I hope after installing it'll work for you back.

No problem it's an easy way to reset your pass.
You need a Hirens boot cd. With this cd you can reset your password. if you can't do this send the computer to a specialist.
Try it it's simply

go to acer support.com they all ur downloads for ur particular computer

Go to Control Panel,Click User account,Click the Username and click Change Password.

That's it.

Go to the Acer WEB site to download the LAN drivers you need, make sure it is Windows XP version for your particular MODEL laptop.

Use this link :-
http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm

After you install the drivers and if the sound problems still occur then list the error messages etc. then will advise further.

If you running XP here you go: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=922&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!

Acer Travelmate 3210 is the Series
and in that series your Laptop model is 3212NWXMI

like Acer Aspire 5300 is series and 5320 is the model number like that.

there was no need to update Bios
now in case your laptop is turning on
Please try to start in the Safe mode
and there you shut down your laptop properly and try Restarting in normal mode.
Secondly, If you are well versed with the technology then please
try to reinstall the Windows Xp

and BIOS update is something you should be very careful of.
do not try unless it is MOST required

You will need to download the sound drivers from Acer's support site.