[SOLVED]Cannot connect to the internet...

[jaworski87]

I'm posting this from a different computer, but I am unable to connect to the internet using my Dell laptop (about three years old). It was always able to connect, but then randomly stopped. I cannot connect to my wireless at school or at home. It also will not connect when I plug it in to an ethernet cable. I reinstalled Windows XP thinking that would solve the problem, but I still cannot connect. I've gone into the Control Panel a few times to see if I could fix it, but no luck. Does anybody know what the problem could be? Thanks.

[BCCOMP]

Go to the device manager and see if there are any errors (Yellow or Red exclamation points). You may need to reinstall the drivers. Please list the specs on your laptop (make,model,and service tag #)
Thanks

[jaworski87]

I'll list all the specs for you later when I get the computer. For now, how do I get to the device manager? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I've been using a Mac as my primary computer for a few years now so a lot of the details slip my mind. Thanks for the help.

[BCCOMP]

There are no stupid questions. Now I will know who to go to for any MAC questions. To get to the device manager Right click My Computer>Properties>Hardware Tab>Device manager. List anything that has yellow or red exclamation points.
Thanks

[jaworski87]

Ahh...there seem to be some problems in the Device Manager.

The following appear next to yellow question marks/exclamation points:

Other Devices:
-Ethernet Controller
-Multimedia Audio Controller
-Network Controller
-PCI Modem
-Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller
-Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

Let me know what do to from here. Thanks.

[BCCOMP]

Ya, These are inoperative due to no drivers. If you can give the specs (make, model, service tag) of your laptop i'll give you a link. Or you can go to Dell Support with this info and you can get most of the drivers directly. If you are not sure what you need please Post. I will patch a link to assist you and walk you through if your not sure.
Thanks,
Bill

[jaworski87]

It's a Dell Inspiron 8600, Service Tag: 384X051

[BCCOMP]

Here is the link:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid=
I would try to get the ethernet up and running first so you can access the other drivers directly. You may have to dowload to another PC that has a CD burner and burn the driver to CD. Once you get that up and running I would do a full windows update and reinstall the other drivers. Use the Broadcom integrated (2nd on the list) to install the onboard network driver first.
Let me know how you make out.
Thanks

[jaworski87]

I installed the second one on the Network list and that got the ethernet up and running. I also installed a few of the wireless ones, but none of them got the wireless working. Which one do I need to download for that?

[BCCOMP]

Is this laptop using a internal wireless card that came with it? If so use the intel wirless 2200 driver. Or is it using an external wireless card. If so please give specs.
Thanks,
Bill

[johnwill]

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt:

Type the following command:

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[jaworski87]

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Brian.BRIAN-TL8493RPK>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : brian-tl8493rpk
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont
roller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-17-9F-4F
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 167.206.245.16
167.206.245.15
167.206.245.80
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, August 16, 2007 4:39:22 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, August 17, 2007 4:39:22 PM

C:\Documents and Settings\Brian.BRIAN-TL8493RPK>

[johnwill]

I don't see any wireless hardware listed, so I suspect that you need to either enable it or install the drivers.

[jaworski87]

I tried installing the driver and it unzipped then said there was an error installing. It said I needed a newer version of Windows Installer. I then installed Windows XP SP2, but I still can't install the driver.

[jaworski87]

Also, how would I enable it?

[johnwill]

What is the exact error you get installing? I'm speaking of enabling the hardware in the BIOS if it's disabled here.

[jaworski87]

I'll try to install it again later and I'll copy down the exact error message for you. For the time being, how to I get into the BIOS to see if it's enabled?

[BCCOMP]

Which driver did you try to install?
Also, if you go to Dell site and input your service tag you can have dell scan your laptop to try and help pin point the wireless driver. Here is a link:
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&lnki=0&s=dhs
Double check what I inputed from the info you gave me.
Go to Current System Configuration Tab.
Allow Dell to scan and POST the results.
Thanks,
Bill

[jaworski87]

When I checked the original configuration it said I have the Intel 2200 card. That's the one I tried to install the driver for.

Current System Configuration:

General Information:

Service Tag 384X051
Express Service Code 7022334709
Computer Model Inspiron 8600
BIOS Vendor Dell Computer Corporation
BIOS Version A08
BIOS Date 04-26-04
Windows Version Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Processor
Manufacturer Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1500MHz
Clock Speed 1.5GHz
L2 Cache Size 1024

Processor
Clock Speed 1.5GHz

Memory
Available Memory 71.18 %
Page File Size 1250.3Mb
Available Page File 91.13 %
Virtual Memory 1761.5Mb
Available Virtual Memory 85.34 %
Memory Slot 1 [DIMM_A] 256Mb
Memory Slot 2 [DIMM_B] 256Mb

Memory
Memory Slot 1 [DIMM_A] 256Mb
Memory Slot 2 [DIMM_B] 256Mb

Memory

Memory

Network Card
Adapters Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport

Storage
Drive Type Drive Size Total Available Space Used Space
C: NTFS 37.20Gb 19.06Gb 18.14Gb

Storage

Hardware
Type Description
DVD/CD-ROM Drives SONY CDRW/DVD CRX830E
Disk Drives ST94811A 37.26Gb
IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Primary IDE Channel
Secondary IDE Channel
Keyboards Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mice and Other Pointing Devices PS/2 Compatible Mouse
USB Controllers Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller

Software
Name Version
WebFldrs XP 9.50.5318
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller 5.04.02

Software

[BCCOMP]

Go to this site and download MS installer 3.1 v2 and then try to install the wireless driver:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893803
Let us know how you make out.
Thanks,
Bill