Member Avatar for elbtax

Clean install of Winxp pro on Dell Latitude C600, 650mhz, 512mb ram. Latest bios v.A23. Device mgr does not detect nic. I am using a belkin wireless notebook card that works perfect. This is my neices lappy and she does not have a wireless router. She only has cable modem and needs to be able to use the RJ45 hookup. This laptop has a 3com nic card that device mgr does not detect. The following is what i have done so far with no results.
Clean install Dell winxp pro..
Low level formatted the hdd and partioned and install winxp pro with same results.
Checked bios setup, looks o.k.
Tried to install with add new hardwar...Comes back with only the belkin adapter and microsoft adapter. (Loopback & tun)
Ran two diff registry cleaners. Found problems & corrected.
Ran virus scan..Clean
I am at wits end..

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Rik_

Dani AI

Generated

Below are focused, non-redundant steps to rule out software vs hardware failure and to identify the exact adapter so a correct driver can be installed. ’s prompt about whether the adapter is onboard is relevant — the goal here is to prove whether the system ever sees the NIC at the hardware level.

Run a hardware-ID check in Windows (useful when Device Manager shows nothing visible):

  • Open Device Manager, choose View -> Show hidden devices, look for any Unknown devices.
  • Right-click an entry -> Properties -> Details -> Hardware Ids. Note the VEN_xxxx & DEV_xxxx string and use that when searching for drivers or chipset identification.

Use a bootable Live Linux or the machine’s built-in diagnostics to test below Windows:

  • Boot a current Ubuntu (Live USB) or a small rescue ISO and run:
    lspci -nn
dmesg | grep -i eth
ip link

    If the NIC appears in lspci but not under Windows, it is a driver/INF issue. If it does not appear at this level, the NIC is likely failed or disabled at hardware/BIOS level.

Quick physical and LED checks (non-invasive):

  • With a known-good Ethernet cable and an active switch/modem, verify the RJ45 port LEDs change when plugged in. No LED activity with a known-good cable suggests a dead port.
  • If the NIC is modular (mini-PCI/PC Card), reseat the module, inspect contacts, and check for a hardware disable switch or BIOS “Embedded LAN” toggle.

If hardware failure is confirmed or the chipset lacks XP drivers, workarounds:

  • Use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter or a PC Card adapter as a reliable alternative.
  • If the NIC is detected by lspci but Windows lacks a driver, install by selecting “Have Disk” and point to the INF matched to the hardware-id.

If the above still leaves uncertainty, collect and post the exact Hardware Id string (VEN and DEV) so an exact driver match can be identified.

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Member Avatar for Rik_

You will need to look up the 3com's model number and download a driver for it i expect.

Member Avatar for elbtax

I did that a week ago. There are only two drivers listed for the C600 on the dell site. No good if your nic is not even detected..
Thanks for the reply.

Member Avatar for Rik_

Is it a built in nic?

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