Help needed for my desktop

Jonesy77 · 11-07-2009, 06:22 PM

I just formatted my hard drive since it was ravaged with years of malware, trojans, viruses, etc... I loaded up the original Windows XP (service pack 1), but now it cannot read my ethernet connection. Without the internet, I am helpless to update the remainder of my drivers. Any ideas about why windows will not acknowledge my ethernet connection? I open network places, and there's nothing there. I'm hoping this is something obvious.

Saint77 · 11-07-2009, 08:22 PM

Did you install the Ethernet card drivers yet....?

If not, go to the PC makers website find your model, download the driver and install. You can transfer it via a flashdrive. If its a custom built, go to the motherboard makers website and do the same.

Jonesy77 · 11-08-2009, 09:16 AM

Thanks. That looks like it'll get me started.

As a corollary question, I upgraded my video card about 2 years ago, and I can't recall if I got an ATI or NVIDIA. That was 2 years and 2 moves ago, so finding my documentation will be a task. Is there an easy way to determine what I have in there without cracking it open or putting on a full documentation search?

RazorOye · 11-08-2009, 09:32 AM

or get your motherboard's resource disc out and install the card drivers from that

as for your GPU question - I use GPU-Z but you'd have to download it

If you just want to know what it is - you could always use the Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager

that should tell you, too

RazorOye · 11-08-2009, 09:34 AM

additionally - I always find it helpful to keep a hardcopy of the report I run from Belarc Advisor - I keep a hardcopy of all 3 computer profiles here with my programs discs and such. Really useful program and information.

Jonesy77 · 11-08-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazorOye

or get your motherboard's resource disc out and install the card drivers from that

as for your GPU question - I use GPU-Z but you'd have to download it

If you just want to know what it is - you could always use the Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager

that should tell you, too

Yeah, for some reason Device Manager isn't giving me a whole lot of info. Hopefully I'll be able to get these drivers loaded and at least have internet on that computer.

Saint77 · 11-08-2009, 10:24 AM

Installin the drivers off the CD is fine, just bare in mind that are almost always older versions. What I usually do is just install the ethernet driver, then either go to the makers website and get the latest, or do Windows update, which also sometimes has all the latestest approved drivers.

Sorry bud, easiest way is to open the side panel. You may not even have to take it out, there should be a label on the backside(top) of the card that says what iti is. It may also be printed in the circuit board itself.

buzd · 11-08-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy77

Yeah, for some reason Device Manager isn't giving me a whole lot of info. Hopefully I'll be able to get these drivers loaded and at least have internet on that computer.

It won't usually tell you in Device Manager unless it recognizes (in which case it would have the drivers).

Sometimes generic network drivers from Windows will work sufficiently to get online to download the "real" drivers.

Jonesy77 · 11-08-2009, 11:39 AM

Yeah, so far nothing is working to get my internet to communicate with my modem. I guess I need to call Verizon and see if there is anything I need to switch on. The weird thing is before, I just plugged the DSL line in, and it worked without me doing anything. I can't figure out why it won't do the same thing now.

I hate computers.

thanks for all the input, guys.

buzd · 11-08-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy77

Yeah, so far nothing is working to get my internet to communicate with my modem. I guess I need to call Verizon and see if there is anything I need to switch on. The weird thing is before, I just plugged the DSL line in, and it worked without me doing anything. I can't figure out why it won't do the same thing now.

I hate computers.

thanks for all the input, guys.

That is a different issue than a driver issue..

AndyG · 11-08-2009, 01:09 PM

A few of the usual questions:

What exactly are you seeing in device manager? Anything representing an Ethernet card, or nothing at all?

Do you have an install CD, driver CD(s) or some such for the hardware, as opposed to the windows disk, and if so have you gone through each of them installing the default software, drivers etc?

Is the ethernet socket on a separate plug-in card in an expansion slot, or is it on the Motherboard? If the former you'll need to find the drivers for the particular card - maybe on a CD lying around somewhere, if not download them from the web using another machine. You can tell by where it's located on the back of the box - you shouldn't *need* to take the side cover off (though it's probably worth doing that just to make sure everything's hunky-dory.

When you say "before, I just plugged the DSL line in, and it worked without me doing anything" when exactly was 'before'? Before you re-installed windows, or after but before something else changed? It's possible you need to set up some stuff for your ISP - account details, userID, etc before you can connect.

I don't think this is the problem at this point, but you might also need to get your network protocols set up on your machine (TCP/IP, Microsoft networks, whatever - I can't remember the details now and I'm on Linux so I can't check).

SaintSpyNDallas · 11-09-2009, 12:56 PM

With DSL, you may have to call the company and have them resend the signal. Happened to me before.

Saint77 · 11-09-2009, 04:55 PM

Power cycle the modem and/or router(if you have one) otherwise, you may indeed have to call up your ISP.

Jonesy77 · Today, 10:55 AM

this is frustrating. I actually went ahead and located my System recovery disk that came with the computer and ran it. It still does not seem to be picking up my internet card.

buzd · Today, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy77

this is frustrating. I actually went ahead and located my System recovery disk that came with the computer and ran it. It still does not seem to be picking up my internet card.

What do you mean by "internet card" ?