Network driver for old thinkpad

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 07:37 AM

Installing XP on an old thinkpad for a friend but getting really stumped when it comes to the network drivers. It's an A20M and the Lenovo website says drivers for both possible NICs should come with XP

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...GR-4JSQHA.html

3COM Mini PCI Combo card
Windows XP
1. The LAN has native Windows XP support and will automatically
install the native drivers. To install an updated driver proceed
to step 2.

Intel/Xircom Mini PCI Combo card
Windows XP Included with operating system

The odd thing that device manager isn't showing an unknown network device, it's showing an unknown unknown device.

I downloaded both sets of drivers anyway but no luck. The odd thing is it lists them both as nic/modem combo cards and I poking around under the back covers I found a standalone modem card. I don't see anything other than those two cards though.

Any thoughts?

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 07:50 AM

In the Device Manager, Right click on My Computer, Select Properties, On the Hardware Tab click on Device Manager, Right Click on the network controller if listed, Then on Properties, Then on the Details Tab.
A window will open and under Device Instance ID it will list the DEV/VEN#.

Did you happen to see a label on the card?

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 08:20 AM

No details tab, General/Driver

I guess I can't even be 100% sure that it's the network card but there aren't any other unknown devices and no tab at all for network adaptors

It's under Other Devices -> Unknown Device.

The card I found was a dedicated 56k modem card, the only other access port on the back is memory.

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 11:01 AM

Does it have a RJ45 port?

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 11:29 AM

It does, network was fine before, unfortunately there was some misunderstanding about "you have all of the original disks right?" or I would have pulled the driver details on it before the reinstall. No general chipset drivers or anything from lenovo...

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 11:35 AM

Did you try this one that Lenovo is calling the Supplemental files? > http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...IGR-40062.html

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 01:15 PM

I did, it's a couple registry entries and an executable, instructions say:

RMREG.EXE

RMREG.EXE is supported on the following ThinkPad systems upgrading from Windows NT 4.0:

* ThinkPad 770E/ED

1. Confirm the ThinkPad utility does not install correctly.
2. Uninstall any previous versions of ThinkPad Utility.
3. Run RMREG.EXE.
4. Install the new ThinkPad Utility..

Did that and installed thinkpad utility as well just in case and it comes up with all but the network

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 01:19 PM

That should be running the 440 intel chip set and XP does have those drivers as standard. Did this have XP or ME on it when you started?

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 01:30 PM

It was running XP but was probably an upgrade

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 01:35 PM

Try uninstalling the unknown device in device manager and restarting to have windows rediscover it, then when prompted point it to the modem drivers you down loaded.

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 02:30 PM

Same thing. Seems like it's having problems because it isn't even recognizing it as a network adaptor.

**wrench97** · 06-21-2009, 04:29 PM

If it's a combo Modem/Network adapter Did you try the modem drivers?

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 05:54 PM

The modem is recognized and from the part number looks like a dedicated piece

http://www.thinkpad-parts.com/08K3252-ThinkPad.html

ha1fway · 06-21-2009, 06:35 PM

Maybe I'll try a 2k install or something

ha1fway · 06-22-2009, 09:08 PM

2k still doesn't recognize it as a network adapter and no luck with drivers, not enough memory for vista.

I'm really stumped with this one :(

**wrench97** · 06-23-2009, 11:52 AM

Check in the Bios to see if the network adapter can be set to enabled/disabled if so make sure it is enabled.

ha1fway · 06-23-2009, 01:30 PM

Good idea, thanks. I posted over at the lenovo forums too and they have suggested that since it has a dedicated modem card it has to be one of the A20M's that shipped without a network card. I double checked with my friend and she confirmed she was connecting an rj45 to the back of the laptop and not some odd usb setup or anything. I'll check the bios though. If that doesn't work I found an old 10meg pcmcia network card sitting in a box, that may have to do until she upgrades the ancient laptop.

All the suggestions and help are much appreciated, and at the very least confirmed that I'm not going completely insane.

**wrench97** · 06-23-2009, 02:07 PM

One other thought are you connected to a network using the RJ45 when loading windows?

06-21-2009, 07:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Network driver for old thinkpad Installing XP on an old thinkpad for a friend but getting really stumped when it comes to the network drivers. It's an A20M and the Lenovo website says drivers for both possible NICs should come with XP http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...GR-4JSQHA.html 3COM Mini PCI Combo card Windows XP 1. The LAN has native Windows XP support and will automatically install the native drivers. To install an updated driver proceed to step 2. Intel/Xircom Mini PCI Combo card Windows XP Included with operating system The odd thing that device manager isn't showing an unknown network device, it's showing an unknown unknown device. I downloaded both sets of drivers anyway but no luck. The odd thing is it lists them both as nic/modem combo cards and I poking around under the back covers I found a standalone modem card. I don't see anything other than those two cards though. Any thoughts?

06-21-2009, 07:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad In the Device Manager, Right click on My Computer, Select Properties, On the Hardware Tab click on Device Manager, Right Click on the network controller if listed, Then on Properties, Then on the Details Tab. A window will open and under Device Instance ID it will list the DEV/VEN#. Did you happen to see a label on the card? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad No details tab, General/Driver I guess I can't even be 100% sure that it's the network card but there aren't any other unknown devices and no tab at all for network adaptors It's under Other Devices -> Unknown Device. The card I found was a dedicated 56k modem card, the only other access port on the back is memory.

06-21-2009, 11:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Does it have a RJ45 port? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 11:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad It does, network was fine before, unfortunately there was some misunderstanding about "you have all of the original disks right?" or I would have pulled the driver details on it before the reinstall. No general chipset drivers or anything from lenovo...

06-21-2009, 11:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Did you try this one that Lenovo is calling the Supplemental files? > http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...IGR-40062.html __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 01:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad I did, it's a couple registry entries and an executable, instructions say: RMREG.EXE RMREG.EXE is supported on the following ThinkPad systems upgrading from Windows NT 4.0: * ThinkPad 770E/ED 1. Confirm the ThinkPad utility does not install correctly. 2. Uninstall any previous versions of ThinkPad Utility. 3. Run RMREG.EXE. 4. Install the new ThinkPad Utility.. Did that and installed thinkpad utility as well just in case and it comes up with all but the network

06-21-2009, 01:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad That should be running the 440 intel chip set and XP does have those drivers as standard. Did this have XP or ME on it when you started? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 01:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad It was running XP but was probably an upgrade

06-21-2009, 01:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Try uninstalling the unknown device in device manager and restarting to have windows rediscover it, then when prompted point it to the modem drivers you down loaded. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 02:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Same thing. Seems like it's having problems because it isn't even recognizing it as a network adaptor.

06-21-2009, 04:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad If it's a combo Modem/Network adapter Did you try the modem drivers? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-21-2009, 05:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad The modem is recognized and from the part number looks like a dedicated piece http://www.thinkpad-parts.com/08K3252-ThinkPad.html

06-21-2009, 06:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Maybe I'll try a 2k install or something

06-22-2009, 09:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad 2k still doesn't recognize it as a network adapter and no luck with drivers, not enough memory for vista. I'm really stumped with this one :(

06-23-2009, 11:52 AM	#16 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Check in the Bios to see if the network adapter can be set to enabled/disabled if so make sure it is enabled. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-23-2009, 01:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
ha1fway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad Good idea, thanks. I posted over at the lenovo forums too and they have suggested that since it has a dedicated modem card it has to be one of the A20M's that shipped without a network card. I double checked with my friend and she confirmed she was connecting an rj45 to the back of the laptop and not some odd usb setup or anything. I'll check the bios though. If that doesn't work I found an old 10meg pcmcia network card sitting in a box, that may have to do until she upgrades the ancient laptop. All the suggestions and help are much appreciated, and at the very least confirmed that I'm not going completely insane.

06-23-2009, 02:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,392 OS: Win7	Re: Network driver for old thinkpad One other thought are you connected to a network using the RJ45 when loading windows? __________________ Power Supply and Selection