Driver problems. Help please!

[Archaos]

So I go home for the weekend, my bros have two new computers, both dells that they got for free.

They reformatted them both cause the HDs came with a bunch of shit on them.

Anyway neither of their network cards will detect now, I'm having a bitch of a time finding the drivers, and I don't really know how to install them.

Help me :| I know you people know how to do this shit !

[CharlieM]

Find out what motherboard's are in them.
Google for the drivers.
Download.
Install
Reboot.
Win

[Archaos]

And how do I do that :|

I don't have a lot of computer knowledge, I can reformat and know the parts.
I'm assuming I just look at the actual motherboard and look for some numbers or some shit ?

Not both are onboard. I found the driver for one, but there isn't a installer or anything and I tried running it through the device manager and it din't detect shit in the folder.

[CharlieM]

You could type in the model of the computer they got from dell, if its original motherboard, it will be listed under the computer specs.

Or, you could pull it apart and look for the serial number. Good luck on that though if you dont know where to look.

[Archaos]

Yeah.

There are about 1981029891 numbers. Maybe Victis will have some easy Dell fix.

[Archaos]

I think I figured out the Dell part, the one with the onboard anyway.

For the PCI card would I just google the numbers on the card ?

[genji]

sisoft sandra2007 should tell u ur motherboard model etc

[mono]

http://www.electricgod.net/images/harddrive.jpg

[Victis]

So I go home for the weekend, my bros have two new computers, both dells that they got for free.

They reformatted them both cause the HDs came with a bunch of shit on them.

Anyway neither of their network cards will detect now, I'm having a bitch of a time finding the drivers, and I don't really know how to install them.

Help me :| I know you people know how to do this shit !

Common mistakes when reinstalling windows is usually the driver installation steps.. what kind of Dell system? Toss me a model number.

When you are installing drivers it is critical you install certain drivers FIRST, and then continue with the following drivers afterwards. All of the updated drivers can be found at support.dell.com by entering in your service tag (or model number) and it will give you a driver download section.

The list for almost ALL desktop systems go like this;

Dell Desktop System Software
Chipset Drivers
Video
Audio
Network
Etc.

The problem occurs when you don't install the system software first, it installs drivers for the controllers on your board.

I'm assuming you are using the sigmatel onboard audio, but if you aren't, and are experiencing trouble, let me know, I know all the steps from top to bottom to isolate the driver problem.

ps: You may be able to get away with installing the desktop system software now, or if you did already install with those drivers first. Try reseating the card (Pulling it out of its slot and reinserting it), perhaps trying a different slot (if its not onboard). Also, if you are using onboard, check the bios to ensure it hasn't been disabled (does this on occasion to avoid conflict with a stand alone card, eg. sound blaster).

I'll be back later, let me know how it goes.

[Archaos]

Yeah I figured this all out last night.

I got it, thanks.

[Victis]

Feg, why didnt you msg me on msn in the first place... silly nubs

[Talorth]

http://www.electricgod.net/images/harddrive.jpg

cp/m owned.