Network Driver nightmare!

pauLAW

pauLAW

pauLAW

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17 Jan 2011
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Manchester
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.
 
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
 
Last edited:
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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?
 
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
 
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 :)
 
ns400r said:
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.



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.
Click to expand...

I am aware and I did follow the instructions before coming to the OC forum, I understand that they are simply extracting the folders but then when I point the Ethernet driver to install from the folder path....there is nothing, its like its not finding what it needs to install....its true the instructions do look rather fool proof but it failed :(


Big no no to the blue e rainmaker! I use Google Chrome so I will put that on the PC for them IF I ever get it online ;)
 
d_brennen said:
OK, different tactic, post up what the hardware ID of the ethernet controller is

You can et this if you right click on the non installed Ethernet device in Device Manager, Properties, Details and use the dropdown box to highlight the Hardware ID

Looks something like this:



Edit: Check in BIOS that LAN isn't disabled too :p
Click to expand...

I am yet to try the any of the suggestions yet as I am not out of work until 17:30 so I will give all the above suggestions from everyone a try and let you know how I get on :)

Im sure that the details was showing as "unknown" but I will check. I have checked the BIOS and LAN is enabled :).

3dcandy.....Yeah I did that first thing to try and identify the board thanks for the input tho :)
 
Sorted, I used the ubuntu disc to identify the hardware (impressive) I started from scratch and downloaded the drivers again, then extracted the downloaded files and pointed the network driver to the correct folder path and it worked.

All that is left for me to do now is update XP to SP3 along with the countless security updates and its happy days.

Thanks for all the help and advise its much appreciated
 
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