My graphics card (WindowsXP ATI xpress 200 series intergrated) says I need to reinstall the driver. I tried to reinstall it off the ATI website, compaq help, compaq application recovery, and I havent got any system restore points before it went weird

Recommend going to the Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup
Select C: drive and click OK
Insure all the boxes have a check mark, click OK

Next, look to see if your graphics card is in the Device Manager.
If it is, does it indicate a problem with the device?
If it does, delete the device and reboot.

Now, try to download your drivers again.

Good Luck...

There's a "video controller" there should I delete that?

If Device Manager indicates a problem with the device, then deleting it is one way to try to fixing it. Rebooting just forces Windows to find and reinstall default drivers.

After rebooting look in the Device Manager to see if the device is still listed as having a problem.

Its not worked for about a week now. When it tries to reinstall the drivers for the graphics card it just says "installation could not be completed. Access is denied"

One other try... when in Control Panel, open the problem device... should be an option in there to 'configure device manually'.... just letting you know it should be there... ignore it.

Choose to 'update driver'.... doesn't matter that it tells you 'no driver loaded'... click the 'update driver'... when that window comes up, don't let it look for 'recommended'.... tell it to look in C:/Windows/System the files are most likely already there... it just does not know where to find them. Even the newer versions have these basics...

Re-boot, and see if it fixed it.. if not, run the prework from Gandalfs' sig.... it really does make a difference.

Sorry Gandalf if I stepped out line.

*Bowing out*