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Windows XP - NETWORK CONNECTION HELP

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14 replies

by gotenks98499

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So I have Windows XP Pro Corp Sp 2. I just switched back from Ubuntu/Linux. I can successfully install Windows. When everything is all done windows reboots the computer and Windows will load successfully. However when i try and sign onto the internet there is no connection. I have Highspeed Cable Internet (comcast). The router is connected but there is no network connection available/listed. I try and set up a new connection and it goes through the setup but nothing happens. How do i find out whats wrong? Can anyone PLEASE help?

(If it helps any I switched from Linux to Windows again because Linux doesn't allow the games and programs that I use. Windows is just easier for me)

14 replies

by oh smeg

A Volume License Copy of Windows only comes with the Default Windows Drivers like every OEM M$ Windows Install Disc. A System Makers Recovery Disc is different as it is the base OS and required Drivers for the Hardware supplied and can not be used on other systems as it lacks the Default Windows Drivers.

Open the Device Manager and look for any Yellow Circles with Black ! thought then and Unknown Device as a description of the Hardware beside therm.

You are required to install the Drivers for this Hardware before you proceed to do anything else here. Most likely you will be missing the LAN Driver but others to look out for are Sound Drivers particularly if you have a Realtech Audio Device as their Drivers are not Digitally Signed with M$ so you need to install them before you log onto the Windows Update Service or you will be unable to install the sound drivers. Video Drivers are the common ones but you may also need to install the M'Board Drivers for the Chip Set that you have Monitor Drivers and any other hardware that you may be using.

You need to visit the System Makers Web Site for a full set of Drivers or if you have a White Box the M'Board Makers Web Site for the Drivers for your M'Board and the OS in use. You'll also need to download the drivers for any Plug In Cards like Video Cards that you have fitted.

You may also need to install Additional Windows Components so open the Control Panel change to Classic View then open the Add Remove Programs and on the left hand side look for the option to Add Remove Windows Components open this and add any required Components.

Col

by gotenks98499

Is there a way I can download the drivers without doing a windows update? for some reason it won't let me

by oh smeg

Depends on which driver/s is/are required. If you need to install LAN Drivers to get onto the Comcast Modem then your answer is no you need to the LAN Driver before you can log onto the Internet to Download the Required Driver/s.

But when you purchased your hardware you should have been given the Install Media for the Hardware this comes in the form of CD's so the M'Board has it's own CD which if the LAN is Integrated will be on that CD or if you have a separate Ethernet Card you will most likely have a Floppy Disc with the LAN Drivers on that.

If you can not log onto the ISP Modems you and you do not have another computer to use you could use a Live Linux to get the Windows Drivers and save them to something like a USB Thumb Drive then shut down the Nix and reboot with the Windows OS in use and load the drivers. But as you can post here you need to locate the Hardware Drivers and download them on the computer you are currently using then transfer them to the one that you have just loaded Windows on and install them there. Of course you may be required to Unzip the drivers before you can install them.

Col

by Former member

I believe they are using fixed IP. But if you setup your PC with DHCP, you should be able to get the IP automatically. The thing is, you have to use the same MAC number to get the connection. The one comcast registered when you first got connect to comcast.

If you don't have the same PC, you have to call comcast to change your registered MAC number to the PC's MAC that you are currently try to connect to comcast.

Once you get connected with one PC, write down the MAC number of the NIC of this PC, also write down the IP address, DNS servers, set netgear router (or what every router you use) to use this MAC to connect (otherwise comcast will not accept the connection). And according to my experience, you better use fixed DNS IPs in netgear (or what every router you use) setup.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
If this information is useful, please mark as helpful. Thanks.

by gotenks98499

No I am using the same computer. I have re-installed Linux to access the internet. I can't do a windows update for some reason it won't let me. I assume I would have to come online to find a way to download those drivers. Under my drivers view i see i have an icon that says "Other" or something along those lines it says I have all controllers. I don't know how to figure out what I need or anything

by Former member

Do you have the motherboard drivers disk?

If not then you can download then through Linux and burn them onto disk.
More info here for burning in Ubuntu:
https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/preparing-storage.html

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
If this information is useful, please mark as helpful. Thanks.

by thumbsup2

.... to someone who knows what they're doing. You're in over your head. Take it to someone who knows how to install WinXP and the drivers needed for all of the hardware on the machine. Have them SHOW you how to do it. Then, you'll know what to do if you ever need to do it yourself.

by gotenks98499

I don't happen to have the drivers disc for anything. I can connect my desktop computer directly to the modem or use atheros 802.11 but those drivers aren't found, i never had a drivers disc for windows or anything like that that i know of... where can i find those drivers at?

i know that when i try and plug in the ethernet it doesn't detect it. doesn't detect my atheros 802.11 wireless either so i don't know sorry if i am not making sense, i'm pretty much plain stupid when it comes to this kinda thing :p

by oh smeg

So if you have a Gigabyte GA6-BXDU M'Board you would need to log onto Gigabyte and download the XP Drivers of for that M'Board. If you have a HP Pavilion you would need to log onto HP's Web Site and download the XP Drivers for that computer.

If it is a White Box meaning that it is a Custom Build you need to go to the individual Hardware Makers for the Drivers so the M'Board will have it's own drivers the Video Card will be from a different location, the WiFi Card will be from another provider and so on till all of the Hardware is accounted for. Of course if you have fitted additional Hardware to a Off the Shelf Computer System you'll need to visit the Hardware providers Web Sites for the Drivers for that Hardware.

This may be of use to you it's supposed to identify Unknown Hardware in Windows where the Driver has not been installed but it requires access to the Internet to list the hardware.

http://www.fileheap.com/software-unknown-device-identifier-download-34861.html

Col

by rkase24

Who is the maker and model of the PC? Also do you have another computer with internet connection?

by gotenks98499

I don't know much else, I think a friend of mine built it, before i bought it! Is there a way to find out ?

by dumphrey

network setup wizard in control panels, internet options, connections? Or at least verify its set to LAN and not dialup?

I know its stupid, but I have found several Dells that would not work until I told it what type of connection I had...

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