Internet on an old dinosaur

Conjoiner · 08-28-2009, 02:42 PM

I would be the slave of anyone who can fix this.... well at least forever grateful.

After reinstalling Windows XP on an old Dell Dimension 4100 with (believe it or not) a CRT screen, I am unable to connect to the Internet. Actually, there is no "two little computers at the bottom of the screen," and I'm plugged into the Internet via an ethernet cable of the landlady's network. I think it's probably a driver issue (the device manager has question marks and no sign of a network driver), but I downloaded the Network Driver files I found on the Dell website with a less old computer laptop and tried installing them on the dinosaur from a disk. It kept telling me "hardware could not be installed" or found in the wizard it brought up.

If I could please get this thing working again.... for the love of all that is holy slash my girlfriend.

**2xgrump** · 08-28-2009, 06:54 PM

It will be a lot less headache believe me if you can just buy a USB Wireless network adapter for under $20. Just verify if the router that you are trying to connect if it is a B or a G or an N.
If you are not sure with the network card driver that you are trying to download it's just going to give you a headache.
I hope this helps. Goodluck

08-28-2009, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Conjoiner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: WI Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Internet on an old dinosaur I would be the slave of anyone who can fix this.... well at least forever grateful. After reinstalling Windows XP on an old Dell Dimension 4100 with (believe it or not) a CRT screen, I am unable to connect to the Internet. Actually, there is no "two little computers at the bottom of the screen," and I'm plugged into the Internet via an ethernet cable of the landlady's network. I think it's probably a driver issue (the device manager has question marks and no sign of a network driver), but I downloaded the Network Driver files I found on the Dell website with a less old computer laptop and tried installing them on the dinosaur from a disk. It kept telling me "hardware could not be installed" or found in the wizard it brought up. If I could please get this thing working again.... for the love of all that is holy slash my girlfriend.

08-28-2009, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
2xgrump Mentor Networking Forums Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,133 OS: Vista-sp2/Win2003Server-R2/SBS2003/XP-sp3	Re: Internet on an old dinosaur It will be a lot less headache believe me if you can just buy a USB Wireless network adapter for under $20. Just verify if the router that you are trying to connect if it is a B or a G or an N. If you are not sure with the network card driver that you are trying to download it's just going to give you a headache. I hope this helps. Goodluck __________________ Networking Forums "Peace" RD If TSF helped you pls. consider Donating. Thanks.