Member Avatar for dirtyhiphophead

Please i just formatted my system- HP pentium 4 and reload windows XP but i can't seem to see another system on the network now-don't have access to the network and can't browse the internet too (i am postin dis from a friend's PC if you wondering:)) but before i formatted it,i use to. Do i need a new driver? which driver is that-the name and where I could download from?

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Short, practical checklist for (HP Pentium 4, fresh XP install). Builds on points from , , and while adding precise, low-risk steps to identify the exact network adapter and get the correct driver without guesswork.

Locate the adapter precisely: from the OS device list where the unknown device appears, open Properties and copy the Hardware Ids lines that start with VEN_ and DEV_. Use that exact string on another computer in a search such as: VEN_8086 DEV_100E Windows XP driver — this finds the vendor-specific driver pages (Intel, Realtek, Broadcom, etc.) rather than random driver-collection sites. If the PC is OEM HP, the model/service tag on the case or in BIOS will point to the exact downloads on the vendor support page.

Offline driver install and cautions: download the XP-specific driver on a working PC, copy it to removable media, then run the vendor installer on the target machine. If only an INF/SYS pair is available, extract the package and use the OS driver update dialog to point at the folder (choose the option to include subfolders). Avoid installing generic “driver packs” from unknown sites; prefer the NIC vendor or HP/OEM downloads.

Quick hardware and stack checks: confirm the Ethernet cable and router/switch port (look for link LED activity), and check BIOS/firmware that onboard LAN is enabled. From an elevated command prompt on the XP machine, run:

ipconfig /all
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset

Reboot after the netsh commands. If the adapter never appears in ipconfig /all, the driver is still missing or the NIC is disabled/faulty. Installing the exact vendor driver is the usual fix that restores both internet access and network browsing.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for freshfitz

goto control panel system hardware device manager and install a driver for each yellow question mark

Member Avatar for dirtyhiphophead

i'd try it now. thanks freshfitz

Member Avatar for dirtyhiphophead

the ethernet controller was havin a yellow questionmark. is there a way i could download it online.i dont have the CD to install it or how do i go about it?

Member Avatar for Salem

Sure, just get as much detail from the properties as you can, then do a search for "driver + OS + whatever you know about the device"

Download things which look promising, then put them on a CD / USB / floppy and see if anything installs.

Member Avatar for kaninelupus

Sure, just get as much detail from the properties as you can, then do a search for "driver + OS + whatever you know about the device"

Download things which look promising, then put them on a CD / USB / floppy and see if anything installs.

NOT the best advice.... sorry. When unsure about installing drivers, the hit-and-miss method can make a bigger mess of things.

Locate the latest possible driver build for your hardware, but use the Device Manager to do the driver install. Now in the case of drivers packed in a installer, Winrar will sometimes be able to unpack, but Universal Extractor has a better hit rate, especially on those using an InstallShield installer, which Winrar can't access.

Once drivers extracted, use Device Manager to install from local file/folder (just be sure to select the "sub-directories" option.

Doing it this way ensures you don't end loading your system with drivers not compatible with your hardware (as is possible in anything prior to Vista).

Happy hunting :)

Member Avatar for caperjack

i would start with cpuid to get motherboard maker and model number ,then search for device drivers
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

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