win xp re-installation problem[moved from xp]

Mike F · 02-11-2008, 08:06 AM

I have a Dell Dimension 8250 desktop, 3 yrs old, pent-4 2.4 gh, 512 M ram. The machine came with win xp home edition service pack 1 installed from Dell. I have a broadband cable connection, with the desktop connected by ethernet to a linksys wireless g router.

Over time, I have installed service pack 2. Also over time, the machine lost it's ability to do a re-start (it would shut itself off, but not turn back on again). And it had some other software issues, such as a 'disk not available' pop-up that wouldn't go away after I had uninstalled a pc game improperly. And other issues. So I decided start fresh and re-install xp with the re-installation disk that came with the machine. I have a external usb hard drive, and I backed up data I didn't want to lose to it.

So I did that yesterday - Feb 10 - and the re-install seemed to go ok. So now I have xp home service pack 1 back again. But, the computer does not recognize by internet connection. I went thru the connection wizard, and told it I have an always-on broadband connection, but it doesn't seem to recognize it. Control panel shows the network adapter, but when I plug the ethernet wire in, nothing happens. Help please!

XtabbedoutX · 02-11-2008, 08:23 AM

You need to install the drivers for the NIC.

Right click MY COMPUTER>MANAGE>DEVICE MANAGER

If there are any yellow exclamation points you need to install the driver for this device.

On a dell you can visit HERE and enter the service tag on the back on the computer to retrieve the drivers needed. Transfer the NIC driver over to the computer via a thumb drive or CD.

Mike F · 02-11-2008, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the info. I will try it tonight.

OutlawTechie · 02-11-2008, 08:48 AM

Also, it could be your ethernet cable. I have had ethernet cables die on me loads of times before. If the above post doesn't help try another cable (usually yellow or blue), or try another machine with your broadband modem (just in case the modem is at fault).

Mike F · 02-15-2008, 07:11 AM

When I look in Device Manager at the Network adapters, it shows a 1394 adapter, with a Microsoft driver dated in 2001. I'm not sure if this is what is supposed to display. I went to the dell support site, entered the service tag number of my computer, and looked at the network tab of drivers for the machine. I assumed the Broadcom driver for NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet was the drive to download, so I downloaded it to a usb thumb drive on another machine, copied the R56237.exe file to the hard disk of the machine I'm working on, and double-clicked the file. It appeared to extract the files ok, and when I double-clicked on the setup.exe file, it appeared to install the driver, but there were several windows that appeared and disappeared quickly, and there was no confirmation that it was installed. I rebooted the machine, and checked the Device Manager again, and saw that the Microsoft driver from 2001 was still the driver for the 1394 adapter, so I appears that I didn't get the driver updated correctly. I plugged the ethernet cable in to the machine again, and it still does not detect a network connection. What have I done wrong?

**simpswr** · 02-15-2008, 07:39 AM

The 1394 device is onboard Firewire connection . . you can ignore that. Look in Device Manager under Network Adaptors . . also look to see if any devices have a yellow ! in front or are marked as unknown.

This may be your network card driver . .http://support.dell.com/support/down...5&fileid=67420

02-11-2008, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mike F Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp sp 1	win xp re-installation problem[moved from xp] I have a Dell Dimension 8250 desktop, 3 yrs old, pent-4 2.4 gh, 512 M ram. The machine came with win xp home edition service pack 1 installed from Dell. I have a broadband cable connection, with the desktop connected by ethernet to a linksys wireless g router. Over time, I have installed service pack 2. Also over time, the machine lost it's ability to do a re-start (it would shut itself off, but not turn back on again). And it had some other software issues, such as a 'disk not available' pop-up that wouldn't go away after I had uninstalled a pc game improperly. And other issues. So I decided start fresh and re-install xp with the re-installation disk that came with the machine. I have a external usb hard drive, and I backed up data I didn't want to lose to it. So I did that yesterday - Feb 10 - and the re-install seemed to go ok. So now I have xp home service pack 1 back again. But, the computer does not recognize by internet connection. I went thru the connection wizard, and told it I have an always-on broadband connection, but it doesn't seem to recognize it. Control panel shows the network adapter, but when I plug the ethernet wire in, nothing happens. Help please!

02-11-2008, 08:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
XtabbedoutX Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 888 OS: Server 2K3 R2, Server 2K, XP PRO, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5, Ubuntu Linux 7.10, iPhone My System	Re: win xp re-installation problem You need to install the drivers for the NIC. Right click MY COMPUTER>MANAGE>DEVICE MANAGER If there are any yellow exclamation points you need to install the driver for this device. On a dell you can visit HERE and enter the service tag on the back on the computer to retrieve the drivers needed. Transfer the NIC driver over to the computer via a thumb drive or CD. __________________ HJT - 5 steps against malware. Post your HijackThis log there and not here ! Posting system specs

02-11-2008, 08:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mike F Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp sp 1	Re: win xp re-installation problem Thanks for the info. I will try it tonight.

02-11-2008, 08:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
OutlawTechie Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 84 OS: XP	Re: win xp re-installation problem Also, it could be your ethernet cable. I have had ethernet cables die on me loads of times before. If the above post doesn't help try another cable (usually yellow or blue), or try another machine with your broadband modem (just in case the modem is at fault).

02-15-2008, 07:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mike F Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp sp 1	Re: win xp re-installation problem When I look in Device Manager at the Network adapters, it shows a 1394 adapter, with a Microsoft driver dated in 2001. I'm not sure if this is what is supposed to display. I went to the dell support site, entered the service tag number of my computer, and looked at the network tab of drivers for the machine. I assumed the Broadcom driver for NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet was the drive to download, so I downloaded it to a usb thumb drive on another machine, copied the R56237.exe file to the hard disk of the machine I'm working on, and double-clicked the file. It appeared to extract the files ok, and when I double-clicked on the setup.exe file, it appeared to install the driver, but there were several windows that appeared and disappeared quickly, and there was no confirmation that it was installed. I rebooted the machine, and checked the Device Manager again, and saw that the Microsoft driver from 2001 was still the driver for the 1394 adapter, so I appears that I didn't get the driver updated correctly. I plugged the ethernet cable in to the machine again, and it still does not detect a network connection. What have I done wrong?

02-15-2008, 07:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
simpswr Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,924 OS: XP, Vista	Re: win xp re-installation problem The 1394 device is onboard Firewire connection . . you can ignore that. Look in Device Manager under Network Adaptors . . also look to see if any devices have a yellow ! in front or are marked as unknown. This may be your network card driver . .http://support.dell.com/support/down...5&fileid=67420 __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BIOS \| BenchTest \| Spyware Cleaning \| How to Post a Screen shot \| PC running slow Last edited by simpswr : 02-15-2008 at 07:42 AM.