Did I get the wrong drivers?

[newsgroup guy]

Hey.

I was helping a friend of mine reinstall Windows. (2000&XP - dual-boot)

He has a HP Compaq DC5100 MT.

I got the drivers (audio, graphics and network) from h20000.www2.hp.com. The graphics and audio drivers work perfectly but the network drivers don't do anything. No Internet connection.

We can't even get into the modem interface. Which leads me to believe we don't have the right drivers.

But are these not the right drivers?

Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Drivers for Multiple Operating Systems 10.100.0.0 Rev. A
10 Feb 2009 122.7 56K: 4h
512K: 32m 10.62.1.2 Rev. A
3 Mar 2008
Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Drivers for Microsoft Windows XP 10.100 Rev. A System Software Manager Icon
9 Feb 2009 38.5 56K: 1h
512K: 10m 10.62.1.2 Rev. C System Software Manager Icon
17 Dec 2008
Intel Gigabit Network Connection Drivers for Microsoft Windows XP 10.3.39.0 Rev. B System Software Manager Icon
11 Nov 2008 10.1 56K: 24m
512K: 2m 10.3.39.0 Rev. A System Software Manager Icon
24 Sep 2008
Belkin Wireless NIC Driver 4.1.2.146 Rev. B System Software Manager Icon
6 Jun 2008 4.3 56K: 10m
512K: 1m 4.1.2.71 Rev. A System Software Manager Icon
18 May 2006
Intel PRO/1000 GT Drivers for All Operating Systems 9.4.21.0 A
4 Sep 2006 63.6 56K: 2h
512K: 16m 8.6.11.0 A
1 Apr 2006

None of these worked.

We could use some advice please.

Thank you.

[Chug a Bug]

Xp should work but... the original W2000 ethernet drivers may work better. I'm guessing you don't have the original motherboard drivers etc CD lying around anywhere? Take a look in Device Manager, look for any yellow "!" triangles next to devices, I'm guessing you have several, if so one will likely be next to Network Adapters. If so it'll mention what the problem is i.e. missing driver, etc.

[newsgroup guy]

Hey, thanks for replying.

No, unfortunately we don't have the CD, no.

Windows 2000 was my idea, actually, to add as another OS. My friend only had Windows XP. And these are the only drivers I could find, only for XP.
But the graphics driver, for example, says it works for both 2000 and XP. And it does. So, I was hoping the network driver would, too.

Does it matter if I tried to install first the Intel drivers and then the Broadcom ones? Can one driver installation ruin the terrain for the next one?

And no, I can't see any yellow exclamation-mark triangles in Device Manager, surprisingly. My Computer > Manage > Device Manager, right? It all seems okay.

Oh, and the connection seems fine, too, because a green light came on at the back of the computer, where the ethernet cable is plugged in. But if I try to run the router set-up CD it says no network adapter could be initiated.

[DB83]

I do not see the point in dual-booting w2000 and XP. But by all means convince me.

I would install a fully working OS first before even attempting a dual-boot.

Do you actually need all those network drivers ? I would have thought that they are hardware dependant - so just some would be required. Installing one on top of the other could well screw everything up.

My suggestion is to contact HP and ask them EXACTLY what drivers you require for internet access. Some of those drivers could be for LANs

[Nelson37]

For what possible reason do you consider yourself qualified to "help" your friend in such a way? Do you not like him, or something?

So, installing a wireless adapter driver did not make your wired card work? Really? Didn't make the modem work either, huh?

How about researching the model online to determine the exact model of network adapter? The BIOS might also help. If nothing else, check the device manager in XP and see which one installed correctly. The connectivity lights are electrical tests, not software. The router setup CD is totally unnecessary.

Putting 2000 on is just a bad idea all around, especially if you don't have a clue what you are doing.

If you want to test the network card, it is possible it might be working without your knowing why. However, the system is likely FUBAR by now and needs a complete re-format and stable OS install.

What "problem" were you trying to solve?

[newsgroup guy]

For what possible reason do you consider yourself qualified to "help" your friend in such a way? Do you not like him, or something?

So, installing a wireless adapter driver did not make your wired card work? Really? Didn't make the modem work either, huh?

How about researching the model online to determine the exact model of network adapter? The BIOS might also help. If nothing else, check the device manager in XP and see which one installed correctly. The connectivity lights are electrical tests, not software. The router setup CD is totally unnecessary.

Putting 2000 on is just a bad idea all around, especially if you don't have a clue what you are doing.

If you want to test the network card, it is possible it might be working without your knowing why. However, the system is likely FUBAR by now and needs a complete re-format and stable OS install.

What "problem" were you trying to solve?

What the **** is your problem, *******?

Go back to the place where troll-like nerds, such as you, think they rule the world - in your parents' basement, most likely - and stop thinking you deserve to help anybody... SNAFU!

[newsgroup guy]

I do not see the point in dual-booting w2000 and XP. But by all means convince me.

I would install a fully working OS first before even attempting a dual-boot.

Do you actually need all those network drivers ? I would have thought that they are hardware dependant - so just some would be required. Installing one on top of the other could well screw everything up.

My suggestion is to contact HP and ask them EXACTLY what drivers you require for internet access. Some of those drivers could be for LANs

I don't want to convince anyone about anything.

I tried installing all of those, because none were working so I kept trying the next one, and the next one, etc..

BUT THE POINT IS I DID NOT POST HERE TO ANSWER OTHER PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS!
I POSTED HERE BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.
(So, guys, please, if you don't have an answer, only questions, for me, just don't post anything. -- That's not helping. -- Thanks.)

[newsgroup guy]

I would install a fully working OS first before even attempting a dual-boot.

Oh, it is fully working, except for the network connection. Everything is working, that I installed, only I probably do not have the right drivers to make the Internet connection fully functional.

This is not an OS problem, at core.
The OS was freshly installed (- Windows 2000, that is, as I will install XP too as soon as 2000 gets Internet -), so there are no problems with its main part. I'm just trying to figure out how to get the network connection up and running, at this point. You see what I'm saying, now?

[DB83]

Well the dual-boot is part of the post so it is part of the answer.

You are coming across, for a new poster, as an arrogant know all. If you did know anything you would know that there is absolutely no point in installing w2000 AND XP. XP is practically the same OS and IIRC has BETTER networking capabilities. Your 'friend' just had XP so why not just install that ?

Sure you asked for help abut the network drivers but the chance of getting a response to that by such a general topic header is remote in the extreme.

Something like "HP Compaq DC5100 MT - need assistance in installing network drivers" would be much more likely to get the correct attention.

[Bjs]

Generally once the os is installed you install the intel chipset drivers, reboot and install other driver packages. Otherwise you can end up in a never ending loop.

Without knowing the system or whether xp was installed or the network ever worked.

My Advice

1: Check the network cable, either test or substitute with a known working cable

2: Check the ports of connected devices for damage to the wires which make contact with the network cable.

3: Use a bootable linux distro to test network hardware.

Confirm the network chip is enabled in bios if windows fails to see the device.

If that fails ... connect another system to the internet device (cable box/ dsl modem/etc) and confirm you can gain access to administration interface ... if not the device may need to be reset or replaced.

[Nelson37]

You have done a whole series of ignorant, poorly-conceived things. I will definitely STFU about your SNAFU, although I did tell you how to attempt to solve it. The very first step is to try and determine exactly what NIC you are dealing with. One hint would be that if there is no antenna and you plug a cable into it, it is NOT a wireless card. You just might make my Top Ten list.

Next step is to get the Mobo model number, on the motherboard, research that, find out EXACTLY what NIC is on it, then go to the mobo maker's website or the NIC maker's website and try to find the drivers there.

Or you can continue to try randomly chosen drivers for no particular reason.

"NIC" is Network Interface Card, which is NOT a "modem".

You are very clearly not qualified to be doing what you are doing, and everyone here knows it. That's OK, I make a good part of my living solving such problems created by people just like you.

About 30 seconds of research reveals that there are NO HP drivers specifically listed for Win 2000, given the listing that it shipped with Vista, there are reasonable odds that the NIC will Never work in Win2000. Checking on this should have been done First.

What are you, 15?

You jumped into the room shouting at the top of your lungs "I am a Clueless Idiot!" Sorry for noticing.

[newsgroup guy]

Well the dual-boot is part of the post so it is part of the answer.

You are coming across, for a new poster, as an arrogant know all. If you did know anything you would know that there is absolutely no point in installing w2000 AND XP. XP is practically the same OS and IIRC has BETTER networking capabilities. Your 'friend' just had XP so why not just install that ?

Sure you asked for help abut the network drivers but the chance of getting a response to that by such a general topic header is remote in the extreme.

Something like "HP Compaq DC5100 MT - need assistance in installing network drivers" would be much more likely to get the correct attention.

I'm coming across as an arrogant know-it-all???
Guy, you must be confusing me for the person in your mirror (when you stand in front of it).

I'm asking a question, and you want me to tell you my life's story. I don't have time to convince you why I want the dual-boot.

And the dual-boot wasn't part of the problem at all, you genius, because as it happens I already solved the problem in the meantime. Yeah. By myself. With no help from you geniuses. As a matter of fact, posting here was a waste of time.

As long as people like you and that Nelson fella keep trying to help people here, and nobody else actually does help, this forum is and will probably remain pretty useless. (Sorry, moderators, but look at the facts, and at how these guys think they're helping.)

[newsgroup guy]

Generally once the os is installed you install the intel chipset drivers, reboot and install other driver packages. Otherwise you can end up in a never ending loop.

Without knowing the system or whether xp was installed or the network ever worked.

My Advice

1: Check the network cable, either test or substitute with a known working cable

2: Check the ports of connected devices for damage to the wires which make contact with the network cable.

3: Use a bootable linux distro to test network hardware.

Confirm the network chip is enabled in bios if windows fails to see the device.

If that fails ... connect another system to the internet device (cable box/ dsl modem/etc) and confirm you can gain access to administration interface ... if not the device may need to be reset or replaced.

Thank you very much, Bjs!
Found the problem.

[newsgroup guy]

You have done a whole series of ignorant, poorly-conceived things. I will definitely STFU about your SNAFU, although I did tell you how to attempt to solve it. The very first step is to try and determine exactly what NIC you are dealing with. One hint would be that if there is no antenna and you plug a cable into it, it is NOT a wireless card. You just might make my Top Ten list.

Next step is to get the Mobo model number, on the motherboard, research that, find out EXACTLY what NIC is on it, then go to the mobo maker's website or the NIC maker's website and try to find the drivers there.

Or you can continue to try randomly chosen drivers for no particular reason.

"NIC" is Network Interface Card, which is NOT a "modem".

You are very clearly not qualified to be doing what you are doing, and everyone here knows it. That's OK, I make a good part of my living solving such problems created by people just like you.

About 30 seconds of research reveals that there are NO HP drivers specifically listed for Win 2000, given the listing that it shipped with Vista, there are reasonable odds that the NIC will Never work in Win2000. Checking on this should have been done First.

What are you, 15?

You jumped into the room shouting at the top of your lungs "I am a Clueless Idiot!" Sorry for noticing.

Would you get lost, man? Your help is as useful to me as breathing methane.

And thanks for saying I'm an idiot even though you clearly didn't even read my posts properly, to understand what's going on. Yeah, you're definitely qualified to help other people...

Finally, if you lived only in an area where all the people were helped by me, which I do for free, doing what you said you did for a living, you would starve, punk! I would take all your customers, and I don't even want them. I installed two now-fully-functional operating systems, on my friend's very old PC, for zero dollars! Huh! Choke on that!

[Nelson37]

Instead of being a whiny brat, why don't YOU actually do something useful by EXPLAINING WHAT YOU DID TO FIX THE PROBLEM?

You are so brilliant, and fully qualified, everyone should be gifted with how you solved the problem.

Huge odds that you will contribute nothing.

Punks like you come and go nearly every day. Whine, bitch, moan, provide no information, then come back and insist that they solved it themselves with no help at all and then PROVIDE *NOTHING* of future use for anyone else.

Your kind are a dime-a-dozen and not even worth that much. So long, shit-for-brains.