Network Driver nightmare!

pauLAW

pauLAW

pauLAW

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Hey all

I was given an old machine from work today and thought I would fix it up and give it my parents. I replaced the CD drive with a DVD ROM drive and inserted a 120GB HDD, followed by installing Windows XP SP2.

The PC is a IBM Thinkcentre, Pent 4 3ghz, 1gb RAM.

After installing windows a number of drivers are missing, Audio, latest GFX but the key one being the Ethernet/network drivers (other devices)

I cannot find motherboard details but on the front case its saying MT-M 8429-MG1 followed by a serial number. After browsing the net I have managed to find what I thought was the right drivers for the PC on http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-50535.html.

I downloaded the drivers and transferred them to the PC via USB stick and ran the .exe files for the drivers but its done absolutely nothing! I also tried running in the audio drivers and again....nothing? I have rebooted the machine a number of times.

Can anyone possibly help me out as to something I might be doing wrong here?

Thank you.
 
Make sure you install the chipset drivers, this should be the first drivers to install on a old machine with XP. Can solve random issues like this.
 
Crowort said:
Have you tried manually telling XP to install drivers for the device from the folder you downloaded the nic install files too?
Click to expand...

I did go into device manager and try to point it to the correct folder but this still has not worked.

I will try the chipset drivers but I did download most the drivers from the link I shown and non appear to work.....possibly including the chipset drivers :(

Ill give it another go tonight but im still not sure what to do if those drivers will not install, im starting to question if they are the correct drivers but they are the closest to what I think is right
 
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Maybe a silly solution, but you could always boot into a Linux live environment (eg Ubuntu live CD). Old hardware like this is a cinch on Linux. Not only will it work out of the box, but it'd be able to tell you what network device is on board which could help you find the right Win drivers.

If worst comes to the worst and you can't sort the Windows drivers, it'll also run very nicely as a permanent, malware-proof web/email/multimedia PC for your 'rents. :D
 
Rainmaker said:
Maybe a silly solution, but you could always boot into a Linux live environment (eg Ubuntu live CD). Old hardware like this is a cinch on Linux. Not only will it work out of the box, but it'd be able to tell you what network device is on board which could help you find the right Win drivers.

If worst comes to the worst and you can't sort the Windows drivers, it'll also run very nicely as a permanent, malware-proof web/email/multimedia PC for your 'rents. :D
Click to expand...

Its an option I guess but I could write what I know about Linux on the back of a stamp with a felt tip!

Im going to ask the tech guy to find the disks that came with the PC at work but I seriously doubt he will have them
 
pauLAW said:
Its an option I guess but I could write what I know about Linux on the back of a stamp with a felt tip!

Im going to ask the tech guy to find the disks that came with the PC at work but I seriously doubt he will have them
Click to expand...

Hopefully he'll have them for you. :) But if not, Ubuntu is so easy even your Gran could do it. Just boot from the CD, click "Try Ubuntu" and voilà. You have a modern, sleek and shexy desktop environment all ready to go with office, multimedia, communication and all kinds of doo-dahs. Magic. :p

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

The System menu will have hardware tools that will tell you what stuff you have under the bonnet, which might help you pinpoint drivers for XP. Good luck.
 
Thanks Rainmaker.....

I have started the download at work, it looks like an iso.....So I just burn this to a CD/DVD and boot from disk and I can use this over the top of already having windows installed?

Thanks again
 
pauLAW said:
Thanks Rainmaker.....

I have started the download at work, it looks like an iso.....So I just burn this to a CD/DVD and boot from disk and I can use this over the top of already having windows installed?

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Yes mate, just burn the ISO in the same way you'd burn any regular ISO (i.e. no special settings or mucking about required). Once you've burnt it, boot from it on the PC in question and select to Try Ubuntu (as opposed to install!).

It's not "over the top" of Windows so much as completely away from it. The CD loads the OS into RAM and runs literally 'live' from the CD. Much faster and easier than it sounds, but even better from a USB stick (which I doubt an old P3 machine could boot from?).

It won't touch your hard drive, or Windows, nor affect any of your files. You can play with it, go on the internet immediately using Firefox, and do all kinds of fun stuff. Once you're bored and/or finished, just tell it to reboot and it'll eject the CD.

It's that easy. The PC can be rebooted to Windows and no harm can possibly be done. Take an hour or two to play around for the hell of it - you'll be surprised how noob friendly it is, and how much you like it. :D
 
Sounds good....why have I never used this before Im wondering! :P

The machine can boot from removable so I might just go with this option :)

Thanks again.
 
pauLAW said:
Sounds good....why have I never used this before Im wondering! :P

The machine can boot from removable so I might just go with this option :)

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

No worries. If you're looking to create a Live USB stick, this tool is the bomb. You can use the ISO you already downloaded, or tell it to download one for you. It'll 'burn' the ISO to the selected USB stick and you're ready to rock.

Have fun. :D

EDIT: The Linux Live USB site has a nice easy walk-through guide and help, but just as a tl;dr - add your Ubuntu ISO, don't bother with persistence (set to 0/live) and untick the option for it to run Virtualised. Done.
 
I have downloaded and burned the image to a disk and I have just put the disc into my work PC, I got given the options to install full OS or install it as an application.

Should I only expect to see the option to TRY only when I boot from CD?
 
pauLAW said:
I have downloaded and burned the image to a disk and I have just put the disc into my work PC, I got given the options to install full OS or install it as an application.

Should I only expect to see the option to TRY only when I boot from CD?
Click to expand...

Yes. What you're describing is the Windows menu, when the CD is launched inside a Windows OS. It offers to wipe your hdd and launch a full install, or else install it inside Windows as an app (Wubi).

Reboot the machine, boot from the CD, and you'll be able to try it as a live environment. :)
 
I just gave it a go.....very very usful! Hopefully I will be able to get all the info I need from the PC using this then get the drivers.
My boss did walk past my PC and wonder what the hell im doing but hey ho! :) Few of the lads in the office are taking a copy of ubuntu :D

Regarding the link I posted in my first thread.....there is no chipset drivers :o
 
pauLAW said:
I just gave it a go.....very very usful! Hopefully I will be able to get all the info I need from the PC using this then get the drivers.
My boss did walk past my PC and wonder what the hell im doing but hey ho! :) Few of the lads in the office are taking a copy of ubuntu :D

Regarding the link I posted in my first thread.....there is no chipset drivers :o
Click to expand...

Win \:D/ Have a good play with Ubuntu (when you're not being paid to work, obviously...) and see how you get on. To be honest if your parents only want email, web and a bit of multimedia Ubuntu would not only suit them perfectly, but it's easier to administrate, doesn't get a bazillion viruses, and runs faster than Windows on the same hardware to boot (usually).
 
My dad uses the PC for his betting and watching sky player......my mum for creating word documents and net browsing. Its taken my dad about 10 years to understand only the basics in windows so I would prefer to try and get that working first before considering other options but yes it is an option.

Again thanks :)
 
pauLAW said:
My dad uses the PC for his betting and watching sky player......my mum for creating word documents and net browsing. Its taken my dad about 10 years to understand only the basics in windows so I would prefer to try and get that working first before considering other options but yes it is an option.

Again thanks :)
Click to expand...

I can understand that. :) But for what it's worth, do they use "the blue 'e'" :p or do they use Firefox or similar? Reading your post, with Ubuntu in mind, I just think:

betting and Sky Player > Firefox with Flash plugin
Word documents > Open Office (or Libre Office) Writer
Net browsing > Firefox, Chrome, Opera, take your pick...

Most of the software is ubiquitous between Windows and Linux so they'd hardly notice the difference really. But as I said, best of luck sorting the drivers. :)
 
According to your link above, the mother board has Intel Pro/100 and Pro/1000 onboard Ethernet. There then follows a link for the drivers and instructions on how to use them.

Extracting the update
---------------------
1. Click Start, select Find or Search, then click Files and folders.
2. Type q38z01us.exe in the search field, then click Find Now. This
will locate the file you just downloaded.
3. Double-click the q38z01us.exe icon.
4. Click Next. Read the license agreement.
5. Click I accept the terms in the license agreement.
6. Click Next.
7. Ensure that "Save files in folder" is set to
C:\IBMTOOLS\DRIVERS\Q38Z01US.
8. Click Next.
9. Click Finish to extract the necessary files to your hard disk
drive.


Installing the update
---------------------
Once the drivers have been extracted, detailed installation notes
are available by opening the index.htm file in the
C:\IBMTOOLS\Drivers\Q38Z01US\PRO100\DOCS\DESKTOP or
C:\IBMTOOLS\Drivers\Q38Z01US\PRO1000\DOCS\DESKTOP directories.
Click to expand...

Can't be that difficult. The method above doesn't actually install the driver, just extracts it to a folder which you have to then browse to and install them yourself.
 
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