Unable to connect to internet

f1charlie

A friend has just had a new hard disk fitted to her laptop and asked me to install XP for her. XP installed fine, so I thought I would connect to the internet to get Windows updates.
My desktop already connects via a Netgear DG834, so I though all I would need to do was connect the laptop via one of the other ports. However all I get is "Cannot find server" when I try IE.
I have "Obtain an IP address automatically" set in TCP/IP properties. What else should I have set or check?

Thanks

sco0ter

That the ethernet port is enabled on the laptop???

russ_gillespie

After installing XP did you check device manager to make sure that all the drivers were installed? 9 times out of 10 they'll be a couple that XP can't find, usually the ethernet, video and audio drivers.

You'll need to visit the manufacturer website on another PC to download the drivers, unless you have the original disks for the laptop.

Russ

f1charlie

The ethernet port showed two orange LEDs and I went into the network connections and it displayed the ethernet connection as being connected at 400Mbps, so I assume the drivers are installed. I will check again when I get home.
Another thing to try is to take the cable out of my desktop and stick it in the laptop to exclude a cable/router port problem.
Any other suggestions welcome!

f1charlie

As suggested, it was indeed the drivers which needed to be installed. I think it must be because I'm used to Windows 98 nagging when it can't find a driver - XP seems to be notably quiet!