Getting online via xp and internal wireless point?

BaileyB

Hi,

Looking for some help. My brothers laptop was very slow when using Vista so i have put my old copy of xp that i'm not using anymore (retail). Now it installed fine but unlike vista there is no quick option to search for wireless points. I have tried looking in internet options but with no joy.

Any help would be great

[MaccA]

Hi Mr Kennedy,

after installing XP did you update/install 'drivers' for all of the hardware contained in the laptop? If not there is a chance the wireless network interface card (NIC) is not operational yet.

To check, right click on 'My Computer' and choose Manage. In the resulting box choose 'Device Manager' from the left hand list. If you then see in the list on the right any devices with a yellow question mark next to them then you've not installed all of your drivers.

An example of that screen is here: http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/SE7500WV2/img/unknown.jpg

If this is the case you need to find out the model of wireless NIC and get the drivers from the manufacturers web site.

Let me know if I'm being too basic and you've already done this stage.

[MaccA]

DatabaseError

start>connect to>all connections double click on the wireless connection, show all available networks, connect and enter passkey

BenL

I think a lot more wireless support was added in XP Service Pack 2.

The downside (unless you have a cd with it on) is that you will need an internet connection to download it.

Your XP version maybe pre SP2.

Has he got the facility to use a LAN cable for this initial download and update?

I re-installed Windows XP last week on my machine, XP, then SP2 then there were about 100 windows updates to pick up as well.

BaileyB

It is service pack 2 disk. By Lan do you mean the ethernet cable that comes from the router? If so i have plugged this in the laptop but it still would not connect to the internet.

I went to device manager and there were a few driver updates that i need but i have not got the driver cd for this. Can i get these from my pc (via dell online) and then put them on there?

It's a Vostro 1000 laptop

BaileyB

[MaccA] wrote: »

Hi Mr Kennedy,



An example of that screen is here: http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/SE7500WV2/img/unknown.jpg

If this is the case you need to find out the model of wireless NIC and get the drivers from the manufacturers web site.

Let me know if I'm being too basic and you've already done this stage.

[MaccA]

Yes it looks like that, thanks

[MaccA]

Hi Mr Kennedy,

you just need to go to Dell.com (I've provided a link to the correct section below), enter your laptops Service Tag (7 characters on the underside of your laptop), change the 'Operating System' pull down menu to Windows XP and then choose the drivers to download.

(http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?~ck=ln&c=uk&l=en&lnki=0&s=gen)

Drivers are listed in chronological order so the top is the latest one. A section may contain drivers for more than one piece of hardware though (i.e. in the Network section are drivers for the 'Intergrated Controller' (the ethernet/LAN adapter) and the Wireless card).

When I reinstall a Dell I usually download all the drivers applicable to my machine and install them, that way I know I have the latest driver for all hardware in my PC.

Often Microsoft Update will provide the right drivers for your machine (once you've managed to get it on the network) but lately I've noticed Dell have custom drivers which aren't available through the manufacturers or Microsofts web site.

You can download these drivers using your own laptop (but the Service Tag from your brothers laptop) and then transfer them to your brothers PC using a USB memory stick or by burning them to CD.

To save time you may want to just download the Wireless driver to get the laptop on the network and then use your brothers laptop to download the rest (to save you putting them all onto a memory stick or CD).

Good luck

[MaccA]

BaileyB

Thanks Macca, i just done that was thinking there were loads of drivers so just had the wlan one and gonna update windows which no doubt will need 100+ lol

thanks everyone for your help

[MaccA]

You're more than welcome Mr Kennedy, glad we could be of assistance.

[MaccA]