i need to get an ethernet controller

[sqwatter]

i recently got broadband, but when i tried to set it up, i found i couldnt coz i needed an ethernet controller which unfortunately i havent got on my computer. i used the resource cd which came with my computer but it didnt have the driver. what am looking for and when i have found it how do i install it to get everything working again?

[itguy]

You just need a PCI network card (100mbps). Confirm you have an open PCI slot in your system. Pick one up off the shelf at any electronics store. They run around $15 to $20. It will come with a driver disk.

[DavidGP]

Well to determine if you have a network controller on your motherboard, we will have to know either,

1. What PC you have if its a Pre-build as in DELL, HP etc.. also model number too?

2. Which motherboard do you have if its a home/custom build.. to find this info you can use Everest Free, once installed run and goto Motherboard > motherboard and next to Name it will give a value code ie. Gigabyte GA-8IHXP < which is mine as an example.


from their we can determine if you have a network controller and what driver you need, sadly your PC "may" not have come with ethernet/network controller thus you will have to buy a network PCI card to use your broadband.

[sqwatter]

ive got a dell dimension 8250 which i reformatted yesterday. there is the standard motherboard inside which is an intel i850, or so it says in everest, but i cant get the name and value for the motherboard, all it says is dell dimension 8250. i have an ethernet port in the computer although i have only got a modem card in the back...or so i think.:

[TheDoug]

Looks like maybe you just lost your ethernet driver in the reformat.

Look in Device Manager or use Everest to see if you can tell what type of onboard controller you have. This page should have the driver you need:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...os=WW1&osl=EN#

It should be either the Broadcom or the Intel 10/100.

[sqwatter]

what do you mean by onboard controller?

[TheDoug]

Ethernet controller = Ethernet card = Network Interface card = NIC = Network Adapter = LAN card.

Lots of names for the same thing. Usually called a card when it's added in the form of a PCI card; usually called an onboard controller when it's built onto the motherboard.