Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online

newreel · 12-17-2007, 02:21 PM

Hi,

I'm working on a Dell Dimension 4700 desktop. We re-installed Windows XP Home after wiping the HD clean. We don't have the CD that came with the PC.

We're not able to get the PC online. Device Manager says that the Ethernet Controller driver is missing.

I went to the Dell website and downloaded all the drivers in the "Networking" section for this PC. However, the Device Manager doesn't recognize any of them, and therefore will not allow an installation of the driver.

I'm not really sure what else to try. It might be worth noting that we haven't installed any drivers for the PC after the hard disk was wiped clean, and then the o/s re-installed.

Any help you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

**simpswr** · 12-17-2007, 02:27 PM

Be sure to install the CHipset drivers first . . How are you installing the drivers . . double clicking on the file you downloaded? It should be this one:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=103900

If that does not work, there may be a addin NIC

newreel · 12-17-2007, 05:05 PM

Oh man, I totally forgot that we're supposed to double click the downloaded file to install the driver, rather than downloading it somewhere on the hdd and then "searching" for it via "update driver" in the Device Manager.

Just out of curiosity, does the "double click rather than search" rule apply to all downloaded drivers or is it specific to the network drivers?

Thanks a million.

**simpswr** · 12-17-2007, 05:39 PM

Applies to all the Dell drivers . . most of the others

newreel · 12-17-2007, 06:10 PM

Hey you seem like the "go to guy" on a lot of this stuff, so...

Do you know of a good program that does both anti-virus AND anti-spyware scans?

I work on computers for people and try to get them to run better. I don't have hours and hours to spend on each system, so I'm trying to COMBINE the work of AVG and Spybot into one scan.

For me, the problem with using both of those, as well as AdAware, is that it can take 2-3 hours for the 3 separate scans, so I'm trying to limit the amount of time scanning.

newreel · 12-17-2007, 06:11 PM

Oh, and if there is a trial/freeware version, that would be of great import to me.

**simpswr** · 12-17-2007, 06:39 PM

The AVG Anti-Malware app may be what you are looking for . . Good price, but I'm not sure if it has a trial version.

12-17-2007, 02:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
newreel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 244 OS: XP	Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Hi, I'm working on a Dell Dimension 4700 desktop. We re-installed Windows XP Home after wiping the HD clean. We don't have the CD that came with the PC. We're not able to get the PC online. Device Manager says that the Ethernet Controller driver is missing. I went to the Dell website and downloaded all the drivers in the "Networking" section for this PC. However, the Device Manager doesn't recognize any of them, and therefore will not allow an installation of the driver. I'm not really sure what else to try. It might be worth noting that we haven't installed any drivers for the PC after the hard disk was wiped clean, and then the o/s re-installed. Any help you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

12-17-2007, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,216 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Be sure to install the CHipset drivers first . . How are you installing the drivers . . double clicking on the file you downloaded? It should be this one: http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=103900 If that does not work, there may be a addin NIC __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

12-17-2007, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
newreel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 244 OS: XP	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Oh man, I totally forgot that we're supposed to double click the downloaded file to install the driver, rather than downloading it somewhere on the hdd and then "searching" for it via "update driver" in the Device Manager. Just out of curiosity, does the "double click rather than search" rule apply to all downloaded drivers or is it specific to the network drivers? Thanks a million.

12-17-2007, 05:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,216 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Applies to all the Dell drivers . . most of the others __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

12-17-2007, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
newreel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 244 OS: XP	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Hey you seem like the "go to guy" on a lot of this stuff, so... Do you know of a good program that does both anti-virus AND anti-spyware scans? I work on computers for people and try to get them to run better. I don't have hours and hours to spend on each system, so I'm trying to COMBINE the work of AVG and Spybot into one scan. For me, the problem with using both of those, as well as AdAware, is that it can take 2-3 hours for the 3 separate scans, so I'm trying to limit the amount of time scanning.

12-17-2007, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
newreel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 244 OS: XP	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online Oh, and if there is a trial/freeware version, that would be of great import to me.

12-17-2007, 06:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,216 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Hard Disk Wiped, O/S Reinstalled, Can't Find Ethernet Driver Online The AVG Anti-Malware app may be what you are looking for . . Good price, but I'm not sure if it has a trial version. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?